Caer Bran – an important multi-period hill-top site in West Penwith – has been removed from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, thanks to our successful interventions.
The site contains archaeological remains from both the Bronze Age and Iron Age periods, principally an early Bronze Age hilltop enclosure with ring cairns and an unusually unfinished Iron Age hillfort. The massive earthworks you can see there today were probably intended to create a gathering place, a status symbol and a defendable fort. Here’s our CEO, Cathy Woolcock, to tell you more…
Cornwall Heritage Trust purchased Caer Bran in February 2022 after Historic England made the decision to add the nine-hectare site to its Heritage at Risk Register, due to a risk of bracken and scrub overgrowth. It was bought to protect the site from these issues as well as from possible development and intensive agricultural use.
The purchase was made possible by a generous gift left to the charity by Miss Carlene Edith Harry in her will. Miss Harry was from West Penwith and had a keen interest in her local history.
Initial works at the monument – including fencing, vegetation management, ecological surveys, and interpretation – were funded thanks to a £19,912 grant from Historic England.
The difference is clear to see in the aerial photos we had taken when we purchased the site and those taken this Summer. A site whose archaeology was under serious threat of damage by bracken roots is now a rich and diverse heathland habitat which is freely accessible to everyone.
So many of Cornwall’s historic places desperately need protecting, and Caer Bran’s story is a testament to what can happen when they receive the care and land management expertise they need. The site’s rescue was made possible by the generosity and support of Miss Harry and Historic England and we’re immensely grateful!
Our members, supporters and donors are at the heart of making rescue missions like this possible. Should you wish to pledge a donation to our cause or become a member, we would be hugely grateful for your support. As a small, independent charity every penny makes a massive difference and ensures that places like Caer Bran can continue to be rescued for everyone to enjoy.
