Additional Feature

The Nine Maidens 1

Image by texlahoma

Storyteller Nov 17, 2007 18:32:52

On my first visit to the stone row I noticed along the Northern end of the the row runs a gully that contains a large supported capstone. It reminds me of the entrances to other Cornish fogous without any of the remaining evidence that this is what it might be. It is a very substantial stone of the same type as the stone row and clearly more than just a bridge over what is now a muddy ditch. Does anyone know any more about this?

paul1970 Nov 17, 2007 19:01:28

Replying to Storyteller

Like many sites i feel that the landowner or farmer present or in the past has taken advantage of the suitability of many larger stones and used them accordingly...I know which stone you speak of though, caught my eye when i last visited..

phil Nov 17, 2007 23:24:33

Replying to Storyteller

These large stones are numerous in the area.
I feel that at one time there could have been a stone row all the way up to the fiddler stone that lies to the north of nine maidens. At one time the fiddler had a circle of curb stones around it which is very similar to the forms often found on Dartmoor. i.e. a long stone row with a standing stone at the end (sometimes within a small circle).

I know that not so many years ago alot of stones were moved away from the nine maidens because it was hard to see which were part of the monument and which were natural.

phil