We came here on a wet and windy day and this, my first visit, was a good one. It didn't appear to have the age, and certainly not the majesty of Tinkinswood up the road, but possessed a very different spirit to it. The old folklore of the stones going down to drink grabbed my attention when I saw, at the bottom of the adjacent field, the place-name of Ffynnon Lawrence - a possible holy well site. Was this the place where the water-lore actually came from? Francis Jones includes it in his survey, although says nothing about its history or folklore.
Then Marion showed me the curious ellipse further up the field which no-one seems to have mentioned. A ring of trees outlines the 'enclosure.' But what is it? How old is it? It didn't seem to have the hallmarks of prehistory, but does anyone know more about it? And it wasn't until I got home that I saw there was (or used to be) another tumulus across the road. Is it still there?
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What a lovely place - nice n' easy to find along the winding country road. When we arrived She was pouring with rain, which thankfully kept others from this great old tomb. And I mean, old. My first visit to this place and the impression I got here was of very great age. While Marion was sat on top (what a capstone! - did they move it here, or just dig round the old thing?), I sat in the water-logged space below. But it wasn't until I emerged back into the rain that I got the feeling of this place.
Like I said - I've not been here before, but the impression was striking: an alignment to the near-eastern hillside, seemingly of the Moon, was caught here in the entrance to Tinkinswood. But a long time ago. Truly long time ago. In ages female. And the two standing stones to the south, they're authentic surely? But a 1000 years younger than the tomb.
In rummaging in the other fields nearby, it was obvious that some of the remains there were also archaeological relics, not just lumps of stone left by Nature. A wonderful place which I must revisit when I'm next down here. But next time at night, when the Moon is right.
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Local folklore would have it that this is the tomb of a Pictish warrior.
(from James Kennedy's "Folklore & Reminiscences of Strathtay and Grandtully", 1927)
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There is a local tale that this big old tomb was the burial spot for a great Pictish chief. This tale gave the cairn its local title, the Mound of the Dearg Mor.
(from James Kennedy's "Folklore & Reminiscences of Strathtay and Grandtully", 1927)
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This was thought – and most probably is – the original female oracle site, later moving to what is today called Cubert's or St. Cuthbert's Well,* less than a mile away. It was used as an oracle and also a place of healing, as several legends indicate. A local writer called J.C. Oliver wrote about this place in his little book on Newquay in 1884. He said that "the legend respecting the well is, that in olden times, mothers on Ascension Day brought their deformed or sickly children here, and dipped them in, at the same time passing them through the aperture connecting the two cisterns; and thus, it is said, they became healed of their disease or deformity. It would seem that other classes also believed virtue to reside in its water; for it is said that the cripples were accustomed to leave their crutches in the hole at the head of the well."
* hence, "Disputed Antiquity"?
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The general information about this old site on a website which mainly specialises in the holy wells of Devon.
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Archaeological information about the old tumuli at the top of this lovely hill.
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This lovely old spot obviously had the reputation of being where the fairy-folk used to live, and it was said in olden days to have an exceptional repute for making your wishes comes true. It was to done in the usual way, by taking an old pin, bending it and making your wish, before dropping it into the waters. The Cornish pagan writer Cheryl Straffon suggested the place may have been traditionally visited by local people on February 1, or Imbolc.
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I was led to this place many moons ago, up the gorgeous winding gnarled path with old thorns as its guide, until we reached the overgrown ruins here. When my old boyfriend pointed me to the opening in the ground, I cautiously walked down until I reached the stepped bottom. Once inside, this place sent me into dreams within minutes. I merged into the dark though colourful majesty of dripping mosses and cool air and it was as if I had become enchanted. All thoughts faded away and, though it might sound silly, I was in another land, without time. I could have stayed here forever (that was how it felt) until I heard the faint call of a voice bringing me back to my 'normal' senses. It was my boyfriend asking me if I was alright. I turned back up the steps and emerged from beneath the ground, still in a dream.
It was Sancreed which turned me on to the healing values of holy wells. If you've never been to this place but find yourself in the area, have a feel of it yourself. It's truly wonderful.
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Near the middle of this lovely little village could once be seen this old holy well, but which I was unable to find on my visit here. I was told that it ran down from the hillside to the north and appeared near the roadside.
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I really liked this place, despite being scruffy and rather in ruins. And although I like seeing spiral carved stones, the spiral here on one of the main slabs in the middle of the tomb is modern and has to be regarded as vandalism by whoever did it.
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A wonderful moorland with some lovely hidden sites here and there. The views from the top were great, but my mind wandered a little about how grand it would have been before the distant towns and cities cluttered the eyesight. A really good day out!
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I'm a northern bird, originally from Hull (the dark side of the world) from where I first got into my passion of healing wells and the folklore of streams - though it was Sancreed in Cornwall that switched it on proper! This eventually got me into the swastika symbol - it's brilliant and needs restoring. I love walking in the rain and all things wet. I'm slim, sexy, long-haired and love being single!
LIKES: streams, wells, folklore, old trees, autumn, loving
DISLIKES: whimps, whingers, victims, liars, plagiarists
FAVOURITE SITES: Swastika Stone; Sancreed Well;
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