
The wooded site, seen from the southwest.
The wooded site, seen from the southwest.
Midsummer sunlight on the earthworks.
The interior of the round.
Massive banks under the vegetation.
Open Source Environment agency LIDAR
The prominent fort, centre skyline. Seen from fields to the west.
More impressive ramparts.
Mature trees growing in the fort interior.
Impressive rampart on the southern side of the fort.
The tree-covered round from the road to the southwest.
Towards the centre of the raised area.
The raised internal area.
The path running around the eastern edge of the inner rampart.
Inside the entrance facing east.
Inside the entrance facing west; the path runs all around between the outer wall & the inner rampart.
The north-western entrance.
Another 2 ditched hill fort, like Faugen and Chun Castle, but totally overgrown with trees. Some nice trees though. Again some tip top views and a half and a good start out of Penzance to get an alternative view of the surrounding country.
Cornwall has lost a county figure in the death, at the age of 84, of Miss Lydia Harris Borlase, of Castle Horneck, Penzance. Miss Borlase was a member of one of the oldest families in Cornwall, and was connected with other county families. ... For a long period the family seat was at Pendeen Manor. Later, Castle Horneck, near Penzance, became the family home. ... One of its features is a secret tunnel which led from an old cellar to an earthwork near Lesingey Round by the St Just road. Few local people know of the existence of this subterranean passage. The reason for its construction is apparently unknown. ...
From the Western Morning News, 18th April 1939.
I do kind of wonder if this isn’t confused, as there is of course the Fogou at Pendeen. But since Lesingey Round gets a namecheck, perhaps it isn’t. Perhaps all one’s country houses should have an underground tunnel to the nearest ancient landscape feature of note.
Speaking of Miss Borlase, I found another article mentioning both her and the Round, from the Cornish Telegraph of the 3rd of August 1899: “The monthly excursion of the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society took place on Friday, the spot chosen being Lesingey Round. ... About seventy-five years ago the owner of the land planted trees on the spot, thus making it difficult for the antiquary to prosecute his researches. ... After admiring the beautiful and varied view afforded from the “Fort”, the excursionists made tracks for the charming grounds of Castle Horneck, where, through the kindness of the Misses Borlase, the party found agreeable and welcome entertainment in the shape of refreshments, an ever popular feature after the serious business of antiquarian research.