The Men an Tol or 'stone of the hole' lies in open moorland a mile or two inland, surrounded by heather, white grass and low growing Cornish Gorse that flowers in late summer. Dating from the Bronze Age, it is uncertain whether the stones were part of a circle or a burial cairn but it is quite possible that they have been moved from their original positions.
Many legends surround the stones, most prominently that of their healing properties -crawling through the hole nine times against the sun is deemed an excellent cure for back pain, indeed it was known as 'the Crickstone' though it is some way from the road and very low to the Ground so I wouldn't personally fancy trying this for any back pain I've suffered! Parents were said to have brought children suffering from rickets here to pass them naked through the hole and of course ladies wishing to become pregnant were advised to do the same, heaven help them!
Of course the answer may be quite different :(apologies to those of you who may be unfamiliar with Cornish vernacular - I hope it still makes sense!)
Old Bran from out Bosullow way, up by Penwith Moor
Cut stone to make his living, 'twas in the days of yore.
With blade and mallet sparking and his strength and skill aflame,
hearthstones,querns and lintels from within the granite came.
Now Bran was past the flush of youth and often he would groan
on damp and murky Cornish days a heavin' of his stone.
"There must be easier ways" he cried "for us poor feeble folk
to move this bleddy granite,'tis got beyond a joke."
Invention from necessity was still a new idea
so he set to work on carving out a different piece of gear.
The rolling sun was round and travelled easy 'cross the sky
so he copied that and sure enough it rolled as sweet as pie!
He called it 'wheel' and made a cart to haul his stone away
and that is how we come to have wheelbarrows to this day
so now the wheel is everywhere and we've forgotten how
a clever bloke from Cornwall saved us so much labour now.
Old Bran's long gone but watches from beyond and far away
He can't quite get his head around the people of today
He chuckles as they toil uphill and reverently kneel
to pass their little children through the template of his wheel.
© L.J.Foyle 2011
gorgeous photos, keep me away fro that crick stone though!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd look behind if I were you! The eager collie runs round and round it insanely until he is exhausted - I think he knows something, it's one of his favourite places !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos M! I'm currently reading Kerouac's On the Road and feel very inspired to road trip around England
ReplyDeleteOh Sy, I think we've all had that dream though I imagine you would probably do it! Don't know whether I would be more envious or scared for you. Do you have your own Dean Moriarty?
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos and a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteReading the comments bought back memories, I read and loved 'on the road' too - and back when my partner and I met (Oooh, 18 years ago now) We took an open ended road trip around England towing a tiny 10 foot caravan. That began my love affair with Cornwall, we stayed a few months and sold things we made (we sold a very expensive marionette in a shop in St.Ives! that kept us going for a while. ) :-)
Beautiful. I'd love to cycle around the south of England. Your posts are the perfect conduit for the magic:)
ReplyDeleteI'd really love to go on an epic road trip M, but to be honest I am a little afraid of the prospect! I've had loads of health problems in the last few years, travelling alone has often made it worse. Maybe the stress! I'm doing a lot better now but not sure if I'm willing to risk it! In a few months my contract ends at the Wetlands and I'll have some time to actually think about it and what I'm gonna do next. Susannah your story is very encouraging!
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough I've had quite a few friends like Dean, although maybe not as wild. I had one friend from South Korean who travelled place to place all her life- Cuba, America, she would always talk about interesting things like time travel and parallel universes and life. And I've met countless flitters journeying through the earth living life according to thier own wacky but special ideas. I've written about many of them in my book, Freegan Freedom. xx
Hi everyone! Having week 'off' here but attempts to get out and about are being hampered by drizzle and mist 'thick as a bag'!
ReplyDeleteGood to come back here and find you all!