Seven cairns and tombs added to At Risk Register
Seven cairns and tombs on the Isles of Scilly have been added to the 2018 Heritage at Risk Register.
The top of Cruther’s Hill, St Martin’s, is crowned by three impressive chambered cairns which are all but invisible because the hill is so overgrown with bracken, bramble and gorse.
© Historic England
The sites have been "overwhelmed by scrub, bracken, and invasive species like New Zealand Flax".
Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, now in its 20th year, identifies those sites that are most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
The organisation said of the new Scilly additions: "The Isles of Scilly are home to a remarkable historic landscape, in which many hundreds of well-preserved prehistoric monuments survive. By far the majority are cairns and chambered tombs of the Early Bronze Age. Yet the beauty of the islands can make sites difficult to manage, with access limited by weather and tides. This year seven remarkable cairns and tombs have been added to the Heritage at Risk Register.
"We are now working closely with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, the Isles of Scilly Council and the Islands’ Community Archaeology group to raise awareness of these features, clear them of vegetation and restore them as features in the landscape, for people to enjoy.
"Great strides have been made already, with four such sites removed from the Register this year, thanks in particular to the efforts of local volunteers and the Wildlife Trust. A creative partnership between Historic England, the Isles of Scilly Council and Cornwall Archaeological Unit as the principal contractor has also played a significant role, as have grants from Historic England and Natural England-funded Countryside Stewardship agreements."
The Isles of Scilly has 32 entries on the Register. This year 101 entries in the South West have been removed, while 49 have been added. The region currently has 1,455 historic places "at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate change".
The new Scilly entries are -
Kerbed round cairn with central cist on Gun Hill, St. Martin’s
Platform cairn on Turfy Hill, St. Martin’s
Prehistoric entrance grave, the southern one of three, and kerbed round cairn with cist on Cruther's Hill, St. Martin’s
Prehistoric entrance grave, the middle one of three on Cruther's Hill, St. Martin’s
Prehistoric entrance grave, the northern one of three on Cruther's Hill, St. Martin’s
Prehistoric entrance grave and two round cairns on the Clapper of Works, Gugh, St. Agnes
Prehistoric field system and hut circle north of Crab's Ledge, Tresco Prehistoric cairn group on Abbey Hill, Tresco