Cornwall National Landscape

Overview

At the southern edge of the Withey Brook valley floor, there is a group of three stone hut circles close together, near a larger hut circle settlement. These huts are thought to date from the Bronze Age. Each hut is marked by a circular wall made of piled stones, about 1.5 m wide and up to 1 m high. The circles vary in size, from about 4 m to 8 m across, and have fairly level interiors. Two of the huts have walls with upright slabs facing inward, and all three have entrance gaps roughly facing north.

The largest hut has an extra wall forming a half-circle annexe around its southern side. This annexe is about 3.5 m wide and joins one of the other huts. Originally, the huts may have had turf or thatched roofs and were probably used seasonally by Bronze Age farming communities.

Today, the hut circles are often hard to see because bracken grows over them in summer and autumn, and moss and turf cover many of the stones.

Trewortha Farm Hut Circles are part of Cornwall National Landscape’s A Monumental Improvement Project, which aimed to ensure that 40 scheduled monuments across Cornwall National Landscape were better protected, identified and enjoyed by a wider range of people. Between 2022 – 2025, the Project delivered conservation repairs, installed new heritage interpretation signage, ran a range of community volunteering events and developed new website resources. The Project was primarily funded thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from our other partners – Cornwall Council, Historic England, The National Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust and Cornwall Archaeological Society.

Historical Significance

Stone hut circles like these were homes for prehistoric farmers on the Moor, mostly from the Bronze Age (around 2000–700 BC). They are made up of low stone walls that enclose a round floor area. Hut circles can be found on their own or in small or large groups. Although they are common on the Moor, they are still important because they tell us about how long they were used and how they relate to other ancient sites. This helps us understand the different ways prehistoric communities organised themselves and farmed the land.

The hut circles at Trewortha farm have stayed mostly untouched, and no excavations have been carried out yet.

Features of Interest

The three hut circles are built from piles of stone and have strong, rounded walls that are still standing today. Each has a clear entrance, facing in different directions north, north-east and west. One of the huts even has an extra curved wall built onto one side. You’ll spot that they’re arranged in a triangle, just a few metres apart. These features help archaeologists work out how the people here might have lived, built their homes and moved about the site.

Local Flora & Fauna

This part of Bodmin Moor is open common land, where you’ll often see cattle, sheep and even ponies grazing. The ground is covered in rough grasses, moss and bracken. In the summer, gorse bushes add a splash of yellow and birds such as skylarks and meadow pipits might be heard singing nearby. It’s a quiet, wild space where nature has taken back much of the land around the ancient huts.

Efforts and Challenges

The biggest challenge at this site is the vegetation. Moss, grass, gorse and bracken grow quickly and cover up the stone walls, making them hard to see and harder to protect. The area isn’t visited very often, so keeping the site clear and easy to spot takes extra work. Managing the scrub gently without damaging the archaeology is key to looking after it.

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Give a little back by volunteering

Cornwall National Landscape is a non-profit organisation that conserves the unique landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage of Cornwall. Volunteering for the protected landscape provides a rewarding experience of giving back to the community and preserving the Cornwall's natural beauty.