October 2018
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1 FROM YOUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS AN UPDATE FROM CORNWALL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S AREA REPRESENTATIVES Any opinions or errors in these articles are those of the authors and must not be assumed to be those of Cornwall Archaeological Society. OCTOBER 2018 Issue 23 This month: ñ NINE MAIDENS STONE ROW ñ MORE ABOUT THE MOOR ñ QUENCHWELL LOOKING WELL ñ MEDIEVAL CARDINHAM ñ PADSTOW MUSEUM ñ AREA REPRESENTATIVES’ AUTUMN ASSEMBLY NINE MAIDENS STONE ROW Steve Northcott has been looking closely at the Nine Maidens stone row between St Columb Major and Wadebridge and has sent this fascinating report: 2 The Nine Maidens (Her no. 26354) are a Bronze Age stone alignment located at grid ref SW937676. The row is approximately 80 metres in length, with stones varying in height from 0.8-2.1 metres and is situated in a field alongside the A39 between St Columb Major and Wadebridge. The stones are irregularly spaced with spacing typically being approximately twelve metres. Alignment is in a north easterly direction which if extended would reach the Fiddler or Magi Stone (grid ref SW939682) as seen in figure 2. It would be fair to think that the row consists of nine stones but a quick count throws some uncertainty over the exact number as the current number of stones stands at eleven and is thought to have possibly included up to twenty megaliths. The nine generally accepted stones in the alignment are of a type of local grey slate streaked with white quartz and are apparently Figure 2 – Google Maps - Nine Maidens alignment unworked. In plan the stones are roughly rectangular at ground level, apart from that on the south east end which is squarish, and their longer axes are orientated with the alignment. In outline they are pillar-like, most tapering slightly towards the top. The central stone has a marked bulge below its middle, and the sixth from the south east has a jagged top, but this is only 0.6m high and is thought to have been truncated in antiquity. The other stones are 1.04m to 2.05m high (the north east end stone is lying, broken and partly embedded). The south west end stone and broken sixth stone are upright, and the eighth from the south west inclines slightly north west. All the other stones are angled to the south east; the seventh from the south west leans close to the ground, indicating that it is displaced. The Fiddler Stone, also named the Whitehorse or the Old Man, is to the north of the row. The stone is recumbent, its axis lying south west-north east, but is considered to remain at its original site. It measures approximately 1.5m-1.6m across, having been truncated to a length similar to its original width, and rises around 0.6m above ground level. The stone type is the local grey slate with white quartz, resembling that used for the Nine Maidens. 3 The monument is generally in a good stable condition and is currently used as pasture land. There is some localised animal burrowing and during periods of heavy rainfall there is occasional flooding which pools at the base of several of the stones. More romantically, the Nine Maidens inspired composer George Lloyd, who wrote part of an opera about one of the stones maidens; Iernin. On waking after hundreds of years, from a Christian curse that changed her and her sisters into stone, Iernin falls in love with Gerent; a nobleman from Castle Bosigran. The two fall in love although Gerent is in fact betrothed to Cunaide, the daughter of Prince Bedwyr. Gerent is dragged away from Iernin and back to his marriage to Cunaide. The two lovers, however, flee to the hills after Gerent openly defies the priest, the crowd and the Court at the wedding. Cunaide implores Gerent to return to her and to reality. Iernin reluctantly then forsakes Gerent and turns back to stone in her place amid the Nine Maidens. Text and photographs: Steve Northcott MORE ABOUT THE MOOR Issue 23 reported Iain Rowe’s concerns about the dumping of stones in the river near South Caradon Mine (see photo below). The good news is that Historic England is aware of the situation and is carefully monitoring it. Mine stone from SSI dumped in River Seaton affecting SSSI, SAM & river quality & flow – looking east Photo: Iain Rowe 4 Not far away, on Stowe’s Hill, stone-stacking has been disfiguring the ancient hilltop enclosure, as Iain Rowe has been reporting for some time. Dan Bashford, Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Project Officer, is concerned about the problem and is working hard to prevent it. Notices explaining the importance of the site, and the damaging nature of the practice, have been posted at Minions. Additionally, a drone survey has been carried out to plot the exact position of the stones in the Neolithic boundary wall, which will allow for any stones that have been moved by vandals to be replaced in an appropriate position. Photo: Iain Rowe While on the subject of Bodmin Moor, Rosy Hanns is keen to find out more about boundary stones revealed during this summer’s very dry conditions. Here is her report: Two stones which are normally underwater have been spotted by an eagle-eyed moor walker in East Cornwall. The first stone is a GLW (Great Lord’s Waste) manor boundary stone on the shores of Colliford Lake. It is shown on the early 6 inch OS map but has been under water since the lake was completed in 1983. I cannot find out much information about the manor of Great Lord’s Waste, if anyone has any, I would love see it please. 5 The second stone is on the shores of Siblyback Lake just to the left of the dam. It is approximately 90cms in diameter with a visible thickness of approximately 25 cms, it has a 12cm hole in the centre that is at least 18cms deep. Any ideas what it originally was would be welcome. There are no milestones or signposts marked in that area on the early 6 inch OS map, but there must have been huge excavation works associated with the dam construction in the late 1960s. Text and photographs: Rosy Hanns QUENCHWELL LOOKING WELL It would be a mistake to think that all historic features are under threat or that those responsible do not care, as this report from Sheila James shows: Back in August I went to check on the Quenchwell (MCO57891) and the associated animal drinking trough (MCO57892) on the parish border between Feock and Kea. They both looked rather neglected. The trough was becoming overgrown with ivy and was hidden by foliage from overhanging branches. The well door post had rotted through and broken off leaving the door just propped against the well house. 6 The drinking trough was being hidden by vegetation growth. I rang the clerk of Kea parish council to report it, and they contacted the landowner concerned, Tregothnan Estate. I am happy to say that the site has now been tidied up, as you can see from the pictures: Text and photographs: Sheila James 7 MEDIEVAL CARDINHAM Recently, Cornwall Archaeological Society visited Cardinham to look at some of the interesting medieval features there. The walk was led by Andrew Langdon and Roger Smith. It must be emphasised that the castle has no right of public access but we were able to visit by kind permission from the landowner. The Teason Cross is also on private land but can be seen from the road. Rosy Hanns has sent the following report: The rain stopped just as Roger and Andrew started their introductory talk on the ancient Parish of Cardinham. Cardinham has existed for more than 1000 years. The name is Cornish from "Car" or "Caer" which means "enclosure" or "fort," and "dinas" which may also mean "fortress." It is assumed from the name that there has been a castle or fortress there since ancient times. Our first stop was the two inscribed stones at Welltown crossroads. Andrew and Roger had cleared the overgrown hedge and vegetation to give us a good view of the stones. Andrew explained that the C6 or C7 Welltown stone (on the right) has an inscription in both Roman and Hiberno- Saxon lettering. The stone formerly stood at Welltown Farm and was moved to its current site by Liskeard Old Cornwall Society in 1932. The Tawna stone (on the left) has a very poorly preserved inscription and has also been split lengthwise which has given rise to dispute about the content of the inscription. The stone formerly stood in Tawna Lane and was being used as a gatepost before being moved to its current position in 1932. Both stones are included in the Schedule (CO152). We walked down the road to Hole Villa where Andrew and Roger showed us the Treslea Downs Medieval cross. Andrew’s cross book describes it as ‘perhaps the smallest wheel headed cross in the county’ at just 0.53m high. The cross originally stood beside the ancient highway between St Neot and Bodmin. during 8 the early C20 the cross was neglected and overgrown and, in 1932 Liskeard Old Cornwall Society arranged its restoration and re-erection near Hole Villa. The Monument is included in the Schedule (24288). From Hole Villa we made our way to White Hill, or Cardinham Castle, by kind permission of the landowner. Cardinham motte and bailey castle was the seat of the most powerful barons in Cornwall after the Norman Conquest.