Cornwall - some Questions | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

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Cornwall — some Questions

jacksprat Aug 5, 2011 15:27:16

Hello - Just back from a trip to Cornwall. I had a fantastic time traipsing around and seeing some familiar sites as well as hunting out some new sites.

I started off in Penzance and visited the Merry Maidens, Men an Tol (after an hours searching!), Lanyon Quoit, Nine Maidens circle, Mulfa Quoit, Chysauster, up to Nine Maidens stone row, my old friend Men Gurta, St Breock's Down Menhir, The Fiddler, then Bodmin and The Hurlers, Trippet Stones, Stripple Stones (took me an hour to find them again same as last time!) King Arthur's Halls, Stannon, Roughtor, Brown Willy's Hut Circles.

Some questions popped up on my travels and if anyone has any comments I'd be grateful for them.

Nine Maidens Stone Row - What was this site when it was orignally built? years ago - surely more than the current aligned stones? There are felled stones and also large remains of stones near the fence and adjacent field, were these all part of the same site? What's the significance of a row instead of a circle?

The Fiddler - I'd read some notes that the the Maidens are aligned to this stone - what are they in relation to eachother?

Camelford - as you travel from Wadebridge through the village, on the right hand side of the high street there is a courtyard with a large monolith situated there - has anyone noticed this? I was only driving past so wasn't sure if it was decorative or a preserved stone?

On Craddock Moor I found a small stone circle about 400 metres from The Pipers to the north east - can anyone tell me their name?

Near the Merry Maidens I found another small stone circle, unnamed on OS, about 3/4 miles to the west - again, can anyone help name them?

Chysauster - there are two stones that look as if they were part of a circle as opposed to the buildings - is there a recognised theory as to whether there was a circle here?

Fernacre - after two attempts at finding this site - it still eludes me - can anyone help? Are there any stand out land marks? I keep getting snow blind as there are so many glacial deposits I have not found the circle....

And lastly - directed at the Eds really - have there been any discussions or threads on a TMA app?? Is that controversial? I got an iPhone app that has OS 1:25 map of Cornwall on it that was helpful but not as helpful as an actual endorsed official stone hunting app! Has it ever been discussed?

Thanks in advance for your help - it's good to post again, it's been ages!

Cheers
JS

ocifant Aug 5, 2011 15:59:56

Replying to jacksprat

Just a brief thought about the app.

You can download the KML file from the Maps link above, and load this into your own Google Map. If you install the Google Earth app, you can then see your Google Map as a layer!

Not ideal, and some of the markers are a little way out, but it helps! It might help if you only select specific items for the area you're visiting though - it can get a bit busy otherwise! (Also check out the Portal options on this front ;-) )

I know of no circles west of the Merry Maidens - there are several single stones on a rough westerly line, but no accepted circles. Can you give us a location, eg on Google maps satellite view or an OS Grid ref?

Fernacre's a doddle - take the track east from SX109785 signposted 'no vehicles' - the track passes within 50 yards or so of the circle, and you'll pass a nice medieval Cross on the way.

I'l let Mr H answer some of your other queries...

Megalithics Aug 6, 2011 17:35:50

Replying to jacksprat

The nearest circle to the Pipers (apart from the Hurlers,of course) that we know of is Craddock Moor at SX 24874 718333 (our GPS), but this about a kilometre to the NW. Pretty easy to ID Craddock, all of the stones are fallen and it has a gorse bush growing inside it near the centre, we measured the diameter as 39.6m. There is also a low but obvious tumulus about 200m to the NE of the circle.

Maggie & Keith

Sanctuary Aug 7, 2011 10:26:51

Replying to jacksprat

jacksprat wrote:

On Craddock Moor I found a small stone circle about 400 metres from The Pipers to the north east - can anyone tell me their name?

Thanks in advance for your help - it's good to post again, it's been ages!

Cheers
JS

Hi JS,
I don't believe the Craddock Moor circle has a name as such, just being referred to as the Craddock Moor circle!! Henwood puts forward the theory that the now prostrate stones were 'thrown down' after the completion of the last of the Hurlers circles making it redundent from whatever purpose it served.
It looks like you had a great time tramping about, glad you enjoyed yourself. You don't mention it, but did you get down to Trethevy Quoit while you were in the Minions area?
Cheers, Roy

Mr Hamhead Aug 15, 2011 22:32:10

Replying to jacksprat

As Ocifant so kindly put me forward...

Not sure about the circle NE of the Pipers...not something I have come across. As Sanctuary says the Craddock Circle is NW..but you would be a long way of course to find it.

I think I know the two stones at Chysaucester you are talking about...are they the door jambs to House 7?

As for the stone row...like all the other stone rows on Bodmin Moor we have no idea what they were erected for...sorry!

All the best, glad you enjoyed your trip to Cornwall again.

Mr H