Conquer Downs

Also known as:
Lady Downs (Nancledra)
Nearest town:
Penzance (5km SSE)
OS reference:
SW469361
OS sheet:
203
Latitude:
50° 10' 12.55 N
Longitude:
5° 32' 41.57 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Conquer Downs (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

Some of the apparently later addition stones in the foreground.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 8, 2023
Image of Conquer Downs (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The stone of Lady Downs cairn appears to be a mixture of smaller stones that form the typical make-up of a round cairn, and larger blocks with sharp edges that may well have been dumped here. Looking towards Zennor Hill and Trendrine Hill.

Image credit: A. Brookes (13.6.2022)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 8, 2023
Image of Conquer Downs (Cairn(s)) by thesweetcheat

The overgrown cairn at SW 4751 3616 hides a magnificent kerb.

Image credit: A. Brookes (28.6.2018)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Oct 24, 2018
Image of Conquer Downs (Cairn(s)) by A R Cane

This was the only visible remains of what should have been about three barrows on the Down, the other two having been ploughed out at some point in the past.

Image credit: A R Cane
A R Cane
A R Cane Aug 11, 2011

Articles

Miscellaneous

Conquer Downs
Cairn(s)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 8, 2023

There is a further large barrow on Lady Downs at SW 4717 3651. Cornwall & Scilly HER description:

tumulus is marked at Lady Downs on current OS maps. Edmonds mentions a barrow 80ft (24.48m) in diameter and between five and six feet (1.52m to 1.83m) high. Henderson recorded “a very large ring type barrow, 66ft diameter (20.19m) and composed of loose stones. It is in a very mutilated condition and no large stones remain evidently due to having been used as a quarry”. Survey by the OS in 1961 recorded that the barrow is as described by Henderson and now has a maximum height of 1.7m.

Miscellaneous

Conquer Downs
Cairn(s)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Oct 14, 2018

The fine kerbed cairn at SW 4751 3616 was sold by the bassist of Van Der Graf Generator in 2003. From the Cornwall & Scilly HER:

The OS describe this barrow as a flat topped mound average height 1.1m composed of small stones held in position by a retaining wall of large slabs set on edge. The retaining wall is fully exposed on the north side but only the tops of the stones are visible on the south part. In three places, stones of an inner ring are visible. The ‘piggery’ referred to by Henderson is a rectangular hollow in the south east quadrant with two stones forming an entrance. Although these stones bear drill marks their position indicates that they might have formed part of the inner ring.
The barrow was put on the market in the summer of 2003; the owner established a web-site for the sale, which included moody photographs, information gleaned from the SMR and quotes from Steve Hartgroves. There was much media interest in the sale, which was reported initially in the property columns of a Sunday newspaper, and subsequently in several other papers. Despite much interest, the barrow did not sell; it was then put up for auction but failed to reach the reserve. The barrow was eventually sold privately. The new owner hopes to fund an excavation of the site.

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