Taken from CS Gilberts “History of Cornwall” published early 1800s
Image credit: CS Gilbert
Mr Hamhead
“In the commons belonging to the town of Lambourn, is a Barrow, called Creeg Mear, the Great Burrow, which one Christopher Michell digging into some years since, whilst I lived at Lambrigan, in hopes to find stones for an
adjoining hedge of his, came to an hollow place (as usual in such), and found nine urns full of ashes ; which, being disappointed of what he sought for, for the barrow was all of earth, except three or four rough stones which formed
the hollow, he brutally broke immediately to pieces ; and when I expostulated with him about it, and told him I would have paid him his charges, his reply was, that whenever he met with any more, he would bring them to me,
but these were a parcel of old pitchers good for nothing.
That these were Danish, I believe there is no doubt. [They were British, as appears at once, from the Kist Vaen discovered within, and from the hinted badness of the pottery. But they were] I suppose, the ashes of some chief commanders slain in battle, (for which the place is very fit, it being a large open down) from the great number of them. [One barrow cannot mark a battle.] And on a small hill just under this barrow, [and, as under the barrow, bearing probably no relation to it], is a Danish encampment, called Castle Caer Dane, vulgo Castle Caer Don, i. e. the Danes’ Camp, consisting of three intrenchments finished, and another begun with an intent to surround
the inner three, but not completed.”
CS Gilbert ‘Parochial History of Cornwall’Vol III 1838
Not quite sure where the barrow was/is, hence putting this under Caer Dane.
The name on the OS map suggests there should be something here....alas, I can find no written evidence of any quoit ever being here and nothing to suggest why the rock strewn hill top should have such a name.
Quarrying was done here in the mid 1800s and all around the area moorstone has been cut and taken. Was there a quiot here that had fallen and was carted off to build a nearby farm?
Despite these facts it is a great place to visit if you like atmospheric woodland and moss covered rocks.
Looking west, I have tried to outline the enclosure with pink pen....dosen’t make finding it any easier!
Looking uphill towards the Blocking Stone of the stone row. This is the western end of the enclosure.
Some additional field notes....
It is possible to access the East Moor area (including Fox Tor and Nine Stones of Altarnun) from the A30 by turning off at Five Lanes and taking the lane to Halvana. After a while you will come to a small group of cottages with a track leading off to a gate on the left. Park here (making sure you are not blocking anybody) and go through the gate and head out onto the moor. Fox Tor towers over you to your left, the east Moor stones and cairns are ahead to the right.
One of the easier to find stones......looking back towards Fox Tor
Even with a wider angle this is still not easy to capture in all its splendour
We went from this place over very disagreeable heaths to Morva. About the middle of the downs we came to the foot of a hill, where I observed a small oblong enclosure about 15ft by 10ft, made by granite stones set up an end. From this I observed stones set up an end in a winding form, and if I mistake not, extending from the four corners, which I thought might relate to an ancient serpent worship. About 100 yards to the west, and nearer the foot ot the hill, I observed a circle made of stones laid flat and filled with stones.
We ascended the hill and came to a circle called the Nine Maidens, it is about 23 yards in diameter and consists of 20 stones from 2 to 3 ft broard and 4 to 7 ft high, and 3 yards apart, except that there is an opening to the west 8 yards wide.
About 100 near north there is another stone....it may be supposed these were called the Nine Maidens from so many of them being higher than the rest.
‘Travels Through England’ Dr Richard Pocock 1750
...in half an hour we were hopelessly lost in an impenetrable jungle. Vainly we scanned the hillside for those beehive huts.
In the end I rebelled, and declaimed, with some warmth that, if we wished to see eight prehistoric things before nightfall we must be humble and seek a guide.
At a farmhouse half a mile away on the hill we explained our needs to the farmer. Turning to his wife, whose face was sunburnt the colour of a nut, he said ‘You take them to the huts‘
As we tramped over the moor I solicited her opinion of Cornish antiquities.
‘Bless you, my dear’ she said ‘people talk a lot about em, but they aint nothing at all, just old stones and things‘
from C Lewis Hind ‘Days in Cornwall’ 1907
Frontispiece to ‘Days in Cornwall’ C Lewis Hind 1907
Image credit: William Pascoe 1906
“We saw that an effort had been made to open this barrow at one of the ends; but an old woman, whom we found at a cottage not far off, assured us ‘that they that tried it were soon forced to give up thier digging and flee for the thunders came to em and the lightenings also’ We endevoured to sound out the local mind of our imformant as to the history of the place and the origin of the grave, but all we could drag out of her, after questions again and again, was ’ great warriors, supposing, in old times’ Such was the dirge of the mighty dead, and their requiem, at Warbstow Barrow.
Rev Hawker, as quoted in ‘Days in Cornwall’ by C Lewis Hind 1907
Sits in a field to the south of Boscastle / Tintagel. Easily reached by road with fantastic views out to sea or over to Bodmin Moor and beyond.
The ridge leading out to Tregarrick Tor from Minions contains at least five cairns (or Tumuli if you use the OS map) The two biggest stand proud and can be viewed from some distance away. One is a standard cairn, usual mound of granite boulders although the covering of moss on many I find unusual. The second, that stands just to the west, is a nice ring cairn. Both (in May 07) have been striped of vegitation and are easily seen. The ring cairn has been subjected to fire and all the gorse has been burnt back revelaing its shape.
View from the bottom...not any easier to make out! The avenue starts from just to the right of the small cairn in the foreground and makes its way up to just level with the sheep but to the right directly below the aerial. Took me a while to find today...despite following my own directions!
Pictures and thoughts from one mans travels around the county...lots that is relevant to TMA fans.
Not actually marked on the map as a barrow but....that is what it looks like to me! The seaward side has dissapeared and a wall built through it. The whole mound is surounded by barbed wire to keep something out?
Great site to be buried!
Easilly reached from Gwithian Towans by NT road out to the lighthouse.
...to the lighthouse...Godrevy Lighthouse to be precise...the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s book of the same name.
This stone stands just to the north of the monument. It is thought to be a gatepost to the original neolithic hillfort.
The two stones photographed to show lineup with southern cairn of Carn Brea.
In a field at the southwest end of the carn stands two stones, about 4 to 5 ft high. The jury is out as to if they are ancient or just old gateposts or rubbing stones....I’m not sure...go have a look.
Many will tell you this is a gate post...and indeed it is!..but it is thought to be a gatepost to the hillfort on top of Carn Brea. It can be found beside the road up onto the carn from the south side.
I am trusting the info board at this site for info on this stone. The stone can be found in the car park of Poldark Mine near Wendron , north of Helston.
I know no more about it .....see image for more info.
Looking southeast towards the china clay area from the eastern banks.