suave harv
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Cornish books?
Oct 11, 2004, 20:12
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Has anyone any suggestions for good books about Cornish Megalithic stuff? I'm going for four days and a real good reference book would be teen-terrific!
Cheers!
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Mr Hamhead
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 11, 2004, 22:53
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Hi SH
I don't consider myself the expert on books on the subject but the "Romance of the Stones" by Payne/Lewsey gives good descriptions of all the stones, circles, quoits, etc...There are also good drawings so you know what to look for when you get there.
It dosen't go into the spiritual or mystical stuff so i can't help you there...
I am sure someone else can point you in that direction if needed.
I also think its safe to say that there can't be that many sites in Cornwall that have not made it onto the TMA. Pick an area and make a list!
Happy to give advice if needed about where to go and what to see.
Mr H
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suave harv
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 11, 2004, 23:35
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I only have a rough itinery so far. . I haven't been to Cornwall for ten years or so, and I want to re-visit Boscawen Un, Men an Tol, Merry Maidens, Chun Quoit, you know, the 'Hollywood' sites.
As for New sites, I've got to go to Duloe, and I wonder if it's easy to get to see Boleigh Fogou these days? Perhaps Boskednan circle. . I'll have three days of exploring time, (arrive Friday dinner, leave Monday morning), so I'm hoping to get to some obscure sites too.
Circles are my main thing, Dolmens next. I'll get back to you . . thanks for the offer of advice;-)
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goffik
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 07:43
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I've got a few good books on Cornwall!
"Cornovia - Ancient Sites of Cornwall & Scilly" by Craig Weatherhill (ISBN 1-871060-31-1)
"Belerion - Ancient Sites of Land's End" by Craig Weatherhill (ISBN 1-871060-32-X)
"Fentynow Kernow - In Search of Cornwall's Holy Wells" by Cheryl Straffon (ISBN 0-9518859-5-2)
"Megalithic Mysteries of Cornwall" by Cheryl Straffon (ISBN 0-9518859-8-7)
"Secret Shrines - In Search of the Old Holy Wells of Cornwall" by Paul Broadhurst (ISBN 0-9515783-2-1)
"Ancient and Holy Wells of Cornwall" by M and L Quiller-Couch (ISBN 0-9512822-5-5)
I'm sure I've got some more - I'll have a look later...
The Craig Weatherhill ones are prety good - lots of sites including standing stones, stone circles, hillforts, settlements, fogous, barrows, henges, cists, inscribed stones, etcetcetc... with directions and map refs.
Fentynow Kernnow is good for a list of loads of holy wells - but the directions are often misleading, unfortunately! Good to know roughly where they are, though, with a little bit of info about each of them.
The Quiller-Couch one is a bit of a classy act... Originally started by Cornwall's own Dr Thomas Quiller-Couch and finished by his daughters - first published 1894 and reprinted by Tamara Publications. Lovely book but because of the age of it, many of the wells mentioned are now completely ruined or unfindable... Excellent if you're interested in such things!
The other Cheryl Straffon one and the Paul Broadhurst one I've only flicked through but look excellent. Earth Mysteries seems to offer a slightly more esoteric look at the sites, and Secret Shrines is just a beautiful looking book! She also does a set of 4 books called "The Earth Mysteries Guides to Ancient Sites in Cornwall" which are small but quite comprehensive (and only about £4 each)...
Hope this is of some use! :o)
G x
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Wild Wooder
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 09:14
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This site might be interesting, try the link to the fougou description. Not sure whether you can just walk in, but might just be worth asking
http://www.caer.co.uk/
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Wild Wooder
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 09:44
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Sorry, just spotted the location has been sold and is probably no longer accessible. Shame, I'd had vague plans about visiting it someday and meditating inside it.
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goffik
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 12:18
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Boleigh Fogou is still accessible by appointment, as it always was, athough I believe the "CAER" side of it no longer exists...
Mrs G and I went there in June and met the current guardians - lovely couple! They let rooms out as B&B, and there's a gorgeous self-catering cottage they let out too...
The new website is http://www.rosemerrynwood.co.uk/ - call Rob on 01736 810530and get a time sorted to visit. They're pretty good - he'll just show you to it and leave you alone!
That's another book on Cornwall I bought - "Fogou" by the chap who used to run CAER... can't remember his name. Not read the book yet either, but I'm lead to believe it's very good!
G x
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Wild Wooder
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 14:25
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Jo May. Can't rememberf the title of the book but it was quite intriguing, hence my desire to visit and meditate there.
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Merrick
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 14:33
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Men-an-Tol Studio publish several excellent pamphlets for the Lands End peninsula, full of historical info, suggested walks with maps, etc. Highly recommended.
When visiting the Men-an-Tol area we called in at the publisher's studio and met Ian McNeil Cooke, the guy who writes the pamphlets. Very friendly and approachable, and he even let us leave our bikes round the back while we went for a stones walk.
You can get the pamphlets in tourist info places (Penzance was where I found my first one), or from the publisher direct
http://www.menantolstudio.freeserve.co.uk/
Regarding Boleigh Fogou, CAER werre still going when we visited. We found a really arsey sign saying not to visit the fogou without permission, but not to even knock for permission without prior appointment!
Fuck 'em and their overproprietorial Gollumesque 'it's MY preciousssss' attitude.
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goffik
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Re: Cornish books?
Oct 12, 2004, 17:18
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S'not like that any more - thankfully!
Really friendly bunch - very chilled...
G x
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