The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Carn Brea

Tor enclosure

Folklore

Connected with Carn Brea Castle (the relic of which, now standing, bears but the shadow of the name), there has been, from a remote period of Cornish history, handed down from father to son, a legend [...] to the following effect:-
"I, John of Gaunt,
Do give the graunt
Of all my land and fee;
From me and mine-
To thee and thine-
Thou Basset of Bumberlie."

This "John of Gaunt" was believed to be about the last of the giants (whether mystical or real) who once peopled Cornwall, and he resided in the Castle on the "Brea." He could stride -
"From Carn Brea Castle to Tuckingmill Stile,"
a distance of several miles.
In The Western Antiquary for April 1881.

A reply on p11 says the real verse is
... the manor and see
Of Umberleigh,
And in token of my truth,
Do seal it with my tooth."
- Umberleigh being the ancient seat of the Bassett family, near Barnstaple.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
8th April 2013ce
Edited 8th April 2013ce

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