Inscribed Stones

In this part of Cornwall some of the standing stones or menhirs are inscribed. The wording is normally in latin or a local variation of it. The inscriptions help us to approximate their age and provide a name from the ancient past.

Men Scryfa  SW426353

Located four miles from Penzance is a standing stone of 2 metres in height. Inscribed vertically on its northern side in Latin is RIALOBRANUS CUNOVALI FILI, meaning Son of Chief Royal Raven.

The Latin is not the common form of the language but a regional variation.

It is possibly a memorial of a 5TH century Romano-British nobleman, Rialobrane. Men Scryfa is most likely older than this period, the inscription being added to this already standing stone.

It has suffered from “treasure hunters”. A treasure hunter in the nineteenth century dug around the stone to such a degree that it led the stone to topple.

Men Scryfa
( Blight 1856 )

Men Scryfa Inscription Partly Obscured

The inscription is partly obscured as it is beneath the ground. Men Scryfa is worth a viewing if visiting Men an Tol as it is only a short walk away.

Inscribed Stones St Hilary's Churchyard

When St Hilary’s church was destroyed by fire in 1853, two inscribed stones were found in the rubble. The first stone had part of the inscription removed. The latin inscription remaining was interpreted by Blight as “to Flavius Julius (or Junior) Constantius or (Constantinus), the pious and august Caesar, son of the divine and pious Constantine the Great.”

The inscription dates the stone to the early fourth century.

The second inscribed stone is the Noti Noti. The stone is inscribed NOTI NOTI. This being translated as the mark of Notus. Accompanying the inscription is a group of symbols, the meaning of such have not been determined.

Noti Noti
Photograph by Chris Bond

Inscribed Symbols on the Noti Stone
( Blight 1856 )

Inscribed Stones St Hilary's Churchyard
( Blight 1856 )

Phillack Inscribed Stone

This inscribed stone that has unfortunately suffered wear and tear, making the inscription almost impossible to read. It is said that the inscription reads CLOTUALI MOBRATTI. The meaning of which has led to discussion, as it not sure whether the text is celtic or a regional form of Latin.

The age of the stone is uncertain but it well over a thousand years old.

The stone is easy to find, being located close to the top of the steps of the churchyard entrance. The inscribed stone is next to an interesting but damaged cross and set against a black stone building.

Bleu Stone  SW476317

Located a mile from the village of Gulval is an inscribed stone. Bleu stone is set against a hedge close to a bridge over a stream at Barlowena Bottom.

Inscribed vertically in Latin is QVENATAVCI IC DINVI FILIVS meaning the stone of Qvenataucus here, son of Dinvius.

Bleu inscribed stone close
to Gulval. ( Blight 1856 )