It’s only a short walk from the circle to a holy well, which curiously has the type of don’t-mess-with-stones folklore that you’d often associate with prehistoric stones themselves. So that’s my excuse for adding the following:
The well of St. Cuby [or Cybi] was a spring of water on the left-hand side of the [road which leads from Sandplace to Duloe Church], which flowed into a circular basin of granite, carved and ornamented round the edge with the figures of dolphins, and on the lower part with the figure of a griffin; it is in shape somewhat like a font, with a drain for the carrying off of the water.
The well at one time was very much respected, and treated with reverence by the neighbouring people, who believed that some dire misfortune would befal the person who should attempt to remove it. Tradition says that a ruthless fellow once went with a team of oxen for the purpose of removing the basin; on reaching the spot one of the oxen fell down dead, which so alarmed the man that he desisted from the attempt. In spite of this tradition, however, the basin has been moved, probably when the new road was cut, and was taken to the bottom of the woods on the Trenant estate; it is now placed in Trenant Park.
From Ancient and Holy Wells of Cornwall by M and L Quiller-Couch (1894).
There are some photos on the Megalithic Portal including the interesting carvings on the moved font, which is now in the church.
It's only a short walk...but do be careful walking down the road to the well. There is no pavement and it can be a busy road that drivers are not use to seeing people walking on.
With regards to the original font, it is told locally that when the font was brought back from Trenant Park to the church, the wives of the workmen employed to move it were all promissed large payouts should any fate befall those that dared move the font!
Ooer! :D
I'm trying to think if I've seen the well or not... Must dig out my multitude of (unmarked and undated, naturally) photos.
G x