• Bashed Bridge of the Month • Mystery on Rough Tor

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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.

MARCH 2019

Issue 28 This month:  BASHED BRIDGE OF THE MONTH  MYSTERY ON ROUGH TOR  AREA REPS’ MEETING  HULL DISCOVERED  AT LAST - STONEHENGE EXPLAINED!  GUIDESTONES RESTORED

BASHED BRIDGE OF THE MONTH

It was never intended that this should become a regular feature but sadly our reliance on motor transport is not only harming air quality but is also a threat to some important historic monuments. This month’s victim, once again, is Trekelland Bridge (Listed Building (II*) 68430, in Lewannick parish), ironically described on Heritage Gateway as ‘one of the best preserved and most beautiful of Cornish bridges’ (https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO9740&resourceID=10 20). Rosy Hann’s photos (see below) show the latest damage. The January edition of From Your Own Correspondent illustrated the rapid and skilful repairs made by Cormac following another collision with the structure. How dispiriting it must be to have to revisit it yet again to carry out more repairs!

Photo: Rosy Hanns Photo: Rosy Hanns

MYSTERY ON ROUGH TOR

Adrian Rodda has sent this report about a puzzling recent feature on Rough Tor (St Breward parish):

Photo: Adrian Rodda 3

The walk across the saddle from Little Rough Tor towards the highest point takes you to an outcrop and then a flat area before the highest tor. This outcrop has a natural cave which you pass on your climb. I always look into it because it illustrates the late Roger Farnworth’s idea that Bodmin Moor needed no quoits because there were natural caves in which to deposit bones and plenty of high points to lay out bodies for excarnation. I am not sure what I expect to see, but I certainly did not expect to find a carefully laid floor with stones of a variety of sizes chosen to fit well together. I am almost certain that I looked into it on my last visit in June 2018 and found no floor. Area Reps, David and Linda Edyvean, who also enjoy walking on Roughtor, had no recollection of it.

Photo: Adrian Rodda

The whole of the summit of Roughtor is scheduled and protected. There are a few stones scattered on the saddle, but plenty of scree below the Neolithic walls on each long flank of the hill. More concerning is that the stones may have been chosen and carried over from the walls themselves. The enclosure walls are made up by filling the spaces between natural outcrops (tors) with a line of upright stones and rubble amassed to connect the uprights. This style of building is replicated on Carn Brea, Trencrom, Carn Galva and Stowe’s Pound 4

and identifies them as Neolithic enclosures in contrast to the soil banks and ditches around Iron Age hillforts.

We are aware of the “fairy castles”, where stones are balanced in a pile, and of cairns built by walkers who just want to contribute a rock to a mound, regardless of how it changes the landscape and profile of the hill top. On Stowe’s Pound the rocks are often robbed from the enclosure walls, disturbing the archaeology of the site. But who would have gone to all this trouble to build a floor of carefully fitted stones? What purpose did they intend for the cave? Surely it is too far from the sea for smugglers? It is too high for lambing and too uncomfortable for “courting”. Might it be part of the apprentice training of a Cornish hedger?

Adrian Rodda

AREA REPS’ MEETING

CAS Area Reps meet twice a year at Wheal Martyn Museum, near St Austell. Once again our ever patient Convenor, Iain Rowe, presided over a roomful of enthusiasts and professionals.

Much news, both good and bad, about archaeological features the length and breadth of the county was reported but lack of space means that only a sample can be reported here. Richard Heard noted with sadness that some Anglican churches in the far north of Cornwall had been closed, or were about to be. Other important buildings, unfortunately not Listed, were subject to planning applications. It was a reminder that buildings can be taken for granted and if their historical importance is not accompanied by some form of protection they can too easily be lost. Similarly, china-clay dries, or pan kilns, once so numerous, appear to be dwindling. Iain Rowe described how an important pan kiln at Moorswater near Liskeard had been quickly and thoughtlessly demolished. Val Jacob was very concerned about the deterioration of the once-impressive china-stone mill at St Stephen-in-Brannel. Sheila James drew everyone’s attention to the variable quality of Impact Assessments that accompany planning applications. Sometimes they miss or underestimate the effect on heritage features that new building might entail. In many cases it might be worthwhile challenging them, something which has been made easier with the information available on Cornwall Council’s superb online mapping site (https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and- living/mapping/). Details relating to planning applications may be found at: http://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online- applications/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=planningregisterlink&utm_campaign=planning .

Peter Crispin was able to provide photographic evidence of damage caused by 4x4 vehicles on Bodmin Moor. Sadly, this is seen elsewhere: in Luxulyan Valley forays by motor cyclists cause damage and represent a danger to the public. 5

There was plenty of good news too. Andrew Langdon has been busy restoring and repairing medieval crosses all over Cornwall. Sean Taylor sent a report of investigations at Newhouse Farm by a group called In Search of Tywardreath which shed new light on the building and, just possibly, link it to the medieval priory. Steve Hebdige and Sheila Harper, and their indefatigable band of scrub-bashers from Newquay Old Cornwall Society (http://www.oldcornwall.net/newquay-ocs/4576249804 and https://en- gb.facebook.com/newquayhistory/), had carried out work at a number of sites, as these photos show:

Trevornick Holy Well (Cubert parish)

Before:

Photo: Steve Hebdige

After:

Photo: Steve Hebdige Steve’s photo below shows that the placement of larger stones on the edge of Cubert barrow has restricted idiots driving over it in 4x4 vehicles:

Photo: Steve Hebdige 6

Samantha Barnes, Historic England Listing Adviser – West gave a fascinating presentation about Listing Buildings and Scheduling Monuments. The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) includes: Listed Buildings; Scheduled Monuments; Registered Parks and Gardens; Registered Battlefields; and Protected Wrecks. World Heritage Sites were also included. There is an online searchable website: https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/hpg/heritage- assets/nhle/.

Cornwall has the highest number of Scheduled Monuments in the south-west. In all, the county has 97,502 designated assets. That doesn’t mean that everything that needs protecting has been Listed (the term encompasses Listing and Scheduling), so if you know of places that merit such protection you can get clear, accessible advice at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/selection-criteria/listing-selection/ and https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/selection-criteria/scheduling-selection/ihas- archaeology/ . Nomination is confidential and your name will not be released. Sam also drew attention to a wonderful opportunity to add information about monuments and buildings: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/enrich-the-list/. All you have to do is to apply for a Heritage Passport at: https://services.historicengland.org.uk/passportserver/registration.aspx?app_id=1f8fb93f- 56a7-4c10-91e4-6e9d04cbf7aa); check the terms and conditions, as well as the instructions; locate a site; add photos or other comments. Here are two more wonderful sites recommended by Sam: England’s Places has an online searchable database of photographs: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/englands-places/. Britain from Above is also very useful: https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/map?country=england&year=all&view=map#3,2153 18,39129

Chris Coldwell provided an update on Cornwall AONB’s exciting Scheduled Monument Project. An application has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund. If successful, much needed resources will be available to monitor, repair and conserve Scheduled Monuments in the AONB. Chris also told us about the intriguing Kerdroya (Cornish Landscape Labyrinth) Community Hedge Project which will mark 60 years of the Cornwall AONB and will be run by Golden Tree Productions. In 2019 a section of hedge will be restored in each of the AONB’s 12 sectors (see: http://www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk/kerdroya). Lastly, if you are going to this year’s Royal Cornwall Show, make sure you visit the Cornwall AONB exhibition, which is being shared with various heritage groups, including CAS.

Cornwall Council’s online mapping site is without doubt one of the wonders of the modern world, yet still manages to get bigger, cleverer and better. Francis Shepherd, Strategic Historic Environment Officer, Cornwall Council, gave a thorough demonstration of how to get the best out of this superb public resource: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community- and-living/mapping/. 7

Our day finished with a tour around Wheal Martyn Museum led by Ann Preston-Jones of Historic England, who pointed out the various challenges involved in the conservation of a complex industrial site. The museum is located in a china clay processing works in which all stages of the post-extraction phase, as carried out in the later 19th century and early 20th century, can be seen. The Wheal Martyn Trust has secured an award of £858,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards its £1.35m Clay Works Project. Some of the buildings, such as the pan-kiln or dry, were closed for restoration but the visit was very instructive. Besides being the regular venue for our meetings, Wheal Martyn is a wonderful place to visit (you can even walk or cycle there on a level, traffic-free route from St Austell) and is highly recommended: https://www.wheal-martyn.com/news/#.

CAS Area Reps at Wheal Martyn Photo: Iain Rowe

HULL DISCOVERED!

No, not that Hull! Not the Hull of Philip Larkin but a hull. A Cornish hull has been found by Penny Miners, who lives on Tregonning Hill on the border of Germoe and Breage parishes. She contacted CAS with the news of her discovery. The feature is between the sites of two buildings that no longer exist. She writes: ‘We've removed some recent (last fifty years) rubbish from the entrance but I would guess there are steps going down to the side passage.’ Francis Shepherd of the Strategic Historic Environment Service visited and 8

confirmed that it was a hull and that the pottery found in it was medieval in date. Not surprisingly, the local Area Rep, Veronica Summers, is very keen to have a look for herself.

Photo: Penny Miners

Photo: Penny Miners 9

Photo: Penny Miners

Hulls might appear to be somewhat enigmatic underground features but Michael Tangye’s paper in Cornish Archaeology 12 (1973) provides a thorough, accessible explanation based on extensive fieldwork and historical research. In short, he describes them as being ‘basically stores or cellars for either domestic or farm use’. ‘Hull’ ‘is the commonest dialect word used to refer to a storage tunnel, cave, or chamber, cut from the decomposed granitic gravel that lies beneath the topsoil in granite areas of Cornwall’. He adds that: ‘The entrance is usually formed and strengthened with granite jambs and lintel, and most hulls were at one time fitted with doors. The larger examples, which may be up to 50 feet long, are usually situated in farmyards near the farm house. Smaller examples are found in cottage gardens, or in fields which research shows once contained dwelling sites.’ In the days before refrigeration these chambers were well-suited to the storage of dairy produce and root crops because ‘they maintained a constant temperature both in winter and summer, both cool and frostproof, slightly damp but not wet.’

Michael’s paper (‘Hulls’ in Cornwall: a survey and discussion) is well worth a read and can be found at https://cornisharchaeology.org.uk/journals/No.12_1973.pdf .

AT LAST - STONEHENGE EXPLAINED!

Stonehenge has long attracted the attention of some fine minds. What was it for? How was it built? Where were the stones obtained and how were they moved? This is all fascinating stuff, of course, with enjoyment seasoned by observing the sometimes bitterly fought debates over such questions. But sometimes don’t you just wish that an answer, preferably the definitive answer, is found? Happily, at long last, someone has cut through the tangled knots of theory and counter theory in order to explain the monument and its construction. Step forward, not some expensively funded research programme led by a telegenic academic, or a prestigious university department, but the young scholars of Nanstallon CP School (with a little help from consultant David Edyvean).

David made this lovely model to demonstrate possible transportation techniques and talking to the pupils about life in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. 11

GUIDESTONES RESTORED In the February From Your Own Correspondent I referred to a guidestone as a milestone and I am grateful to Ian Thompson of the Milestone Society for gently pointing out my error. The difference should, of course, be obvious. Ian has sent news of two very successful projects to restore and reinstate guidestones. Ian writes: ‘The ‘Headless Guidestone’ has a new head, an excellent copy of the lost original made by C.F. Piper and Son at Bearah Tor Quarry.’

Photo: Ian Thompson

In the second case: ‘The new column from De Lank Quarry gives the ‘Famous Milestone’ on the B3266 a respectable height once more, and in what we hope will prove to be a safer location just round the bend from its original site’.

Photo: Ian Thompson

Ian has worked with various individuals and organisations to help bring about the restoration of both monuments, giving thanks ‘to the over-stretched and under-funded staff of Cormac Solutions, who have fetched and carried and made such a good job of the reinstatement of these two iconic roadside features. And thank you, the Camel Valley and Bodmin Moor Protection Society, St Mabyn Parish Council, St Tudy Parish Council, Adrian and Julie Brazier, Jon and Joan Webb for your financial and emotional support during the lengthy process of planning application, manufacture and installation’.

Area Representatives would love to hear from fellow CAS members, and the general public, about any feature of the historic environment in their parishes, whether a new discovery, something causing concern, or even just to answer queries. If you have any concerns, or new information, about any archaeological feature, please contact the Area Representative for the parish. If you do not know who that is, just look at the inside back cover of the latest journal, Cornish Archaeology 55, or send an email to [email protected] .

Roger Smith, 11th April 2019 13