Images
Just before the rain arrived.
From William Borlase’s ‘Antiquities, historical and monumental, of the county of Cornwall’ (1695).
September 2014
September 2014
September 2014
September 2014
September 2014
September 2014
Photo taken 7th March 2014. Muddy fields and polythene at the Sisters of Drift.
A fine pair of stones.
Looking SW to St Buryan, the church tower is visible in the centre of the picture.
Yellow lichen on the NW stone.
The wonderfully shaped SE stone.
Looking north under blue skies and telephone wires.
Almost midsummer, crops harvested. Looking NNE.
Higher Drift Stones – 10th May 2004
Higher Drift Stones – 10 May 2004
Moth goes in search of a fat bastard... (see previous Drift image)
Who is that fat bastard?
Snails living in the crack in one of the stones.
Higher Drift Menhirs – 23.12.2002
Higher Drift Menhirs – 23.12.2002
Higher Drift Menhirs – 23.12.2002
09/02
May 2002
Articles
Visited 7th March 2014
Ladies and gentleman of the Modern Antiquarian, if I could only offer you one tip for the future, wearing wellingtons would be it.
They were certainly needed here, the field a churned up quagmire of deep muddy furrows, but with our trusty vulcanised footwear we didn’t have to worry. We’d driven past the Drift stones several times so far this week, peeking over the top of the field as we sped past like the coy temptresses they are, and with the return of blue skies and sunny weather today was the day to make their acquaintance.
There is a small car park next to the crossroads in Drift, where we left the car before walking up the A30 (thankfully fairly quite at this time in the year) before reaching the gate to the field containing the stones. I’m a little disconcerted to see half the field swathed in polythene and obviously planted with crops, but a clear path along deeply churned tractor tracks allows us to get to the stones.
They are a fine pair, the southerly stone still providing a shelter for veritable escargatoire of snails, probably distant descendants of those mentioned by Sweetcheat a few years ago. I like the way the church tower at St Buryan can be framed directly between the stones, but it’s hard to get a clearer view of the other aspects from the stones due to the proximity of the hedgerows.
The mud sucks at my boots as I walk around the stones enjoying the sunshine, but cautious not to step on the polythene or sink up to my knees in sludge, there’s nowhere really to just chill out at the stones so once the requisite photo’s have been taken its onwards to hunt out more stones.
I’ve never been here before, I think, Its always nice to see something new. Cant imagine why I didn’t come here before, perhaps I was trying to not over stone my new girlfriend, with bags of hind sight I shouldn’t have bothered.
When Alken and me were at the Giants grave in Cumbria he likened them to these here stones at Drift, he was right, not so much the stones them selves but their surroundings and spacing is just like them.
The good and tall stones are in a field full of Wheat? but long lanes weave through it taking me circuitously to the stones. Close to the road again, abundant parking spaces, nice lichens, good views south and west.
Perhaps not the best place to linger for hours.
The bus drops me off at Drift crossroads and I have a not very enjoyable 200yds or so along the verge of the A30 itself. My objective is the pair of stones to the southwest, sometimes called The Sisters, which I’ve seen from the bus before but never visited. They stand in a cultivated field immediately adjacent to the A30. I’m fortunate with the timing of my visit, as the crop has obviously been recently harvested, leaving the stones clear of obstruction. Their location is on sloping ground, above and to the west of a little valley that eventually reaches the sea at Lamorna Cove, which is coincidentally my final destination for the days walk. This sloping ground allows views across the farmland to the east and round to the southwest, where St Buryan church tower is clearly visible.
These are two impressive stones, both over 2m tall. The southeast stone is the pointier of the two, with a natural crevice running diagonally across its southeast face and providing a home for snails out of the fierce sun. The northwest stone is patched with the yellow lichen that adorns many of the Brecon Beacons’ stones. I’m really pleased to have finally visited this excellent pair, despite the less than ideal road-walk to get to them.
Visited 12.4.10.
There is room to park at the field gate in which the stones stand. Easily seen from the field entrance. I didn’t go any closer as the field was full of crops protected under polythene.
Thought we’d drop by these beauties on the way to The Merry Maidens on a damp and foggy day in May...
Found them nice and easy, but once in the field, suddenly became unsure whether or not we were allowed to be there! So we took a couple of pics and legged it. Very nice, though – was a bit overgrown and very foggy and muddy when we were there, but it all adds to the effect, I think.
Might find out about access, and stay a little longer next time if poss...
Called in at these wonderful stones after a ‘cleaning up ’ trip to boscawen un(messy bastards left allsorts of crap, torn t-shirt, masses of paper, uprooted bluebells!!) THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY OF THIS!!!..anyway back to the stones.It was dark as i jumped over the gate, the wind blowing through the almost ‘knee high’ grass, alike a gateway these stones stand proud, the sparks coming off the stones as i touched them were warm to touch, as were the stones as a whole, i would of savoured the moment a while longer, yet the thought of cold lager overtook my thoughts!, ill come back here and really lose myself to these beauties...
Higher Drift Stones – 23.12.2002
I asked at Higher Drift Farm (just the other side of the road – map ref SW435285). The farmer there said that it was on the next farmer’s land (Jeffrey) and that he couldn’t imagine Jeffrey having any worries about letting me look at the stones. Judging from the map, the next farm is quite a long way away (probably Tresvennack Farm).
These two enigmatic stones stand close to the A30, just West of Drift. One is 230cm (H) x 70 (W) x 80 (D). This one has a long crack across it. The other is 190cm (H) x 115 (W, at the base) x 50 (D).
The stones are also known as ‘The Sisters’, ‘The Two Sisters’, or ‘The Triganeeris Stones’. They were investigated by W.C.Borlase in 1871 when a 6ft long earth-cut grave was found well off centre between the stones. However, no actual finds were made.
Some people link the Higher Drift stones to the nearby Blind Fiddler and tell a traditionally simplistic tale of two sisters struck into stone for not obeying the Sabbath.
THE SISTERS
Also known as the Drift Stones, these 2 stones, 8ft and 9ft tall, stand 18 ft apart in a field to the NE of Boscawen-un stone circle and to the west of the Blind Fiddler. These stones are likely to have formed part of a ritual area centred around the stone circle and incorporating other monuments long since disappeared.
Taken from:
One of a now-rare number of pairs of stones in Britain. There were formerly loads of pairs in Penwith alone, but nowadays few remain – farmers are minded to pull one down and leave the other as a cattle rubbing post, thus destroying 4000 years of history for a short-term gain. The usual consequence of this is the cattle rub round the stone, and eventually erode the base, it falls, and gets dragged away. No such problems for the Drift Stones, so named as they are near the hamlet of Higher Drift. They stand at 2.5 and 3 metres in a field often in crop under polythene just to the south of the main A30 to Land’s End. They have been excavated in the past, and I think a burial was found between them. Not much of a head’s place really, as the noisy road is just over the hedge, but a rewarding site just the same.
2 sisters turned to stone for not going to church.
Another pair of Giants with photo
Sites within 20km of Drift Stones
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Tresvennack Pillar
photo 12 description 1 -
Ennis Farm
description 1 -
Kerris
photo 13 description 3 -
The Blind Fiddler
photo 55 description 9 -
Faugan Round
photo 8 forum 1 description 1 link 1 -
Chyenhal
photo 11 description 2 -
Toldavas
photo 7 description 2 link 1 -
Redhouse
photo 5 description 2 -
Boswarthen Holed Stone
photo 3 description 1 -
Trelew Menhir
photo 16 description 3 -
Boscawen-Un hedge
photo 11 description 6 -
Sancreed Holy Well
photo 18 description 13 -
Sheffield Menhir
photo 5 description 1 -
Changwens Menhir
photo 3 description 1 -
Trevelloe Carn
photo 1 description 2 link 1 -
Boscawen Menhir
photo 13 description 2 -
Sancreed Beacon
photo 30 description 2 -
Goldherring
photo 9 description 1 -
Pridden
photo 2 description 2 -
Boscawen-Un (footpath)
photo 3 description 2 -
Boscawen-Ûn
photo 139 forum 6 description 33 link 4 -
Lesingey Round
photo 12 description 1 -
Creeg Tol
photo 7 description 5 -
Paul Celtic Cross
photo 2 description 1 -
Castallack Round
photo 5 description 3 -
Castallack Carn
photo 6 description 2 -
Caer Bran
photo 24 forum 1 description 3 -
Boleigh Fogou
photo 48 forum 4 description 16 link 2 -
Tremayne
photo 6 description 3 -
Castallack
photo 7 description 2 -
Castallack 2
photo 6 description 2 -
Chy-Gwidden Round
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Brane
photo 30 description 9 -
Brane Long Barrow
photo 7 description 3 -
The Pipers (Boleigh)
photo 83 description 9 -
Carn Euny Fogou & Village
photo 118 forum 2 description 21 link 3 -
Swingate
photo 9 description 3 -
Trewern Round
photo 7 description 2 link 2 -
Trewern
photo 8 description 2 -
The Merry Maidens
photo 125 forum 2 description 30 link 1 -
Bosvenning Common
photo 10 description 1 -
Trevorgans Menhir
photo 17 forum 1 description 3 -
St Euny’s Well
photo 22 description 5 -
Tregiffian
photo 61 description 14 -
Gun Rith Menhir
photo 34 forum 2 description 10 -
Merlin’s Rock and the Mousehole
description 1 -
Kemyel
photo 5 description 3 -
Choone
photo 6 description 4 -
Kemyel 2
photo 3 description 1 -
Higher Bodinnar Fogou
description 3 -
Bartinne Castle Enclosure
photo 11 description 4 -
Botrea Barrows
photo 18 description 1 -
Tredinney Barrow
photo 19 description 1 -
Boscawen-Ros
photo 24 description 4 -
Madron Holy Well
photo 18 description 13 -
Lescudjack Castle
photo 10 forum 1 description 4 -
Wheal Buller Menhir
photo 10 description 3 -
Chapel Carn Brea
photo 57 description 8 link 1 -
Chapel Carn Brea long cairn
photo 13 description 2 -
Chapel Carn Brea North
photo 13 -
Treverven
photo 25 description 3 -
Little Brea
photo 2 -
Alsia Holy Well
photo 7 description 5 -
Lanyon Quoit
photo 114 forum 1 description 18 link 1 -
Rosemorran
photo 3 description 2 -
West Lanyon Quoit
photo 7 description 5 -
Carfury
photo 15 description 5 -
Rosemorran Fogou
description 1 -
Boswens Croft
photo 35 description 2 -
Numphra
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Bosiliack Barrow
photo 38 description 5 -
Ding Dong lane
photo 9 description 1 -
Lanyon
photo 6 description 1 -
Bosworlas Lehau
description 2 -
Kerrow Bosullow
photo 2 description 1 -
Higher Downs
photo 2 -
Tregeseal Holed Stones
photo 56 description 2 -
Tregiffian Vean
photo 14 forum 1 description 3 -
Hailglower Farm
photo 1 description 1 -
Truthwall Common
photo 42 description 2 -
Crankan courtyard settlement
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Bosullow Trehyllys Courtyard House Settlement
photo 16 description 4 -
Chun Castle
photo 47 description 4 -
Tregeseal
photo 104 forum 3 description 19 link 2 -
Boslow Stone
photo 17 description 2 -
Boskednan Southern Cairn
photo 15 description 2 -
Chûn Quoit
photo 97 forum 2 description 16 link 1 -
Carn Kenidjack
photo 14 description 4 link 2 -
Mulfra courtyard houses
photo 13 description 1 link 1 -
Portheras Common Barrow
photo 30 description 3 -
Men-An-Tol
photo 99 forum 3 description 44 link 3 -
Nine Maidens of Boskednan
photo 119 forum 4 description 19 -
Burnt Downs Holed Stone
photo 2 description 1 -
Tregeseal Entrance Grave
photo 11 description 1 -
Chûn
photo 2 -
Venton Bebibell
photo 4 description 1 -
Higher Botallack
photo 3 description 2 -
Bodrifty Reconstruction
photo 2 forum 1 description 1 link 1 -
Boskednan Cairn
photo 31 description 4 -
Try
photo 8 description 3 link 1 -
Men Scryfa
photo 48 description 13 link 1 -
Bodrifty Iron Age Settlement
photo 22 description 2 link 1 -
The Four Parish Stone
photo 7 description 3 -
Mulfra Hill
photo 3 description 1 -
Tom Thumb Rock
photo 3 description 2 link 1 -
Trevear
description 1 -
Mulfra Quoit
photo 78 forum 1 description 16 -
The Selus Stone
photo 5 description 1 -
Carn Bean barrow
photo 4 description 2 -
Treryn Dinas
photo 49 forum 1 description 15 link 1 -
Little Galva
photo 4 description 1 -
Crofto
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Trevowhan
description 2 -
Trevean Round
photo 7 description 1 -
Mulfra Hill round barrows
photo 19 description 2 -
Bodrifty Barrows
photo 9 description 2 -
Nanjulian
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Escalls Cliff
photo 11 description 2 -
Chysauster Village
photo 81 description 6 link 1 -
Watch Croft
photo 35 forum 1 description 5 -
Watch Croft
photo 28 description 2 -
Bosporthennis 'Beehive Hut'
photo 42 forum 2 description 9 link 1 -
Trevean North
photo 5 -
St. Michael’s Mount
photo 17 forum 1 description 10 -
Trye
photo 1 description 1 -
Hannibal’s Carn
photo 3 description 1 -
Carn Galva
photo 23 description 6 -
The Giant’s Grave (Morvah)
photo 1 description 1 -
Boscregan
photo 28 description 2 -
Table Mên
photo 1 description 2 -
Tonkins Downs
photo 9 -
The Beacon (Zennor)
photo 4 description 1 -
Bosporthennis Quoit
photo 17 forum 2 description 3 link 1 -
Letcha
photo 9 -
Castle-an-Dinas (Nancledra)
photo 26 description 3 -
Mayon Standing Stone
photo 3 description 1 -
Porthmeor (Treen Common)
photo 17 description 2 -
St. Levan’s Stone
photo 9 description 5 -
Conquer Downs
photo 10 description 2 -
Botallack
photo 1 forum 1 description 1 -
St. Levan’s Well
photo 7 description 1 -
Sennen
photo 2 description 3 -
Carn Gluze
photo 73 forum 2 description 9 -
Chypraze
photo 14 forum 1 description 1 -
Treen Entrance Graves
photo 26 forum 1 description 6 -
Noon Digery banjo enclosure
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Porthmeor Fogou
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Bosigran Cliff
photo 30 description 2 -
Lower Boscaswell Fogou
photo 15 description 4 -
Porthmeor Roundhouses
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Bosigran Settlement
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Porthmeor
photo 14 description 6 -
Mayon Cliff
photo 28 description 4 -
Kerrow
photo 2 description 1 -
Pendeen Vau
photo 26 forum 1 description 9 -
Kenidjack Cairn Circle
photo 11 description 1 -
Kenidjack Castle
photo 29 description 4 -
Maen Castle
photo 42 description 3 link 1 -
Pennance
photo 15 description 3 -
Cape Cornwall
photo 14 description 2 -
Roskestal West Cliff
description 1 -
Carn Les Boel
photo 25 description 3 link 1 -
Kerrowe Menhir
photo 4 description 2 -
Pordenack Point
photo 18 description 2 -
Foage
photo 5 -
Gurnard’s Head
photo 40 description 6 -
Zennor Quoit
photo 92 forum 3 description 14 -
Sperris Quoit
photo 24 description 3 -
Giant’s Rock
photo 8 description 3 -
Sperris Croft
photo 12 description 3 -
Wicca Round
photo 1 description 1 -
Towednack Double Armed Cross
photo 2 description 2 -
Cudden Point
photo 1 description 1 -
Trink Hill
photo 5 description 4 -
Trendrine Hill
photo 18 description 3 -
Trencrom Hill
photo 43 description 13 link 1 -
Trencrom Hill Well
photo 3 description 1 -
Treveneague Fogou
forum 1 description 2 -
Giant’s Well
photo 1 description 1 -
The Bowl Rock
photo 4 description 4 -
Beersheba
photo 14 description 5 -
Rosewall Hill
photo 6 description 3 -
Carbis Bay Longstone
photo 5 description 4 -
St Erth Round
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The Fairy Well
photo 6 description 3 -
Carnsew
photo 9 -
Godolphin Hill
photo 6 description 1 link 1 -
Trewavas Cliff
photo 14 description 3 -
Camel Rock
photo 5 description 1 -
Castle Pencaire
photo 25 forum 1 description 3 -
Castle Kayle
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Tregonning Hill
photo 11 -
Phillack Towans
photo 4 description 1 -
Gear Round
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Drym Round
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Connor Downs