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
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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: |
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Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
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What to take: |
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Nature highlights: |
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Best Times to
Visit: |
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Address: |
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Postcode: |
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Telephone: |
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E-mail: |
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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: |
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Children Facilities: |
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Dogs Allowed: |
Dogs allowed on a lead |
Other useful
websites: |
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CIN Page Ref: |
hurlers_stone_circle |
Date Updated: 03/08 |
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