Images

Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by Marcus

‘… seen in the 1890s at a summer excursion, possibly of the Miner’s Association of Cornwall and Devon.’

Image credit: Mining in Cornwall Volume 6 - L.J. Bullen
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by Rhiannon

From: The Cheesewring, Kilmarth Rocks and Trevethy Stone, Cornwall. Penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Jan 23, 1836, 28-29.

Image credit: unknown
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by stonefree

From 80° the aperture is shaped like a human eye.

The far upper edge and near lower edge have very similar, but inverted, eliptical profiles.

Image credit: © Royston E Naylor
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by stonefree

Taken by lying flat on the road below the car park. The aperture is now so tiny that this is almost the extinction angle. However, the original level of the hill may have been lower than the road surface!

Image credit: © Royston E Naylor
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by Mr Hamhead

This monument standeth in the parish of St Clere. The couer being all one stone, is from A to B 16 foote the length, the bredth from C to D is 10 foot, the thickness from G to H is 2 foote; E is an arteficiall holl 8 inches diameter, made thorowgh the roofe very rounde, which serued as it seemeth to putt out a staffe, wherof the howse it selfe was not capable : F was the dore or entrance.

Image credit: John Norden 1650
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by stonefree

Externally 'worked' quadrant on stone 5 becomes very noticeable when obliquely lit from late p.m. until sunset. The triangular 'pointer' moves up the curved quadrant as the sun goes down.

Image credit: © Royston E Naylor
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by GLADMAN

The outrageous Trethevy Quoit......... one can almost imagine the hole being employed to tie this rearing mustang of a dolmen down.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by UncleRob

Down at the base of one of the uprights (nearest the houses – I lost all sense of compass directions in those lanes) is a fair concentration of quartz intrusion. The stone was perhaps chosen to show this off.

Image credit: Copyright waived UncleRob
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by UncleRob

A blurred glimpse under the fallen stone. Don't tell me some potholing nut has crawled in there. It would give me the willies. There were some weird pale green plants (or maybe they are mushrooms?) and a tuft of sheep's wool.

Image credit: Copyright waived UncleRob
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by UncleRob

Nice topographic image at the info board by the quoit. The landscape includes of course the Hurlers and the Cheesewring (at top right).

Image credit: Copyright waived UncleRob
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by UncleRob

Two stones together in a field just north of the hamlet of Crow's Nest. Perhaps natural and too big to be moved, perhaps not. I didn't go clambering about in the field for a closer look. Compare with the more upright pair posted by Mr hamhead which are to the west of the quoit.

Image credit: Copyright waived UncleRob
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by stubob

"Near Liskeard, in Cornwall, in the parish of St. Clear, is a cromlech called Trevethy Stone, Trevedi being said to signify in the British language a place of graves"

Charles Knight: Old England.

Image credit: Charles Knight
Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by Mr Hamhead

I have often stood at the quoit and wondered why it was positioned in such a place. With the surrounding trees, hedges and houses it is hard to make out the landscape.

Yesterday I was out walking a footpath to the west of the quoit and took this shot. It shows that it sits atop a small hill, take away the surrounding modern day objects and build a mound over it and ....

The two stones in the field in the foreground are possibly rubbing posts....I could not get close to look.

Image of Trethevy Quoit (Quoit) by pure joy

I was pretty determined to spend 'Christmas Day' 2002 on a wind swept moor amongst ancient sites, and I managed to do just that.

I started with a quiet drive to the most famous quoit in East Cornwall, the huge Trethevy Quoit. I had seen it so many times in pictures; it was great to see it for real.

I moved onto toward the Hurlers but not before stopping at The Longstone Cross / Long Tom Cross. It may have once been a menhir that was then Christianised by carving a cross on its face. The stone stands alone, often amongst sheep roaming the moor, and on the horizon a line of old mine chimneys can been seen, marking the lode (course) of a copper vein. Even on this day there were lots of walkers and doggie people around The Hurlers, which was nice. It's good to see people taking an interest (even a passing interest) in our history. Not only are the circles fascinating, but the whole place is steeped in history, from the Pipers, Rillaton Barrow, the Cheesewring, Stowe's Pound, and Craddock moor sites, to the plethora of old mining ruins.

Without a map or compass you may be lucky enough to stagger across the fallen Craddock Moor Circle 1 km North West of the Hurlers whilst exploring Craddock Moor. Even with a map and compass you may not find them as the stones are all recumbent and are not visible from any distance. Further on is the tiny Craddock Moor Stone Row. There's no easy way to describe how to get to this but if you wanna go try my instructions (or practice better compass reading that me – not hard!).

A few kilometres away from the Hurlers area, King Doniert's Stone(s) stand in a beautiful walled enclosure, complete with stone benches. The Cornwall Heritage Trust could obviously teach English Heritage a thing or two.

I love ancient sites but sometimes you need a break so I went to the Eden Project on the 26th. This is not a criticism but of all the people who needed to go I wasn't high on the list – I live a few kilometres from Kew Gardens and they are pretty similar in many ways. Anyway, go and see, and if you do, please spend a minute filling in a Gift Aid form, which means that they can claim 28% extra (over and above your admission fee) from the taxman.

On my way to Bodmin Moor I stopped at Lesquite Quoit but couldn't properly explore, and had a wander around the huge Lanhydrock estate. The rest of the day was spent on the moor visiting the three stone circles of Stannon, Louden Hill, and Fernacre. Many of my stone counts didn't match other people's counts, the most interesting of which may have been Louden Hill where I counted 31 stones, as opposed to Craig Weatherhill's 16/17 stones.

I also stumbled across something that could be interesting, or could just be a few stones in a quarter circle – I've taken the liberty of calling it Louden Hill 2?? I take no responsibility for it being just a couple of stones spotted by an eccentric walker on a lonely moor! I also came across a stone cist and two cairns between Louden Hill and Fernacre, which all seemed to align East-West to a stone in the background. As the night descended it led to the photos coming out very dark and now I scratch my head and wonder if it was just my imagination……a strange day.

Image credit: Martin Bull

Articles

Greenstone platform found at Trethevy

An archaeological excavation at Trethevy Quoit near Darite has made an exciting discovery which means that our understanding of the prehistoric site will have to be reassessed.

Between 9th and 13th July, more than thirty volunteers took part in the dig, which was supervised by Andy Jones and Ryan Smith of the Cornwall Archaeological Unit.

A geophysical survey had been undertaken in the field around the monument earlier this year and recorded a number of below-ground anomalies, which were targeted through excavation.

The largest below-ground feature was positioned close to the Quoit itself and, on investigation, this was found to be a significant platform of greenstone. The material had been quarried locally and brought to the site. It was clearly an integral part of the monument.

cornwallheritagetrust.org/exciting-discovery-at-trethevy-quoit-archaeological-dig/

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Is time running out for Trethevy Quoit?

Is time running out for Trethevy Quoit and other such unprotected Scheduled Monuments? A new video by Roy Goutté on the disruption (and potential damage) caused by horses/ponies and vehicles to the ground immediately surrounding Trethevy Quoit in Cornwall. The video shows startling and dramatic new evidence of that recent damage.

Video here – theheritagetrust.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/is-time-running-out-for-trethevy-quoit-and-other-such-unprotected-scheduled-monuments/

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Trethevy Quoit put at risk

Breaking news.

"Without a care in the world it would seem, horses and ponies had been allowed to run free in the field without making any attempt whatsoever to protect the monument. Not even the simplest of electrified animal fencing had been installed which was simply inviting disaster. Due to our overly wet winter in Cornwall, and the horses galloping around like mad things, the ground had become so churned up that the grass in places had been replaced by mud and was no longer visible! Naturally the English Heritage Officer was as equally appalled as I was and immediately took notes and photographs to report back with.

"Today (the 16th February) I made a return visit and was even more horrified. The horses had either been removed or out being ridden for a few hours, but the field area around the quoit was much, much worse than it had been before with huge tractor tyre tracks around it and hoof prints encroaching up to and onto the low remaining banked cairn surrounding the base of the quoit. It was in danger of becoming unstable if this was to continue as the side orthostats/slabs of the tomb rely on the banked cairn being there to keep their base in place! The consequences of this banking becoming dislodged or destroyed didn’t bear thinking about!"

Full article and photographs by Roy Goutté of the ground damage around the monument here – theheritagetrust.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/trethevy-quoit-put-at-risk-2/

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Trethevy Quoit

Visited: 10 Oct 2017

Visited after our trip to the Hurlers. As expected down a narrow single (almost) track road to a small 'island'. From here Trethevy Quoit is well signposted to a field gate. What initially surprises about this ancient monument is its proximity to some nearby houses and to the field entrance. I had read quite a bit about damage being done to the base of the monument by cattle and farm vehicles though could see no evidence of animals or any recent damage on this occasion.

It is an enormous monument which can't help but impress. Oddly though, I was strangely unmoved by it – perhaps I missed viewing it from a distance on the skyline first as with other monuments of this nature I have visited. Didn't have to walk through a bog, or jump a stream, or circumnavigate farm animals. Perhaps it was just too easy.

Very glad to have seen it though.

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Trethevy Quoit

Visited 16.4.15

Directions:

Trevethy Quoit is sign posted when approaching from the north (Darite)

It was another glorious day. Not a cloud in the sky and an unusually hot sun for the time of year. It felt like the middle of summer. We parked in the little parking area and I first read the information board. By now the children had run on in front of me and were already exploring this superb dolmen. I soon went through the wooden kissing gate to join them.

This was one of several famous sites I was looking forward to visiting during my week in Cornwall and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The Dolmen was much larger than I expected and in excellent condition. I really liked the fact that the original entrance is so well preserved and it made you think of the past and the people who would have used it to gain access to the tomb in order to care for their loved ones. I couldn’t help but crouch through the entrance to try to get a feel for what they experienced. Due to the fallen rear stone you can only go in a little way. The main way into the dolmen now is via the fallen stone. I sat on this whilst Dafydd pondered the dolmen’s construction, with the girls happily running around outside blowing bubbles. The only thing detracting from this scene was the close proximity of the houses, which is a pity.

I had wanted to visit this famous site for many years and it felt great to finally get here. It certainly didn’t disappoint. It is worth travelling a long way to see. Fantastic!

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Trethevy Quoit

Boxing Day 2010 CE, 14:00

The road leading up to the quoit was far too icy for driving, so we parked in the village and went on foot. In retrospect it was better this way anyway – for such a large structure you can see nothing of it until you are about 30 foot from it – and then the size is really striking.

It's possible to squeeze inside the chamber, but since the back stone has fallen down there is little room. The angle of the capstone is mind-boggling – just a few more degrees and it will almost certainly slide.

No-one was here when we came, and if it wasn't for the grim-looking houses built right next to it, this place would be much more mysterious. But still, at least it's here, and with a little imagination it's not hard to see what it would've been like.

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Trethevy Quoit

Access: Easy access. The quoit is visible from the road, through a kissing-gate and stands only a few yards into a small grassy field. There are a couple of parking spaces by the quoit next to a grassy 'island' at the road junction between Crow's Nest, Tremar and Derite. It is signposted, but we found that the signs seemed to disappear at Crow's Nest (the direction we arrived from) and had to use the map.

Saturday 6 March 2004

Wonderful. I visited once about 8 years ago and had great memories of the place. It was just as I remembered.

On our journey to Land's End, I made this visit to Trethevy mandatory. As Jane had been lusting after it for years – ever since she got the Mod Ant book – I got no argument!

Looming, incongruous, spectacular. I know I'm not alone in thinking this is THE 'must-see' dolmen.

We chilled for 30-40 mins and at uncanny speed, Jane produced the painting (she calls em 'sketches') that appears elsewhere on this page.

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Trethevy Quoit

Many years ago I lived in Darite and Trethevy Quoit was a popular place to visit. However, one mystery always nagged at the back of my mind, what was that hole in the top slab for? Some reports suggest that it was carved by a young man as a tribute to his sweetheart. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Trethevy Quoit has to be one of the best preserved sites I have visited, in spite of being so accessible.

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Trethevy Quoit

Ahhhhh, what a beauty! Our first encounter during a week in Cornwall last summer couldn't have been bettered. Although sign-posted (and following the directions in the book), we still managed to get lost but after asking a friendly local (who took the time to correct my pronunciation!) we finally got here. small amount of parking is provided and then it's over the fence and there it is!

This really is a beautiful site but I was shocked to see it so close to a solitary house...like Mayburgh Henge the site is within spitting distance of a dwelling and I wondered whether it would be a curse or a delight living so close by! Depends on whether you want people hanging around outside your house each and every solstice!

I wanted to stay longer, the site had such a feel to it and the fact that one of the stones has fallen inward seems to add to the whole place. Fab!

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Trethevy Quoit

I took these photos in 2001, when I visited this place... I felt really lost at the time, and thought I MUST have taken a wrong turn! Then, suddenly, and not at all hidden, was the little car park and information board! Just behind a hedge and some cottages was the structure... although it was so close to the other buildings, I recall feeling like I was in the middle of nowhere – very peaceful. Not another person to be seen or heard. I liked it.

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Trethevy Quoit

Trethevy Quoit – 25.12.2002

'Christmas Day' at the most famous quoit in East Cornwall.

Although this stunning quoit is just about signposted from the main Dobwalls to Minions road, and then from Darite, I wouldn't rely on these small old white signs to get to this famous quoit. An OS map makes it easier. Once you get to the triangle just outside the field in the which it stands, there is then a then a large modern brown sign, but by then you are only about 20 metres from the quoit anyway! At this triangle there is a tarmaced lay-by for 5 cars, plus other spaces on road, and a nice information board. The info board contains info on the quoit itself and also some of the other ancient monuments in the St Cleer parish.

The site is just inside the field, through a wooden gate, and seems shockingly large once you step inside the field. The stone at the back (the one that has fallen in) seems to be cup marked – ancient or modern?

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Trethevy Quoit

This takes some finding but is a treasure not to be missed.

When i arrived a marquee was being erected in the same field to celebrate a 60th birthday party.What a venue.

The lentil hovers at over 45 degrees as if it is about to crash down to earth at any moment.Lets hope it doesn't because it is a wonderful sight and must not be missed.

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Trethevy Quoit

Having been "lost" on Bodmin moor in the mist this time we were really prepared,map,compass,water,mars bar,boots,plastic bags!! Ten feet from the car,behind a hedge more or less in someones back garden,Trethevy Quoit!!!Some days are easier then others,but what a splendid sight no less dramatic for being close to civilisation.

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Miscellaneous

Trethevy Quoit
Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech

From "Speculi Britannia pars" – Norden (circa 1584), the first description of the quoit:

"Tretheuie, called in Latine Casa gigantis, a litle howse raysed of mightie stones, standing on a litle hill within a feilde, the form hereunder expressed."

and

"This monument standeth in the parish of St Clere. The cover being all one stone, is from A to B 16 foote in length, the bredth from C to D is 10 foote, the thicknes from G to H is 2 foote; E is an artificiall holl 8 inches diameter, made thorowgh the roofe very rounde, which served as it seemeth to putt out a staffe, whereof the howse itself was not capable: F was the dore or entrance"

It is interesting that Dr Borlase did not mention Trethevy and the next published reference was in 1801 ("Beauties of England and Wales" – Britton and Bayley).

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Sites within 20km of Trethevy Quoit