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Ancient monument

Knap of Howar

Papa Westray, Orkney

Possibly the oldest stone house still standing in northern Europe.

On the shore of Papa Westray stand two stone buildings, still up to 1. 6 metres high.

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When
c. 3800–2800 BC
Where
59.3500, -2.9000
Group
Circles & monuments

Visiting

Free. Reached by ferry or a very short flight from Westray.

Cover of The Ledger of Lost Britain by Cale Mills
From the book

The Ledger of Lost Britain

It may be the oldest preserved stone house in northern Europe, and its dates are earlier than those of the houses at Skara Brae.

The Romans arrived in AD 43. For most people that is where the history of Britain begins. But by the time the legions landed, people had already been living on these islands for thousands of years. They had hunted, farmed, mined flint, dragged stones across the country, raised a hill by hand, and buried their dead in great tombs. They left no written words. What they left was the ground itself. Every place in this book can be visited, or has been dug up, or is in a museum.

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