Courtyard houses are only found in the far west of Cornwall. They consist of a large open courtyard defined by a massive drystone wall with structures built around the perimeter. Usually a large round or oval dwelling-house faces the entrance and lean-to structures occupy the walls along either side. These ‘long rooms’ are sometimes sub-divided and are interpreted as stores, barns and byres. They seem to be a peculiarly localised response to changes taking place during the Romano-British period.

Quantities of coarsely made local pottery eroding from a cliff on the Lizard were the first indications of a Romano-British salt making industry in Cornwall. The salt was obtained by evaporation of sea water in shallow pans set above a flue. Since the initial discovery at Trebarveth a number of other similar sites have been recognised on the Lizard, for instance above Ebber Rocks to the north of Black Head, but not, to date, in other parts of the county.