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Hurlers Stone Circles

Cornwall

A group of 3 circles in a line, a unique arrangement in England.

Consists of three large aligned stone circles, running from NNE to SSW, built in a pass, between the River Fowey and the River Lynher, the sides of Stowe's Hill and Caradon rising to north and south. Multiple or associated circles are not unusual in the south-west of England.

  • The southern circle is the smallest (32.9m/108ft across) and it has only nine stones left.
  • The largest is the central circle, slightly egg shaped, with a diameter of 41.8m x 40.5m (137ft x 132ft) and 14 stones.
  • The northern circle is 34.7m (113ft) across, 15 stones are here, of which four have fallen, and there were probably a further nine.
  • The central and the northern rings were once linked by a granite pathway along their axis.
  • All the stones in the circles have been carefully erected so that they all appear the same height. Some are diamond-shaped, others round, and one has been shaped so that its uppermost edge is cloven.
  • A spread of quartz crystals in the central circle may have come from shaping the stones with hammers.
  • The northern circle was crossed by a boundary bank, and two stones 120m (393ft) to the WSW from the central site could be boundary posts, although astronomical purposes have been assigned to them.

Like many stone circles a legend is based on instilling the 'fear of God' and Sunday observance, and in this case it also probably accounts for its name.

In 1610, the historian William Camden wrote: "The neighbouring inhabitants term them Hurlers, as being by devout and godly error persuaded that they had been men sometime transformed into stones, for profaning the Lord's Day with hurling the ball."

An English Heritage property managed by Cornwall Heritage Trust.

See also

Our section on stone circles

The discussion on the purpose of stone circles


Planning Grid

Location:

Hurlers Stone Circle, Bodmin moor, Cornwall

Grid Reference

SX259714

Map Link:

Multimap

Google maps aerial photograph, move map around to see more stones

Getting there:

Slightly to the east of the small village of Minions

from Liskeard, north on the B3254 for about 5 miles, Minions is down a small road on the left.

Access:

Open site

Parking:

Parking nearby

Facilities:

 

Things To Do, See and Photograph:

 

What to take:

 

Nature highlights:

 

Best Times to Visit:

 

Address:

 

Postcode:

 

Telephone:

 

E-mail:

 

Website:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.15277

Opening times:

Open all the time

Charges:

Free

Photo Restrictions:

None

Other Restrictions: None
Special Needs Access: None
Special Needs Facilities:  
Children Facilities:  
Dogs Allowed: Dogs allowed on a lead

Other useful websites:

 

CIN Page Ref:

hurlers_stone_circle

Date Updated: 03/08

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