Stone Circles

These are arguably the most famous type of stone remains in Penwith. They have been heavily associated with mystery and legend. They are basically a circle with a boundary of standing stones. Stone circles range from almost perfect circles, eg. the Merry Maidens, to the less accurate Boscawen.

The accurate placing of stone demonstrates that prehistoric man used a mathematical based technique for positioning of the stones, rather than doing it by eye. The more irregular stone circles are not a true representation, as over the years some of the stones may have been moved. It is also possible that the more accurate circles come later in history.

Merry Maidens  SW433245

The Merry Maidens are a fantastically preserved circle, it still has all of its stones three of which had to be re-erected. The 19 four foot high standing stones are equally placed and form an almost perfect circle. There are one or two stones that do not meet these standards, but these have been moved since it was originally constructed. Like Boscawen Un Circle there is a break in the circle which could be an entrance or just the result of a missing stone.

The Merry maidens can be reached from Penzance via the B3315. From this road the site can be seen. This is by far the most accessible stone circle, parking is available and it is only a short walk.

  Merry Maidens

It reputedly dates from the Bronze Age, probably used in pagan ceremonies. It is one of the locations where the Cornish Gorsedd is held.

The local Cornish name for the circle is the Dans Maen meaning dancing stones. Folklore associated with the site is that 19 maidens did not attend church on Sunday. Instead they went to this area and broke the Sabbath by dancing to music provided by two pipers.

For their sins the maidens were turned to stone, hence the nineteen stones. There are two other standing stones of 12 feet plus, nearby to the circle i.e. the pipers of this taboo event.

Another standing stone can be seen from the circle, Gun Rith.

Boscawen Un Circle (Nine Maidens)  SW412274

Like the Merry Maidens this circle has 19 evenly spaced stones, but they do not create a true circle. One of the stones is of a different rock a white quartz. Unusually there is a slanting stone of over 2.5 metres in height close to its centre. Both of these stones may have had particular significance. What they were is not known. There is break in the circle which could be an entrance or just the result of a missing stone.

Boscawen Un Circle (Nine Maidens)

Boscawen Un Circle has atmosphere, as it was an ancient Druid meeting place and the location of the first Cornish Gorsedd.

The name of nine maidens is a misnomer and does not pertain to the number of stones but to the phases of the lunar cycle.

Slanting Centre Stone

White Quart Stone

Boskednan Circle  SW435352

This stone circle has not fared well with time. In the eighteenth century Dr Borlase found thirteen stones standing and six fallen, but by 1872 his great grandson WC Borlase counted seven standing and four fallen. This number has dropped to six standing, plus two badly leaning.  The remaining stones range from 1 to 1.5 metres in height and one fine stone standing over 2 metres.

 
Boskednan Circle  Photograph by Judith Zuurmond

WC Borlase investigated the area around the circle specifically a barrow. He dug a trench and found a cist that had already been opened and cleaned of contents. However the dig also found burnt wood and pottery fragments. There were no ashes or bone associated with the pottery.

Boskednan Circle and Barrow, Naenia Cornubia WC Borlase 1872 

Tregeseal (East) SW 387324

A stone circle of 19 stones that have been heavily restored over the years. Closely associated with this circle are two others close by, which are now completely lost.

Tregeseal Circle has had an unfortunate history, in the eighteenth century Dr Borlase observed seventeen stones. Later the circle was ‘butchered’ by quarrying leading to many of the stones falling.

In WC Borlase’s Book Naenia Cornubia (1872) the circle is shown with fifteen stones. It is difficult to quantify how truly representative the current heavily restored circle is of the original.

While visiting Tregeseal stone circle, it is worth visiting the Tregeseal Holed Stones only a short walk away.

Tregeseal Circle
Naenia Cornubia WC Borlase 1872 

Tregeseal Stone Circle (East)

Porthmeor Circle SW445367

The circle at Porthmeor is included in this section but there are doubts as to whether it is a circle or remains of a later settlement. Finds from the Romanic period have been found in the Porthmeor area, such as the two Roman bowls shown, help to support this argument.

Porthmeor circle is close to the road and relatively easy to reach. It is not named on the OS map but just indicated as tumulus. The only problem is finding it is that at times it is completely obscured by gorse.

This small circle contains 17 stones some of which have toppled.

Hand made bowl AD 300-400.

Wheel thrown bowl 100BC-100AD

Image reproduced by kind permission of Penlee House Gallery and Museum