Mr Hamhead — The Modern Antiquarian
From the WMN’s letters page 1961
Image credit: Western Morning News
As we were camping within walking distance it seemed a shame not to visit. This is a massive stone! Like Jane says, shame about the cross perched on top. There’s now an interpretation area across the road, in French, but with some great old photos.
I managed to get a stone on the ledge! I’m hearing wedding bells already!
Image credit: Mr Hamhead
How did these two get here? Must have been brought all the way from the coast near Land’s End....not an easy job!
Without any fieldnotes or a map these monsters took a bit of finding. I eventually parked at the south end of the village and walked back along a footpath through woods before branching off to the right deeper into the woods where the ‘hills’ suddenly appear in front of you. Wht are they not known better? possibly because there are very few other sites in the area?
Visiting in early April there is very little greenery around, though more than in Cornwall at the moment. Even so there is no view from the top of the tallest mound because of the trees all around, which is a shame.
I would love to know more about the excavations here, how they were carried out and where the story of the light being left burning inside came from.
Nice aerial shot of Duloe Church, poosibly in the 1950s. You can just see the circle top right.
Image credit: Aerofilms Ltd
Arrow points to Menhir in reference to the tor.
Inspired by CARLs visit, I thought it about time I got to see Lesquite Quoit, especailly as I spend quite a bit of time in the area during the spring due to its close proximity to Redmoor nature reserve.
So, having spent the day watching woodpeckers and blue tits feeding their young, being mugged by three over excited squirrels and generally having a great time deep in pristine woodland, I drove over to the pull in beside the field.
As I got out of the car I spotted a fox cub on the other side of the road scarper into the corn with a vole in its mouth. I walked across carefully hoping to catch sight of it only to be greeted by three other cubs, all happy to have photos taken...
...but back to the quoit.
It’s an interesting one as there is no sign of how, if it did, the cap stone sat atop of the uprights. Perhaps it never did, the other large stone that stands behind is too far away to have been part of one structure, so why is it there? The small stone that sits beneath the sloping cap stone, is it original or just a large stone placed there years ago and now considered part of the group?
Is there a connection with Helman Tor and its supposed Neolithic encampment?
So many questions...
Close up of small stone underneath the ‘cap stone‘
From behind with Helman Tor in background
In the North Devon Gazette this weekend.
northdevongazette.co.uk/news/race_against_time_to_save_hill_fort_1_1368697
A TEAM of archaeologists will be surveying and excavating the remains of a hill fort before it is lost to the waves forever.
The work at Embury Beacon in Hartland will be a race against time to save the remaining 25 per cent of the fort.
Previous surveys suggest that the monument may have enclosed the crest of a prominent coastal headland, most of which has eroded away in the last 2,000 years.
The current excavations, which began on April 16 by a team of volunteers, are examining how the original entrance opened.
Justin Seedhouse, National Trust Ranger, said: ““We have enjoyed involving local schools in the digs.
“Woolsery Primary School got their hands dirty learning to be trainee archaeologists and hearing about the history of the fort here, and we have Hartland Primary School also coming to visit.”
The excavation is part of the ‘unlocking our coastal heritage’ project, supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, which aims to improve the visitor experience along the South West Coast Path National Trail.
The excavation is being undertaken by AC archaeology in collaboration with the National Trust, English Heritage and SWCP Team.
Looking south past the west facing entrance to the enclosure.
Looking north towards Bodmin Moor
View from the West at Botelet Fm, where the owners of the land live.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17775009
Dumbed down TV article about project to build a replica Bronze Age boat the the National maritime Museum at Falmouth where you can also see the Nebra Sky Disc.
Close up of the eastern side of the headland showing the banks and ditches (centre picture) coming down the side of the cliff.
The view from the sea of the eastern side of the headland.
Western cairn, built around a boulder. Looking SW towards Longships Lighthouse.
Northern Cairn, looking inland.
Old newspapers go on-line
All over the press today, the official launch of the British Library Newspaper website. May be of use to TMAers... a search for Stonehenge found 450 articles to read.
With the winter sun setting in the west, one last shot of Showery Tor before heading back to the car.
Early morning mist blows across the northern flank of the hill on a fresh November morning.
Three large cairns sit on Langstone Downs. Apart from a few uprights in place in and around the eastern cairn they appear to be just three large piles of stones. The ‘hill’ itself is overshadowed by Sharptor to the east, one of Bodmin Moors finest summits.
The Langstone, that gives the hill its name, is conspicuous by its absence...unless you know better?
Sun comes up over the downs and the cairn. Sharptor is the hill to the left.
Close up of the outer wall of the eastern ciarn
The eastern cairn has a outer circle of stones with some uprights still in place.
Taken in the 1930s, this shows a different view of The Hurlers, in that there are far fewer stones upright than there are now. The main stones that can be seen are, I think, the middle circle.
Photo is from a collection in Looe Museum.
It’s up there somewhere? ...you might just be able to pick out the Cheesewring through the mist.
A merge of three photos taken on the morning of the autumnal equinox. Didn’t have enough of us to stand on each stone..but gives some idea of the layout.
Hopefully a better photo than earlier ones...although being mid July the grass is longer and stones less prominent.
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Leskernick cist
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ahgphotography.photium.com/news40256.html
Just been notified of this by the good people of the Peak District tourism dept...
Not sure if i can get there but it looks worth a visit..
..Good on you Kosmik Ken!
cornisharchaeology.org.uk/index_htm_files/Rough%20ground%20volumes%20-%20flyer.pdf
Two new books are to be released this month by the Cornwall Historic Enviroment team. One looks at the landscape and archaeology of the West Penwith moors whilst the other may raise a few eyebrows here..its about managing the landscape in the far west. Cows and stones...do they mix?
This monument standeth in the parish of St Clere. The couer being all one stone, is from A to B 16 foote the length, the bredth from C to D is 10 foot, the thickness from G to H is 2 foote; E is an arteficiall holl 8 inches diameter, made thorowgh the roofe very rounde, which serued as it seemeth to putt out a staffe, wherof the howse it selfe was not capable : F was the dore or entrance.
Image credit: John Norden 1650
Spring comes to Cornwall....
This stone is on private land belonging to Trelew Farm.
www.trelew.co.uk
Built into the wall, it is recognised as a monument although some might say it was ancient farmers making use of a large lump of stone...we may never know?
Another stone has been identified nearby lying recumbent in the wall.
Within five mins walk of Boscawen-un, this whole area seems to have more standing stones than any other part of Cornwall.
This is a big lump of stone...looking west. Mrs Hamhead in distance off to find a stone circle.
Mrs Hamhead points to another supposed menhir built into the wall.
Wow! photos do not do this stone justice..it’s a big un!
Easy to find just up the drive to Trelew Farm. It is on their land but they are happy for people to visit. In fact guests using the farm for B&B are encouraged to walk through the fields to visit Boscawen-un passing another menhir on the way.
See link for details
trelew.co.uk/
This stone is on private land and the field is used to keep horses in. I was advised that the landowner would probably not want people walking through the fields.
The stone can be seen from the road just east of St Buryan but it is narrow at that point and not easy to stop.
Looking west with St Buryan Church in distance
Stone does its best sundial impersonation...about 11.15am