Meyn Mamvro - No 087 - Summer 2015

Magazine Overview

This issue of Meyn Mamvro, number 87, published in Summer 2015, is dedicated to exploring Cornwall's ancient stones and sacred sites. The cover features a striking illustration and lists several key articles, including "Deep into Pendeen Fogou," "Morvah Parish," "Mysterious Lizard Sites," "Tremenheere," "Dowsing," "Caspan & Lan," and "Ancient Tracks," with a note that all photos are now in full colour. The magazine is priced at £3.00.

Contents

The table of contents on page 2 details the articles within this issue:

• Editorial (p. 1)
• Dowsing News (p. 2)
• CASPN & LAN (p. 4)
• Lost and Found - Tremenheere (Gulval) / Wells Corner (p. 5)
• Ancient Tracks: 7 - Carn Kenidjack to Chûn Downs (p. 6)
• Home Sweet Ancient Home: 8 - Bosullow Trehyllis (p. 7)
• Prehistoric Parishes - Morvah (p. 8)
• Lost & missing stones of Carn Downs area (p. 9)
• Pathways to the Past: Morvah to Potheras Cove (p. 11)
• The lost Rosemergy stone circle (p. 13)
• The mysterious Lizard peninsula - Michael Woolf (p. 14)
• Journeying deep into Pendeen fogou - Elyn Aviva (p. 17)
• Cornish Cunning: 2 - Steve Patterson (p. 20)
• Book Reviews (p. 22)
• West Penwith ancient sites and alignments online map (p. 23)
• 20 years ago: the Nine Sisters (p. 24)

The issue also thanks Andy Norfolk for the front cover artwork and notes that articles are copyrighted by MM & authors. It provides the Meyn Mamvro address and contact details.

Editorial and Preservation Concerns

Page 3 features an editorial titled "STONES OF OUR MOTHERLAND," which highlights Meyn Mamvro's nearly 30-year campaign for the preservation of ancient sites and their landscapes. The editorial notes that other groups like CASPN, Save Penwith Moors, and Heritage Journal share this concern. It criticizes developers and mentions a controversial decision by English Heritage to support a wind farm on St. Breock Downs near the Nine Maidens stone row, with a representative quoted as saying it would "allow better appreciation of the monument." In contrast, a heartfelt letter from reader Sue Joiner is included, detailing her group's fight against wind turbines near Mên Gurtha and St. Breock Downs in the nineties. Joiner expresses dismay that protected areas like the Downs were not safe from development, lamenting the loss of "Downs special silence" and the impact on the atmosphere and spirit of these places. She emphasizes that sites are not just of prehistoric interest but are places of pilgrimage, peace, and spiritual nurturing, which developers destroy.

Dowsing News

Pages 4 and 5 are dedicated to "DOWSING NEWS," reporting on various dowsing events and activities from Autumn/Winter 2014 to December. Groups like Trencrom Dowsers, Tamar Dowsers, Devon Dowsers, and West Cornwall Dowsers participated in explorations of Neolithic long barrows, outcrops, cairns, settlements, fogous, and early Christian sites in areas such as Chapel Carn Brea, Bartinney Hill, Bude, St. Keverne, Bodmin Moor, and West Penwith. Specific sites mentioned include Carn Euny, Jacobstow church, St. James holy well, St. Gennys wells, Lower Tresmorn, Guilly, Kilter, Main Dale, King Arthur's Hall, Alsia Well, Boscawen-ûn circle, and Paul Church. The reports detail findings related to excarnation, original chapel locations, burial sites, dolmens, energy lines, and alignments. The section concludes with a talk by Alan Neal on dowsing, emphasizing the connection between energy lines, geological faults, watercourses, and sacred sites.

CASPN & LAN News Round-Up

Page 6 provides an update from the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network (CASPN) and the Lizard Ancient Sites Network (LAN). CASPN has welcomed new members, including Publicity Officer Sally Bell. The article highlights CASPN's 20-year history of site protection despite limited funding, emphasizing its independence. It mentions the importance of its support body, FOCAS (Friends of Cornwall's Ancient Sites), and details the upcoming "Pathways to the Past" event on May 30th-31st, featuring guided walks and talks on sites around Mên-an-Tol, Nanjulian, and the Lamorna area, as well as a talk on Bronze Age metal working and a talk on the Isles of Scilly. Contact information for CASPN, FOCAS, and LAN is provided.

Specific Site Features

Several articles delve into specific locations:

• Lost and Found - Tremenheere (Gulval/Ludgvan) (Page 7): This article reports on the rediscovery and re-erection of a standing stone that gave its name to Tremenheere farms. Readers Paul Blades and James Kitto provided information about the stone, which is approximately 3 meters high and is now located at SW49012 32960. It is noted as one of the tallest standing stones in West Penwith.
• Wells Corner - St. Torney's well (Page 7): This regular feature describes the challenging location of St. Torney's well on Bodmin Moor, providing detailed directions from reader Carol Ellis. The well is described as a small, ancient stone building with clear running water, and the identification of St. Torney is discussed.
• Ancient Tracks: 7 - Carn Kenidjack to Chûn Downs (Page 8): This article explores ancient pathways in West Penwith, focusing on a track that likely dates back to prehistory and links two Neolithic sites. It mentions Carn Kenidjack, the Boslow Stone (an inscribed stone from the 7thC CE), a Bronze Age barrow, and leads to the Neolithic site of Chûn Quoit and the Iron Age site of Chûn Castle.
• Home Sweet Ancient Home: 8 - Bosullow Trehyllys (Page 9): This piece examines the largely unexcavated Courtyard House settlement of Bosullow Trehyllys in West Penwith. It describes the village's layout, consisting of four courtyard houses and numerous huts, and suggests a contemporary relationship with Chûn Castle. The article notes that CASPN conducts annual clearance at the site.
• Prehistoric Parishes - Morvah (Page 10): This article begins a new series on lesser-known sites in Cornwall's parishes, focusing on Morvah. It details the parish's small size and population, its boundaries, and lists its ancient sites, including Chûn Quoit and Castle, a Bronze Age cairn and standing stone on Watch Croft Hill, a settlement at Trevean farm, a fallen standing stone at Trevean, a petal barrow at Chypraze, stones at Carn Downs, courtyard houses at Trevean, Croftoe, and Bosullow Trehyllys, a lost stone circle at Rosemergy, and a holy well at Tregaminion.

Meyn Mamvro Publications

Page 2 also features a section on "MEYN MAMVRO PUBLICATIONS," listing books such as "Pagan Cornwall: Land of the Goddess," "Megalithic Mysteries of Cornwall," and "Fentynyow Kernow: In Search of Cornwall's Holy Wells." It also promotes the "EARTH MYSTERIES GUIDES TO ANCIENT SITES" series, with volumes covering West Penwith, Bodmin Moor & North Cornwall, Mid-Cornwall & the Lizard, and Isles of Scilly. Prices and ordering information are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Meyn Mamvro are the preservation of Cornwall's ancient sites and landscapes, the exploration of prehistoric and historical sites through dowsing and archaeological research, and the promotion of Cornish heritage. The editorial stance is clearly one of advocacy for the protection of these sites against development and the appreciation of their cultural and spiritual significance. The magazine serves as a platform for sharing research, news from preservation groups like CASPN, and personal accounts of site explorations.

Meyn Mamvro, Issue 87, Summer 2015, is a magazine focused on archaeological and historical discoveries, particularly in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The issue explores ancient sites, folklore, and the concept of earth energies.

Lost & Missing Stones of Carn Downs Area

This article details the standing stones and menhirs in the Carn Downs area of West Penwith, Cornwall. It notes that while some stones are still extant, others are lost or have been repurposed. The article mentions specific sites including the Trevean standing stone (fallen), stones at Carn Downs, Kerrow farm, Matthews field, and near Little Bosullow farm. A possible new menhir near Carne Farm is also identified. The article provides historical records from surveyors and antiquarians like Sandy Gerrard, Henderson, and Vivien Russell, along with their approximate coordinates and descriptions.

Carn Downs Standing Stone

On the south-eastern flanks of Carn Downs, a fallen menhir was recorded by Sandy Gerrard in 1965. It appeared as a triangle 1.2m high and is now used as a gatepost, but dowsing suggests it is a prehistoric menhir with distinctive quartz bands.

Kerrow Farm Menhir

In a field wall at Kerrow Farm, a distinctive stone is noted. Henderson recorded a menhir near Bosullow schoolhouse in 1914, which Vivien Russell identified as this stone. It is 2.1m high with a crack on its east face, and the stone wall has been built around it, indicating its prehistoric origin.

Matthews Longstone

To the west of Bosullow Trehyllis, the 1840 tithe map shows the fieldname Matthews Longstone, indicating the site of a probable menhir that is now gone with no trace remaining.

Lost Standing Stone near Little Bosullow

In a field east of a minor road to Little Bosullow farmhouse, Henderson recorded a standing stone in 1914. Dowsing indicated it was approximately 2.1m east of the road and 1.8m high, but it was broken up due to field clearances and is now under bracken.

Higher Trevowhan Menhir

At Trevean Farm, a fallen standing stone, formerly the Higher Trevowhan menhir, is discussed. Between 1975 and 1982, it fell or was uprooted and dumped into the northern hedge. It was originally recorded at 1.7m high, and the current stone is nearly 2m high. There is a project to re-erect it, with the National Trust and Cornwall Archaeological Unit in favour, pending approval from English Heritage.

Menhir at Carne Farm

A tall menhir, serving as a gatepost, has been identified by James Kitto in a field north of Carne Farm. It is approximately 2.77m tall and dowsed as Bronze Age.

The article concludes that the numerous standing stones in the Carn Downs area may have had a special relationship to the Carn itself.

Pathways to the Past: Morvah to Portheras Cove

This article describes a walk in the 'Pathways to the Past' series, continuing eastwards from a previous feature. The walk covers a stretch of coastal path and includes three lesser-known sites. It starts in the hamlet of Morvah and heads towards Morvah church, dedicated in 1409 and later to St Bridget of Sweden. The walk then follows a public footpath down to the coastal path.

Giant's Grave

About halfway down the path to the coast, the remains of the Giant's Grave, a ruined cromlech, are found. Thurston Hoplins wrote in 1935 that people remembered rites at the grave for gaining knowledge of the future. The quoit also played a role in legend, notably in the story "The Giants of Towednack" by William Bottrell.

Tregaminion Holy Well

Continuing down the path, it widens as it approaches the coastal path. Here lies Tregaminion holy well, which has a long history, possibly dating back to prehistory, with an early Christian chapel nearby. The well's waters were thought to possess extraordinary healing qualities, and the site was known for miraculous cures. In the early 1950s, a pump house was built next to the well, and though redundant, it remained until 2000. Lane Davies described the well in the late 1960s as "now only a square recess in a marshy field under a bank".

Chypraze Barrow

After visiting Tregaminion, the walk turns westwards on the coastal path towards Portheras Cove. On the plateau above the cove, the remains of Chypraze barrow can be seen. Uncovered during a fire in 2010, it is also known as Carn Clough petal barrow. It was first noted in 1847 but had been buried under thick gorse for many years. The Bronze-Age barrow has a diameter of 7.3m and 11 tall contiguous stones inclined inwards towards a central cist.

The walk offers views towards Carn Gulva and may include a visit to the Lower Boscaswell walk, which features fogous, another holy well, and a Beaker Pit. The article also mentions a limited number of leaflets available on Morvah Holy Well.

The Lost Rosemergy Stone Circle

On the main B3306 road at Rosemergy, east of Morvah, there was formerly a stone circle. Evidence comes from a field name on the 1841 tithe map and a reference by Borlase. James Halliwell in 1847 wrote that it stood northeast of Rosemergy. No traces remain today, but dowsing revealed a circle of 19 stones. In the same field is a standing stone, which may have been an outlier to the circle.

The Mysterious Lizard Peninsula

This personal narrative by Michael Woolf recounts family holidays in the Lizard Peninsula during the early 1960s. The author describes staying at "Porthgwara" on the eastern side of Coverack bay and exploring the area, which included visiting local bakers, driving through winding lanes, and discovering stones, churches, and secret places that fascinated his mother and family friend Peter. The author expresses a deep connection to the landscape and "Mother Kernow".

Gunwalloe Church

The author's mother favoured Gunwalloe church, which is described as having a powerful energy. The tale of shipwrecked fishermen vowing to build a place of worship is brought to life here. The ancient tower, separate from the church and hewn from a hermit's cave, is noted for its energy, with dowsers reportedly picking up strong readings.

St. Anthony at Gillan Creek

St. Anthony church at Gillan Creek is mentioned as being established by grateful Norman sailors saved from a storm. The author recounts a personal experience at St. Anthony church when he was fourteen, encountering a figure that appeared to be a monk. He later learned that the site was inhabited by Cistercian monks and was carefully sited on energy paths. On a revisit, his digital camera captured a bright "orb" in the same location as his earlier encounter.

Earthveins and Ley Lines

The author connects these experiences to the concepts of "earthveins" and ley lines, influenced by the works of Alfred Watkins, Hamish Miller, and Paul Broadhurst. He describes using a steel ruler on Ordnance Survey maps to check for alignments and how ancient road patterns and land contours reveal the landscape's "sculpted songshapes" created by a natural intelligence.

Lizard Peninsula Map

A map of the Lizard Peninsula is included, illustrating ley alignments and "veins of energy". The author discusses how a straight line links St. Anthony to Gunwalloe, passing various churches, estates, and natural features. Another North-South line is also suggested. An interesting 'vein' of energy running SE/NW is described, crossing the author's "Church Line" at a spring east of St. Martins church, and noted for its powerful and peaceful energy.

The author concludes by sharing these findings from his own experiences, encouraged by previous articles in Meyn Mamvro, and expresses a hope for the harmonious flow of earthveins through the land.

Journeying Deep Within Pendeen Fogou

This article by Elyn Aviva describes an exploration of Pendeen Fogou, a Cornish underground structure. The author, her husband Gary, and their guide Cheryl Straffon, navigate through a farmer's cattle yard to reach the site. They unfasten rusty metal gates and move a detached farm gate to enter the fogou.

Exploring the Fogou

They descend a steep, stone-lined passage into the earth. The fogou is described as a human-made underground cave, typically with a central passage and a smaller "creep" passage. The word "fogou" means "cave" in Cornish. Fogous are unique to Cornwall and date from the Cornish Iron Age, often found near Iron Age settlements. Their purpose is debated, with suggestions including food storage, refuge, or ceremony and ritual.

Personal Experience in the Fogou

Inside the fogou, the author experiences a wave of emotion and crying, which she interprets as a signal to stop and listen. She describes the rocky passage pointing northwest, towards the setting summer solstice sun, unlike most fogous which point northeast towards the rising sun. The original blocking stone had been removed, allowing light to enter. The "creep" passage, likely the original entrance, is described as very low, requiring one to slide into it on their belly. The author speculates that the fogou might have been used for initiation rituals, shamanic journeys, fasting, or to honour the solstice.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of ancient history, archaeology, folklore, and the spiritual or energetic aspects of the landscape, particularly in Cornwall. There is a strong emphasis on personal experience, dowsing, and the connection between ancient sites and natural energies, such as ley lines and "earthveins". The editorial stance appears to be one of curiosity, respect for local history and traditions, and an open-minded approach to interpreting ancient sites and their potential meanings. The articles often blend historical research with anecdotal evidence and personal reflections.

MEYN MAMVRO, Issue 87, published in Summer 2015, is a magazine focused on Earth Mysteries, paganism, and related topics. The issue features articles on the revival of Cornish magical traditions, personal experiences at sacred sites, book reviews, and historical notes.

Articles and Features

The Fogou Experience

This section recounts a personal visit to an ancient fogou, likely in Cornwall. The author describes experiencing a chill breeze, a high-pitched buzzing, and a distant rhythmic sound, which they interpret as the 'Spirit of the Place'. The experience is contrasted with the mundane appearance of the site, a neglected farmyard. The author also touches upon the legend of a 'spectral Lady in White' associated with the fogou, suggesting it might be a garbled memory of priestesses, possibly used to deter people by Christian authorities.

Cornish Cunning - Part 2

Written by Steve Patterson, this article continues a discussion on the revival of Cornish magical traditions in the 20th century. It highlights the influence of Cecil Hugh Williams, founder of the Museum of Witchcraft, and his research into 'West country Wayside Witches'. The article notes the rise of Wicca, partly influenced by Gerald Gardner, and suggests that while Gardner's influence is pervasive, the contributions of figures like Williams in preserving older traditions should not be underestimated. The piece also mentions other contemporary figures involved in reviving Cornish magic, such as Ithell Colquhoun, Peter Redgrove, Tony 'doc' Sheils, Andrew Chumbley, Cheryl Straffon, Cassandra Latham, and Gemma Gary, who have each contributed to the modern understanding and practice of Cornish paganism and witchcraft.

The Twisted Skein of Cornish Magic

This section delves deeper into the complexities of Cornish magic, describing it as a 'twisted skein of many threads'. It mentions various locations in Cornwall where old witches are said to practice, such as Bodmin Moor and the Glyn Valley. The author recounts anecdotes about 'charmers' who could 'sort out fishermen' and mentions the enduring value of an old slate charm. The text cautions against focusing solely on remote history, urging readers to appreciate the significant magical material present locally. It also touches upon local folklore, such as 'Devils Corners' in fields, and a mysterious sealed room in a house containing 'Wands and robes and weird stuff', suggesting that sometimes one must exercise discernment when encountering potential mysteries.

Book Reviews

Powerful Places in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by Elyn Aviva & Gary White:
This review discusses a book that is part of a series focusing on sacred sites. The volume on Cornwall and Scilly is described as more than a guidebook; it aims to help readers experience these powerful places. The review highlights the authors' deep connection to Cornwall and their descriptions of sites like the Fairy Well at Lelant and The Hurlers stone circle, emphasizing the spiritual and atmospheric aspects of the locations. The book is recommended for visitors and those familiar with the sites.

Power Points in Time by Palden Jenkins:
This review covers a revised and expanded work by Palden Jenkins, who has a background in astrology and ancient mysteries. The book explores ancient festivals, lunar phases, planetary alignments, and historic moments, with an emphasis on personal experience and connecting with deep cycles. It discusses how astrological signs influence individuals and the seasons, and how planetary configurations can affect events. A key quote from the book advises readers to 'Just watch and experience' rather than projecting their own expectations.

West Penwith: Ancient Sites and Alignments online map:
This section announces an online map created by Palden Jenkins that details prehistoric sites in West Penwith and their alignments. It is presented as an exciting venture for exploring 'ley lines' and map-based alignments, building on previous work in the field. The map is accessible via provided web links.

20 Years Ago: The Nine Sisters

This feature revisits a news item from MM26 (Winter/Spring 1995) concerning 'The Nine Sisters', a megalithic structure in Cornwall. The article discusses John Norden's 17th-century illustration of the monument, which depicted nine stones in two rows. While the well-known Nine Maidens stone row consists of nine stones in a single line, dowsing in 1995 and subsequent years confirmed the existence of a second, parallel stone row, suggesting Norden's sketch might accurately represent this configuration.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes an interest in Earth Mysteries, folklore, and ancient traditions, particularly those related to Cornwall and the British Isles. There is a strong emphasis on personal experience, spiritual connection to landscapes, and the revival of pagan and witchcraft practices. The editorial stance appears to be one of exploration and preservation of esoteric knowledge, encouraging readers to engage deeply with the subject matter and to appreciate both historical and contemporary aspects of these traditions. The inclusion of book reviews and historical retrospectives indicates a commitment to providing a comprehensive resource for enthusiasts in the field.