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Mayburgh & King Arthur's Round Table

<b>Mayburgh & King Arthur's Round Table</b>Posted by fitzcoraldoImage © fitzcoraldo
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<b>Mayburgh & King Arthur's Round Table</b>Posted by fitzcoraldo

Fieldnotes

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I had been working for the best part of a week in Blackpool during the illuminations in November 1999. I was staying in a cold apartment, with the wind and the rain howling against a damp net-curtained window every night.
Travelling back home, I was so happy to stop here.
The henge at King Arthur's looks almost too landscaped, but surely retains much of it's strength, despite the close proximity of the roads. I didn't stay too long.
I went over to Mayburgh. The sun was low and there was an eerie gloom inside the henge - those bare trees and the great pebbled edge surrounding that lonely stone. I remember a feeling of vastness and peace and I'd like to see this place at different times of the day.
Posted by winterjc
27th November 2001ce

Arrived first at King Arthur's Round Table, got out of the car and the first thing we noticed was how cold it was compared to Long and Little Meg, still that wasn't going to put us off.
Walked onto King Arthur's and was instantly taken, tried to visualise the whole henge, kept walking round accompanied by some very inquisitive lambs.Excellent.
Walked the small way to Mayburgh Henge, past the christian millenium abomination, went up the rise at the side of the site and was totally blew away looking in to the site.
This place is so amazing, not even the nearby M6 traffic could spoil the whole thing.
Posted by CAOMHIN
25th February 2001ce

Great favourite of mine. As me and Tess climbed the embankment and dropped into the bowl Tess gave out a "wow, didn't expect this!"
Sums it up really.
Plans afoot to dynamite the christian pastiche into rubble, any takers?
Love and Life
fitzcoraldo Posted by fitzcoraldo
20th November 2000ce

I'd considered dropping in on these henges the last few times I'd driven up the M6 but never quite got round to it. Henges don't send me aquiver in the way they should... or so I thought. Travelling back from julian's Bolton gig early on Saturday moning, having been advised to check them out by the man himself, with no map or TMA in the car and only Julian's directions from the night before to guide me, we neared Penrith. A downpour of some considerable intensity began as we got within 5 miles, almost like my resolve to go was being tested. Visibility out the windscreen was poor and I almost went straight thru the lights on the main roundabout off the M6.
Turning up the small road past King Arthur's Table, driving along to Mayburgh with no real expectations, wrapping up and setting off for the short walk across the style. Climbing the raised henge, looking down on the solitary stone left in the centre of the ring - wow! Walking over the rather wet & soggy ground towards the stone and being enveloped by the surrounding walls of green - you could be 1000 miles away from the M6, not a couple of hundred yards. There was a feeling of ancient ceremony, almost being able to imagine a ring of people stood atop the henge ring lit by flickering torchlight ot moonlight and something heavy going down. So even in the pouring rain it grooves. Give it a look next time, don't merely pass by...
Posted by a23
12th November 2000ce

The eternal power of these henges is emphasised by the fact that they are right next to the M6. Not even that atrocious proximity can destroy the vibe. After the beauty and peace of nearby Long Meg and Castlerigg, I almost gave these sites a miss but was so glad I didn't. Recently, Mayburgh nearly fell victim to a Christian "millennium" monument that they were planning to erect right within the henge. Short-sighted infants. Posted by Summer
9th June 2000ce

Miscellaneous

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Near this vill (Eamont Bridge) are two curious monuments of antiquity. One on the south side thereof called Maybrough Castle, almost the shape of a horse shoe, having the entrance on the east side leading into an area 88 yards in diameter. It hath consisted of a single rampier of stones, of which the rubbish now lies loose in ruins, partly grown over with wood. Many of the larger stones were taken away in the reign of King Hen. 6 for the repair of Penrith Castle. Near the middle, towards the western part, is a large stone, upwards three yards in height: formerly there have been several others. It seems to have been, like many other circular inclosures, a place of worship in the times of the ancient druids.
The other is at the south east end of the village, by the side on the left hand going to Penrith, called the Round Table; being a round trench, with two entrances opposite to each other at the north and south. The diameter of the circle within the ring is about 120 feet. It seems to have been a justing-place. The country people call it King Arthur's Round Table, and perhaps the knights, after justing and exercise, might dine here.


From: The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland
By Joseph Nicolson, Richard Burn
Published 1777
Available via Google Books

I suppose it is worth noting that Nicholson makes no mention of the Little Table.
fitzcoraldo Posted by fitzcoraldo
7th June 2007ce

"A little before Loder joins the Emot, it paffes by a large round entrenchement, with a plain piece of ground in the middle, and a paffage into it on either fide: the form of which is this:

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/54181

It goes by the name of King Arthur's Round Table: and it is poffible enough; it might be a jufting-place. However, that it was never defign'd for a place of frenth, appears from the trenches being on the infide. Near this is another great Fort of Stones, heap'd-up in the form of a horfe-fhoe, and open towards it; call'd by fome King Arthur's Caftle, and by others Mayburgh or Maybrough. "

Taken from
Britannia
By William Camden
1586
fitzcoraldo Posted by fitzcoraldo
13th December 2006ce
Edited 13th December 2006ce

The faithful Page he mounts his steed,
And soon he cross'd green Irthing's mead,
Dash'd o'er Kirkoswald's verdant plain,
And Eden barr'd his course in vain.
He pass'd red Penrith's Table Round,
For feats of chivalry renown'd.
Left Mayburgh's mound and stones of power,
By Druid's raised in magic hour,
And traced the Eamont's winding way,
Till Ulfo's lake beneath him lay.
A verse from Sir Walter Scott's poem "The Bridal Of Triermain."
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
21st September 2005ce

Latest posts for Mayburgh & King Arthur's Round Table

Showing 1-10 of 117 posts. Most recent first | Next 10

Mayburgh Henge — Fieldnotes

I much preferred this site to Arthur's Round Table. Probably due to the still standing high sides of the henge plus the standing sone in the middle. Very pretty place and easily accessed. I am amazed that it has survived so well over all these years. Will visit again one day.
Although a bit off topic, whilst in the area, I would recommend a visit to St Andrew's church in Penrith. In the grave yard, to the right of the church main doors, is a Viking 'Hog Back' grave. I 'discovered' this by pure accident - what a happy bunny I was!!
Posted by CARL
17th March 2010ce

Mayburgh Henge — Links

Internet Archive


"Mayburgh and King Arthur's Round Table" by C W Dymond (1890).

The text might not have anything new for you, but the carefully scanned in illustrations are superb and well worth a look.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
13th February 2010ce

Mayburgh Henge — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by GLADMAN<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by GLADMAN<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by GLADMAN<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by scubi63<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by scubi63<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by Jane Jane Posted by Jane
17th June 2009ce

King Arthur's Round Table (Henge) — Miscellaneous

Regarding Hob's photo
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/31699/king_arthurs_round_table.html
In Mayburgh and King Arthurs Round Table by C.W. Dymond CWAAS 1890.

In the inn yard, serving as a water butt, is a circular tank of red sandstone, 38ins in diameter and about 36ins in depth, which has been called "King Arthur's Drinking-cup." About this object, as many another, a baseless story has been started which, unless checked, may in time, become, by repetition, a fixed tradition of the spot. I find that even some antiquarians have been misled by confiding too easily in statements made to them, to the effect that this tank was dug up on the site of the Round Table; nay, that it has been found in the very centre thereof. I myself was told this improbable tale, till on closely cross-questioning my informant,-the same who had set the story afloat, - he acknowleged that he knew nothing about it; and that he had stated as fact that which he only supposed to be so. The aforesaid man-the most ancient authority in the village, having lived there for more than 60 years-testified that it had been in the inn yard, (though not in the same position) as long as he could remember. of course, this tank has never really had any connection with the earthwork over the way.
fitzcoraldo Posted by fitzcoraldo
14th October 2008ce

Mayburgh Henge — Images

<b>Mayburgh Henge</b>Posted by rockartwolf rockartwolf Posted by rockartwolf
27th July 2008ce
Showing 1-10 of 117 posts. Most recent first | Next 10