On June 20th 1884 – two years after parliament passed John Lubbock’s Ancient Monuments Act, and a mere 12 days after General Augustus Pitt Rivers visited the site to assess its suitability – the great exposed neolithic burial chamber at Pentre Ifan, Pembrokeshire, became Wales’s first scheduled ancient monument. On June 20th two centuries later, a party of archaeologists gathered under the capstone to celebrate the general’s decision and the present system of protection that evolved from Lubbock’s act……
British Archaeology September/October 2009
Arriving rather late for the party at Pentre Ifan, but it is rather interesting to note that this very elegant monument had a birthday this year. It became the first scheduled Welsh monument in 1884, to be protected by law. Obviously saved for its dramatic beauty in the Welsh countryside it seems a pity that other such sites around the country cannot always have the same protection.
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26/11/2009 at 13:12
Daniel Van Cuylenburg
Have been to this one before and must say it is a great sight and held within outstanding views all around. Happy Birthday Pentre Ifan! 🙂
26/11/2009 at 13:43
Pink Zoe Realm
It does make you stop and wonder why all Neolithic sites dont get the same protection as this site, we shudder at what the number of Barrows have been lost, I know in Derby a whole set of standing stones have been lost near Markheaton (Maundy Park) due to building & of course the new building that will start in the middle of Avebury, which I’m stunned that there no National outcry about, esp as you see so many Brits abroad shouting at the top of their voices “England, England”.