Rhiannon

I cannot tell you how long it’s taken me to track down the location of this site... variant spellings and unfamiliarity with the area did not help. But anyway it sounds superb so all this is worth the effort. I’d love to visit.

This is a naturally curious place, with a stream disappearing into the ground and reappearing: it’s no wonder it’s replete with folklore and Christianisation. I advise a glance at the Historic Environment Viewer map to see where the well, stream, ‘bed’, and bullauns all are.

This is an extract from an article on ‘The antiquities of the Parish of Kilcomenty’ in The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries for 1904:

About 30 yards east of the graveyard, a rapid stream which there issues from the ground is called St. Commaneth’s Well. This stream flows from Ballinahinch, about two miles distant, and close beside the saint’s bed; it is carried underground for nearly 200 yards, emerging at and forming the well; then, turning sharply by the south wall of the graveyard, it finally empties itself into the bog of Shower.

One of the legends told concerning the well is that long ago it was situated close by the stone known as St. Commaneth’s Bed, but that some cattle having been accidentally allowed to sully its waters, the well in a single night moved down to its present site.

Two of the traditional trout said to frequent holy wells in Ireland are supposed to be here.

Over the well, completely shading its waters, are four ancient trees – one sallow, one whitethorn, and two ash. Those two last are in reality one enormous tree, which, near the lower part of the trunk, is divided in two, and its branches and the hollow by the well are covered with rags and votive offerings of every description, deposited by pilgrims who have made their rounds.

The summer of 1902 was exceptionally dry in North Tipperary, the month of August being phenomenally so. Springs, wells, and streams that in living memory had never been known to do so, ran dry; and St. Commaneth’s Well formed no exception to the general rule, for it must be recorded that we failed to find even one drop of water within its usually brimming basin.

The rounds practised here are seven in number. Having taken seven pebbles from the stream running from the well, and having repeated the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary!, Creed, and Gloria, the pilgrim throws one of the pebbles back into the brook, and proceeds to walk round the well. Following the course of the water for a time “sunwards,” through the field south of the stream, he crosses it by a small bridge and enters the graveyard by a gate at the extremity of the south wall. Proceeding along a well-worn pathway by its north and east sides, he quits its precincts by a stile, which brings him to the well again, where he kneels and prays, and so on, until the appointed number of rounds are performed. While Mr. Westropp and I were in the cemetery, a country woman and two children “were making their rounds.”

Close by the spot where the water of the stream disappears for a space under ground rests the traditional bed of the saint, lying north of the stream, and nearer to the road than the graveyard and well. It is a large irregular block of brownish sandstone, 8 feet long, and 4 feet 9 inches wide, extreme measurements, and stands about 2 1/2 to 3 feet high. The highest end is to the west, and here is a large and deep bullaun. To the west of this is a shallow, dish-like bullaun, and there are traces of two or more basins. Two sets of scorings are to be found on the stone; that nearer the top consists of six irregular broad strokes, not ogamic in character, while the set lower down consists of four slight scores. These markings are reputed to represent the impressions of the saint’s ribs and hands.

There’s some extra folklorey information in Lives of the Irish Saints by John O’Hanlon. He mentions that the prayers at the well are good for “bodily and mental ailments.”

He says of the trout: “The following is a local legend. A person of the neighbourhood, at one time, scorning to respect the well, took one of these trout home, and made an effort to roast it; nothing but blood appeared, and the rascal had to bring the trout back to the well; but from that day forward, the family has not had good luck.”

He mentions of the bed: “About two hundred yards noth-east of the well, in the midst of hawthorn and alder trees, there is a great Druidic rock basin, of brown sandstone, quite unlike stone of the immediate place, which is limestone,” and that the basins are “always full or half full of water.”

I love the way he mixes Druids and saints. He says “There is no doubt, that the stone lay, in its present position, long before the period of the patron saint. On the conversion of the Druids, he may have used the basins for baptizing the early Christians of the place, and may have rested on it occasionally. There is nothing impossible or improbable in this presumption, and tradition may be perfectly correct.”

The Hertfordshire HER says there is a (probable) henge here, with its entrances east and west, and a diameter of 85m. There used to be a dene hole inside it, in which Neolithic arrow heads were found. The hole was also known as being ‘Jack O’Legs’s Cave’ (dully, it’s now filled in). But you can’t help thinking that a henge with built-in cave would be a rather marvellous thing.

On Jack O’Legs:

At Weston, two stones in the churchyard, 14ft. 7 inches apart, are said to be the head and foot stones of the giant Jack o’ Legs, who is there buried with his body doubled up. He lived at Baldock, – where, as he walked along the street, he would look in at the first-floor windows, – and thence he shot an arrow, saying that where it fell he wished to be buried. It fell in Weston Churchyard, and, in its flight, knocked away a corner of the church tower. (Told in 1883).

From ‘Scraps of folklore collected by John Philipps Emslie’, C.S. Burne, in ‘Folklore’ v26, no. 2 (June 1915).

Likewise he’s mentioned in ‘Handbook to Hitchin and the neighbourhood’ by Charles Bishop (1875):

On the Great North Road, near the village of Graveley, is a considerable elevation which goes by the name of “Jack’s Hill,” from its having been the scene of depradations on travellers by a noted highwayman called “Jack o’ Legs.” [...]

In fact if you’re interested, there’s a whole book about this character by W.B. Gerish (1905). It suggests the cave was filled in around 1850.

The Camp At Portskewett.
(From a Correspondent).

[...] Thanks to the members of the corps – about 20 in number – who, under the command of Captain Williams, proceeded to the camp on Saturday last, a sufficient number of tents had been pitched for our accommodation before our arrival en masse on Monday.

[...] There is nothing which indicates the whereabouts of the “soldiery” until one is as it were in the midst of them. The tents are completely hidden from view by the high ramparts which extend from the north-east to the south. The piece of ground enclosed within the ramparts is of a triangular form, the eastern line being formed by the waters of the Severn. Coming suddenly into a deep moat without the ramparts, one is as suddenly confronted by a sentry, marching with a soldier-like air, a guard-room, or rather a guard tent, and a number of the guard lounging about.

Immediately in front of the guard tent, there is a gap, cut right in the angle of the encampment, and looking through this the whole of the tents and their occupants within are at once visible, presenting to the visitor a lively and picturesque scene, of which, two minutes before, he could have had no perception.

[...] The weather has been glorious throughout the week, but the heat, which would be exceedingly oppressive in town, is rendered delightful here, with a stiff fresh breeze flowing across the water. Each day the men have worked and drilled with a subordination that would be creditable even to a soldier of long service, and order has been maintained night and day. Heavy gun drill has been gone into most zealously, and some good practice has been made [...]

Ghost stories are not wanting in the guard room, for one good reason. On the north-east are the ruins of an old Roman chapel known as the chapel of the Holy Trinity, and no doubt was connected with the Roman encampment. Sundry remains of the genus homo in decay have been found in this spot, although the outline of the graveyard which adjoined the chapel has been effaced. A sentry is posted in the vicinity of the old chapel, and more than one have felt a chill creep over him during the still hours; but it is unnecessary to mention the little rumours which have currency during the last couple of days.

I have forgotten to mention that the immediate vicinity of the camp is called Sudbrook, and also that the advantages of the spot were utilised as a place to land, conceal, and protect his soldiers by Oliver Cromwell before he stormed Caldicott Castle. The place is in the highest degree classic and historic ground, and is well worth visiting.[...]

From the Western Mail, 4th August 1871.

The Druid’s Circle is situated two miles from Raphoe at Beltony. It is composed of sixty seven stones all standing erect in a circle.
South of this circle there is a large stone where all the victims were hung for there is a trace of a chain on it.

From this circle a giant threw a large stone to Nagherahane where a giant’s grave now lies. Another grave is to be found in Mrs Craig’s land. On top of it there is a large stone standing erect.
There is gold to be found at the Druid’s Circle. Many tourists came from Derry to dig for the gold but found none.

Adjacent to this circle there is the ‘Old Wind Mill’ where a number of giants were buried.
The druids worshipped the sun or fire Bael teine – “fire of Bael”.

Giants’ graves are numerous in Ireland so that shows us there were a great many giants in olden times.

Molly McClean (age 14)

Collected for the Schools Collection of the 1930s, now being transcribed at Duchas.ie.

Within 20 perches of where I live in Ballyglass is a Druidical circle formed of a big pile of stones each about 10 cwt. To the North of this circle is something like a rude altar composed of stones and also to the South end of the altar is another one.

Antiquarians who visit this place describe it as where the Druids offered up their sacrifice to their Gods in pre Christian times. Outside the Northern end of the circle are huge stones sunk in the earth and separated from each other. Antiquarians describe them as graves which are marked by these huge stones. Notwithstanding that it is of Druidical Origin the local people hold it very sacred and wouldn’t interfere with it for their untold lives.

An old man who once lived in the vicinity of the Druidical Circle found himself on a Sunday morning without a razor to shave himself to go to Mass. It been on a fine Summer’s day instead of going to Mass he entered the Druidical Circle and knelt down on a cromlech which is supposed to be the grave of some chief and said his prayers as he could not attend Mass. When he had his prayers said he lay down on the cromlech and fell asleep. When he awoke he found a razor by his side. It was so good that it would shave all the people in Mayo without an edge.

For about a hundred years it was an heirloom of the family until some young man stole it some years ago.

Collected by Thomas Pryal from Andrew Pryal in the 1930s, for the Schools Collection (now being transcribed at Duchas.ie.

Tlachtga is an important site in many early Irish sources, incorporating several strands of Irish mythology. The site is reputedly named after a druidess, the daughter of the quasi-mythical sun-god figure Mog Ruith, named in another tale as the executioner of John the Baptist.

According to Geoffrey Keating’s History of Ireland, Tlachtga was one of four great fortresses (along with Tara, Teltown and Uisneach) built by the high king Tuathal Techmar following the creatio of the kingdom of Mide in the early decades of the first millennium AD. Each of these fortresses was constructed from part of an existing kingdom: Uisneach from Connacht, Tlachtga from Munster, Tara from Leinster and Teltown from Ulster.

Tlachtaga was strongly associated with the festival of Samhain. It was reputed to be the site of the ‘Fire of Tlachtga’ which was used to summon ‘the priests, the augurs and druids of Ireland’ to assemble on Samhain eve in order to ‘consume the sacrifices that were offered to their pagan gods’. It was decreed that all fires within the kingdom on that night were to be kindled from the Fire of Tlachtga, under penalty of fine. In recent times the tradition of a Samhain gathering on the hill has been revived, and fire once again burns on Tlachtga on Samhain eve.

In 1167 Tlachtga was the site of the last of the reform synods to be held under Irish kingship. Presided over by Ruiadri Ua Conchobair, the last high king of Ireland, 13,000 horsemen are said to have attended, along with provincial kings and key ecclesiastical figures of the day, including Gelasius of Armagh, St Laurence O’Toole of Dublin and Cadhla of Tuam. Five years later, in 1172, Tigeman Mor Ua Ruairc, king of Breifne for over 40 years, was slain on the hill ‘by treachery’ following failed negotiations with Hugh de Lacy regarding the succession of Meath to the Anglo-Normans. Later still, both Owen Roe O’Neill (1643) and Cromwell (1649) are reputed to have encamped on the Hill, accounting for some of the disturbance evident at the site today.

From ‘Heritage Guide no. 63: The Hill of Ward: A Samhain site in County Meath.’ (Archaeology Ireland, December 2013).

The Hill of Slane overlooks a key fording point of the River Boyne, with clear views of the Hill of Tara and Skryne to the south. Little is known of the hill’s prehistory, although geological work suggests that some stone for the Bru na Boinne tombs came from here.

A large enclosed mound hidden in the wood on the hill’s western edge is classified as an Anglo-Norman motte. The nature of its enclosure and its association with a possible ring-barrow suggest that it originated as a prehistoric monument. Herity has compared it to other large mounds, such as that at Rathcroghan, and has stressed its possible ritual significance.

The hill was first associated with a life of St Patrick written by the seventh-century hagiographer Muirchu, who described the saint’s journey from the mouth of the River Boyne and the lighting of the paschal fire at Fertae Fer Feic (’grave-mound of the men of Feic’). A central figure in the story is Erc, first bishop of Slane, who was linked with an area containing Fertae Fer Feic and Slane.

Cathy Swift has shown that the antiquarian James Ware linked Fertae Fer Feic with the hilltop, although souces suggest that this place may have been elsewhere along the Boyne Valley. Swift stresses, however, that early medieval mounds, churches and forts were often connected with legal centres. The Hill of Slane contains both an enclosed mound and an important church site documented as an important legal centre from the eighth century AD, with links to French monastic sites. Therefore, while Slane is unlikely to have been the site of the legendary paschal fire, it has important links to the Patrician story.

From Matthew Seaver and Conor Brady’s “Heritage Guide No. 55: Hill of Slane” (Archaeology Ireland, December 2011).

There are several big Kairnes of Stone on the East-side this Island [ South Uist ], and the Vulgar retain the antient Custom of making a Religious Tour round them on Sundays and Holidays.

From

‘A description of the Western Islands of Scotland‘ by M. Martin, 2nd edition, 1716.

You can see some pictures of the stone on Canmore.

There is another [stone] at the Key, opposite to Kirkibast, 12 foot high: the Natives say that Delinquents were ty’d to this Stone in time of Divine Service.

From

‘A description of the Western Islands of Scotland‘ by M. Martin, 2nd edition, 1716.

The most remarkable Stones for Number, Bigness, and Order, that fell under my Observation, were at the Village of Classerniss; where there are 39 Stones set up 6 or 7 foot high, and 2 foot in breadth each: they are plac’d in form of an Avenue, the breadth of which is 8 foot, and the distance between each Stone six; and there is a Stone set up in the Entrance of this Avenue: at the South end there is join’d to this Range of Stone a Circle of 12 Stones of equal distance and height with the other 39. There is one set up in the Centre of this Circle, which is 13 foot high, and shap’d like the Rudder of a Ship: without this Circle there are 4 stones standing to the West, at the same distance with the Stones in the Circle; and there are 4 Stones set up in the same manner at the South and East sides.

I enquir’d of the Inhabitants what Tradition they had from their Ancestors concerning these Stones; and they told me, it was a Place appointed for Worship in the time of Heathenism, and that the Chief Druid or Priest stood near the big Stone in the center, from whence he address’d himself to the People that surrounded him.

From

‘A description of the Western Islands of Scotland‘ by M. Martin, 2nd edition, 1716.

The Thrushel Stone in the Parish of Barvas is above 20 foot high, and almost as much in breadth. There are three erected Stones upon the North side of Loch-Carlvay, about 12 foot high each. Several other Stones are to be seen here in remote places, and some of them standing on one end. Some of the ignorant Vulgar say, they were Men by Inchantment turn’d into Stones; and others say, they are Monuments of Persons of Note kill’d in Battel.

‘A description of the Western Islands of Scotland‘ by M. Martin, 2nd edition, 1716.

If you had £3m you could have bought the house that owns the land this stands on. It would be nice to overlook the Puggie Stone from your windows. I wouldn’t say no.

Scarcely half a mile above Holy-street, a tor rises near the river’s brink on the south side, called, by the country people, the Puckie, or Puggie Stone, and celebrated for the large rock-basin, or pan, (as it is popularly called,) on its summit. The antiquary, trusting to local report, will be disappointed when after having succeeded in scaling the rock, he finds that the characteristics of the genuine rock-basin, as described [on p.29] are not sufficiently clear to enable him to pronounce, that this is not one of the examples, attributable exclusively to the operation of natural agencies. Although of large size, it is not of the usual circular form, nor do its sides display any decisive indications of artificial adaptation. But if disappointed in the main object of his research, the explorere will be repaid for his escalade, by the commanding view he will have gained of the wild-wood glen down which the Teign rushes, foaming along its rock-bound channel, in all the youthful vigour of a mountain-born torrent.

For the means of examining this basin, as it can only be reached by a ladder, I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Nicolas Clampit, the hospitable occupier of the interesting old mansion at Holy-street, one of the Forest tenants.

Samuel Rowe’s ‘Perambulation of the antient and Royal Forest of Dartmoor and the Venville Precincts’ (1848). You’d think he would like the fact the basin’s not ‘real’ and natural. You’d think he might like that someone deliberately adjusted it (c.f. druid sacrifices). If anyone even did. I would like it either way, natural or artificial.

‘Puckie’ surely has to have connections with the piskies – like ‘puck’. (Though a ‘puggy’ was a word for a squirrel far away in eastern England).

JLW Page (in his ‘exploration of Dartmoor and its antiquities’ 1889) says “This isolated stone is certainly the largest single mass off the Moor, though some of the blocks under Combe Farm, at the entrance of the Teign Gorge, rivals. It has a length of twenty-five feet, a breadth of eleven, and is no less than fourteen feet in height.”

[There is] the tradition that “Bowerman” lived in the locality at the time of the Conquest. He must have had something peculiarly striking in the pattern of his nose! Still we like to keep our “Bowerman” as a personality, and feel hardly grateful to modern learning, which comes down upon us with ponderous weight and says we have ignorantly corrupted the Celtic name of Vawr Maen, the Great Stone.

From ‘Dartmoor and its surroundings: what to see and how to find it.’ by Beatrix F Cresswell, 1900.

Historic England’s website mentions the alternative name of Roundago, so I guess this is the place. It says ‘the round was first depicted on the 1840 Tithe Map when it still had a massive stone outer wall with an entrance to the south and a colonnade of stones which led to an inner circular enclosure. When described by Blight in 1865, the inner enclosure could hardly be traced and the avenue had been removed. However, the ramparts were still massively constructed.‘

Unfortunately, not a few of the hoary remains of an unlettered age have been wilfully or ignorantly destroyed, although some owe their preservation as much to the lasting superstitions of the people as to their remote positions, apart from the haunts of man. The following story will shew that some ojections still remain in the popular mind against interfering with these ancient stones. Farmers find the rude crosses, which are still very numerous in Cornwall, extremely convenient as gate-posts, and to that use many of them have been brought. Such an one set his labourer to sink a pit for a post, but when the pit was finished and the labourer weas told that the cross standing in the field, a little distance off, was to be placed in it, the man absolutely refused to have any hand in the matter; not, be it said, on account of the beautiful or the antique, but for fear of “the old people.”

Another farmer related that he had a neighbour who “haeled down a lot of stwuns called the Roundago, and sold ‘em for building the docks at Penzance. But ne’er a penny of the money he got for ‘em ever prospered, and there wasn’t wan of the hosses that haeled ‘em that lived out the twelve-month; and they do say that some of the stwuns do weep blood, but” --reluctantly-- “I don’t believe that.”

From ‘Cornwall Pre-historic and Present’ by C G Harper in ‘Architecture’ v2, pp176-184 (1897).

In the grounds of the Lodge, which command a fine view of the Thames, St George’s Hills and Kingston Vale, is a mound, marked as the King’s Standinge on the oldest extant map of the Park, dated 1637, the year of its first enclosure. This quaint name, the real meaning of which cannot be determined, is supposed to have reference to the legend that Henry VIII. stood upon the mound to watch for the going up of the rocket which was to announce to him that the head of Anne Boleyn had fallen, and, in deference to this tradition, care was taken when Sidmouth Wood was planted not to intercept the view from the mound, by leaving a clear space, through which the dome of St. Paul’s can be seen on exceptionally clear days, between two rows of trees that some years hence will form a fine avenue. Unfortunately, however, there is really no more historic foundation for the romantic story connected with the King’s Standinge-- Henry having been far away from Richmond on the day of the unfortunate queen’s death -- than for the even more improbable supposition that Oliver’s Mount takes its name from Oliver Cromwell having witnessed from it a battle between the Royal and Parliamentary forces, no struggle having taken place that could possibly have been seen from Richmond Park.

From ‘The Royal Manor of Richmond, with Petersham, Ham and Kew’ by Mrs A G Bell (1907).

From ‘Hell’s Gate’ we ascend to ‘Heaven’s Gate’ and so win our way to the brow of the Wrekin, 1,335 feet above the sea. ‘There is on the Toppe of this Hill a delicate plaine Ground, and in this plaine a fayre Fountaine,’ wrote Leland, the antiquary, long ago. No water is to be found there now except such as collects, from time to time, in the ‘Raven’s Bowl,’ a cup-like depression on the top of a conical outcrop of rock, know as the ‘Bladder, (or Balder’s) Stone.’ At the foot of this rock there is a deep, narrow, crooked cleft, yclept the ‘Needle’s Eye.’ Now the fable goes that, if any young maid dips her foot into the Raven’s Bowl, and then ‘threads the Needle’s Eye,’ by scrambling through the cloven rock, she will be married within a twelvemonth, ‘so sure as there’s acherns in Shropshire.

Acherns = acorns? From ‘Nooks and Corners of Shropshire’ by H T Timmins (1899).