§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether English Heritage was within its rights in (a) intervening for research purposes and (b) moving "Seahenge" (the Bronze Age wooden structure discovered on the North Norfolk foreshore); and, if so, whether the law is sufficiently precise about newly discovered antiquities offshore other than wrecks. [HL3518]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe timber circle at Holme-Next-The-Sea is owned privately by the Le Strange Estate. English Heritage is acting within the terms of Sections 24(2) and (3A) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and with the full endorsement of the Le Strange Estate in excavating and removing the Timber Circle. As the site is not offshore but between the low and high water marks, the legislation which covers other monuments on land is applicable in this case.