Gerlan Hut Group

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument consists of a well-preserved group of stone huts: 6 roughly circular structures, with boulder-faced stone walls, of probable Romano-British date. A sub-rectangular structure in the NE corner of the group represents potential continuity into the post-Roman period. The remains of a later stone building lie in the SW corner.

The whole group lies in unimproved ground now defined by a later stone wall, which overlies one hut on the N side and separates the archaeological features from surrounding improved pasture. The hut group was not a defensive site, the significant views would have been medium and short over fields farmed from the settlement, and which would probably have been on the lower lands to the north.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.