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Carn Brea is a prominent granite hilltop in Cornwall that bears evidence of human occupation spanning several millennia. The site is dominated by a Neolithic causewayed enclosure dating to around 3600 BCE, one of the earliest fortified settlements in Britain, with later Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement phases represented by defensive structures and field systems. A medieval castle was subsequently constructed on the summit, likely in the 12th century, forming part of the Norman defensive network in Cornwall. The landscape surrounding the castle preserves evidence of a deer park, mineral workings, and extensive prehistoric field systems that document the evolving uses and organisation of this strategically significant hilltop across multiple periods from the Neolithic through the medieval era.
Neolithic hilltop enclosure with later settlement and defensive structures, a prehistoric field system, a medieval castle and deer park and mineral workings on Carn Brea is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1006704. View the official record →
Carn Brea is a prominent granite hilltop in Cornwall that bears evidence of human occupation spanning several millennia. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1006704.
Neolithic hilltop enclosure with later settlement and defensive structures, a prehistoric field system, a medieval castle and deer park and mineral workings on Carn Brea is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1006704.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Round cairn and kerbed cairn 300m north east of Blackrock Farm (6.2 km), Standing stone 100m west of Lezerea Farm (6.4 km), Three wayside crosses in the grounds of Clowance (7.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Neolithic hilltop enclosure with later settlement and defensive structures, a prehistoric field system, a medieval castle and deer park and mineral workings on Carn Brea's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Neolithic hilltop enclosure with later settlement and defensive structures, a prehistoric field system, a medieval castle and deer park and mineral workings on Carn Brea stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Carboniferous To Permian, bedrock that formed in the Permian. The rock here is felsic-rock.