The Four Parish Stone

Nearest town:
Penzance (6km ESE)
OS reference:
SW42973541
OS sheet:
203
Latitude:
50° 9' 44.11 N
Longitude:
5° 35' 57.64 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of The Four Parish Stone (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Looking towards Ding Dong mine, with one of the Nine Maidens barrows visible on the left skyline.

Image credit: A. Brookes (17.6.2014)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 31, 2014
Image of The Four Parish Stone (Natural Rock Feature) by thesweetcheat

Misty day at The Four Parish Stone. The path that can be seen in the top right leads to Men-an-Tol.

Image credit: A. Brookes (28.6.2012)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 31, 2012

Articles

The Four Parish Stone

thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 14, 2011

First though, a quick stop at a minor landmark that many visitors to the area pass without a glance. At the meeting of several paths, a large recumbent boulder marks the boundaries of four parishes, hence its name. A crude cross has been carved into the surface of the boulder, but I strongly suspect that it has been used a meeting point – either of people or of territory – for a Very Long Time. Both Men Scryfa and some of the barrows up towards Nine Maidens are visible from here.

Miscellaneous

The Four Parish Stone
Natural Rock Feature
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Jul 7, 2011

A naturally recumbent boulder, almost 3m long and incised with a (post-)medieval cross. Marks the boundaries of Zennor, Morvah, Madron and Gulval.

Added in view of proximity to many megalithic sites (and obviously “already there” judging by its attribution as a natural boulder). The fact that four parishes chose it as the point where their boundaries meet is certainly suggestive of longer-standing recognition of the stone in the locality.

Something to look out for on the way up to Nine Maidens anyway.

Sites within 20km of The Four Parish Stone

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