Pennance

Also known as:
The Giant's House
Nearest town:
Penzance (7km SSE)
OS reference:
SW448376
OS sheet:
203
Latitude:
50° 10' 57.73 N
Longitude:
5° 34' 30.86 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Pennance (Entrance Grave) by postman

The chambers entrance is again a touch on the small side, a belly crawl is required.

The big stones on the left seem very out of place and could be farmers field clearance.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Aug 23, 2013
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Articles

Pennance

postman
postman Aug 23, 2013
comment 2 Comments

There are some issues with getting close to this burial chamber, but it's so tantalisingly close to the road to warrant a sneak peek. But this was proving difficult in the extreme, never mind the cows between it and us, where do I leave the car? I drove this way and that but there really isnt much to choose from. I plumped for outside the first house going back to St Ives. Until a man came out and said could I not park there, but after he heard me out he budged a car or two up and made room for me, very kind, thank you kindly. He also added that I should ask at Pennance farm for permission.

Walking up the farm track a 4x4 came towards us, it stopped right next to me and I said in my very best not quite crawling voice would it be ok if we had a look at your burial chamber. He replied that it would be impossible and under no circumstances could he let that happen, the field shuts at five. An incredulous look must have crossed my face, he touched my arm apologetically and said i'm sorry, of course you can. Phew !

He then asked if I could outrun a cow but then looked at Eric and said youll just have to be quicker than him. Good to see humour is alive and well in far off Cornwall.

We meandered our way past the bovinators, who steadfastly refused to acknowledge us, which was nice, specially for Eric.

Carl is half right, it is in the middle of a field but its not quite the jumble as it seems from the road.

Some large stones seem to have been added on the south west side, they are much bigger than the other stones on top of the mound, field clearance would be my guess, but hard work getting them up onto the top.

The chambers entrance is not big, a belly crawl is required to get in, once in you can see an active rabbit hole, in fact there are a few all over the cairn.

The whole structure is built on a slope, no artificial platforms here, just throw it up and get great uncle Bernard in there.

It looks very much like another Scilonian tomb, which i'm beginning to like very much, ive seen three or four now and I've not once been to Scilly.

The sun is going down now, sinking into the sea, but this has been a very good day, and this was the perfect finish, good stones, good weather, good times.

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Pennance

C
CARL Apr 20, 2010
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Visited 11.4.10.

No public right of way to site and very difficult to park on the road (B3306) from which the tomb is easily seen. I just about managed to park (not very safely) on a grass verge and satisfied myself with a quick look before moving the car not to cause an accident. The site consists of what appears to be a large jumble of stones in the middle of a field. There didn't appear to be any way you could get close to the site for a 'sneak' visit without asking permission from the land owner.

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Pennance

CraigR
CraigR Oct 11, 2001
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A fantastic Scillonian entrance grave close to Lands End. About 15ft long with five capstones still in position. Marked as Chambered Cairn on Landranger, close to Penzance. National Trust land but ask at farm/house for permission. Quiet and beautiful.

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Sites within 20km of Pennance

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