YaleU — ™ mmm niversity Library 39002008838154 iiiiiiiiii YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY J937 Sfo V/t Wmi nf Cnnrawll, DRAWN AND ENGRAVED BY X T. BLIGHT. m^==^t% . .,- * A j ¦¦ :\ I ! - JHtf - - ipsis LONDON : SIMPKIN, MAESHALL, AND CO. PENZANCE : F. T. YIBEKT 1856. ~*vnv 1 85U Cflttfatte; Introduction. Latin Crosses (continued) : — St. Paul down .... p. 43 Greek Crosses : — 44 p. 3 45 Crowz-an-wra, St. Burian .... 4 Trevilley, Sennen .... 46 Trengwainton Cairn, Madron 5 Brane, Sancreed 47 Vicarage Garden, Zennor .... 6 Pradanack, Mullion .... 48 6 Gothic Crosses :— Trembath, Madron .... Clowance, Crowan St. Burian Church-town .... 78 9 Head of a Cross in the Court-yard of the Castle, St. Michael's Mount . . 50 51 Near Boskenna, St, Burian .... Gwinear Churchyard Rosemorran, Gulval .... On the roadside from Lelant Church Trevan, St. Erth .... 10 111213 1415 East side of the head of the Cross in St. Ives Churchyard .... Penzance : Chapel-yard, St. Mary's . . Helstone : Mrs. G. Grylls's Garden . . 525354 55 Lanteglos Churchyard .... 56 St. Erth Church-town 16 viii. St. Levan Churchyard wall .... 17 List of Crosses which remain in the "West 18 of Cornwall not illustrated in this work, St. Burian Churchyard .... 19 many of them being very similar to St. Paul Churchyard 20 57 Sancreed Churchyard wall .... . 2122 Madron Well Chapel .... 58 Madron Church-,town .... 23 Holy Well, near Helstone 59 St. Erth Churchyard 24 viii. Illogan Churchyard .... 25 Antique Seal .... 60 Gate-way on Connor down, Gwinear. 2627 Celtic, Druidical, and Roman Remains : — Helstone : Garden of G. Grylls, Esq. 27*- Bleu Bridge, Gulval. Cromlechs, &c, Remarks on. Transition Crosses :— 61 29 Caerwynen Cromlech, Camborne .... 62 Boswharton, Madron .... 30 Zennor Cromlech 63 Outside the Churchyard wall, Lelant. 31 Mulfra Cromlech, Madron .... 63 Noon Creeg (Nun Careg), St. Burian 32 64 Hea, Madron 33 The Men Amber, north-west view 65 Anjarden, Sancreed .... 34 Druidical Circle, at Boscawen-un, St. 35 Burian .... 65 Opposite Boskenna gate, St. Burian. 36 Sepulchral Monumental Pillar at Tres- Vellansajer, St. Burian .... 37 vannack, in the parish of St. Paul, and a List of similar Monumental Latin Crosses : — ¦ Pillars in the West of Cornwall .... 66 Garden at Trereife, Madron . . 39 MSn-an-tol (Holed stone), at Anguidal Chun, or Chyowne, near the Sanctuary 67 St. Burian .... 39 Inscribed Stones : — 40 The Men Scryfa, Madron .... 67 Higher Drift, Sancreed .... 41 At Bleu Bridge, Gulval 67 Boscathnoe, Madron 42 At St. Hilary Churchyard .... 68 HE destruction of many monuments of remote antiquity which formerly existed in the West of Cornwall, and the mutilation which several others have sustained by mis chievous and ignorant persons, have induced the author to attempt the present work, in order to preserve the forms of k^ those remains which are so valuable to the Antiquary and the Historian. In placing this volume in. the hands of the subscribers, and before the public, he ventures to express a hope that their kind encouragement will enable him hereafter to carry out a more extended plan, embracing the whole of the county. In a work aiming merely at the pictorial representation of these inter esting objects, it will not be expected that an elaborate history of them should be given, yet it seems necessary to make a few prefatory remarks. Of the monuments attributed to the Celts or Britons, little need be added to what has been often repeated ; but of the ancient crosses, still so numerous in the western part of Cornwall, it may be remarked that they have suffered at the hands of the Antiquary a very general neglect. From being formed of the enduring granite, many are almost as perfect now as when they were first erected ; and to these it is intended chiefly to confine the attention. They may at one time have been equally numerous in other parts of the county, but the gradual improvement of the waste land has caused their almost entire removal. Some of them have been used as building materials ; this is known to have been the case of late years : in this neighbourhood the mutilated parts of many may be seen built into hedges. From the allusion to the Cross in various parts of the New Testament, it is evident that it was adopted very early by the Christians as an emblem of their faith. The practice of erecting these symbols of religion seems to have been introduced in the early ages of the Church, for Constantine the Great is said to have set up crucifixes in all his palaces. Crucifixes were used in the East in the 13th century, for in 1268, the Sultan Bendutan, at the storming of Jaffa, destroyed the churches, cruci fixes, crosses, and relics. As a Christian symbol, it is probable that the cross was introduced into Britain with Christianity itself, which is supposed to have been about A.D. 60. St. Patrick landed in Ireland A.D. 432 ; the conversion of the Irish to Christianity took place shortly afterwards, for as early as A.D. 490 Ireland was named the Isle of Saints. In the county of Louth there are two magnificent crosses, one of which, 18 feet high, was erected to the memory of the founder of the church of Monasterboyce, A.D. 521 ; the other is inscribed, " Pray for Murdock," in the ancient Irish character ; and as it is stated that Cornwall received its first missionaries from Ireland, it would not be unreasonable to suppose that some of these crosses may have been erected in this district about the same period. The Cornish Britons remained separate and distinct from the Saxons down to the period of the Conquest, when their lands were appropriated by the Norman chiefs ; and it is probable that the public monuments remained undisturbed until later times, when frequent changes occurred in the proprietary of the soil. Hugh de Payens, the (first) Superior of the Knights Templars, visited England A.D. 1128, when many grants of land were made to that fraternity in the county of Cornwall. At the commencement of the second Crusade, Pope Eugenius granted at Paris, A.D. 1146, to the Templars, the symbol of martyrdom, — " the blood red cross." The Knights of St. John, instituted A.D. 1099, bore a cross of the same form, but black upon white. They, as well as the Templars, held lands in Cornwall, and the peculiar form of their cross, which occurs in a few instances in the county, may have been introduced by them. About the middle of the 9th century, the Northumbrian princes, Ella and Osbretch, rebuilt the castle of Stirling ; they also built a stone bridge over the Forth, and placed on the top of it " a Cross." As, therefore, crosses were used from an early period of the Christian era to the time of the reformation, their style varied with the different periods, from the most simple, or even rude, to the most elegant and chaste. The churches built by the first converts to Christianity in Britain were merely small huts made of wattles. At a later period, they were probably of a more substantial character ; for we are told the British masons were such expert work men, that the Roman architects took them to the Continent to assist in raising their most magnificent and elaborate works. Many of these men were Christians, and the knowledge they acquired abroad would not be altogether lost on their return to their native country. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, A.D. 325, imagined she had discovered the " true cross " at Jerusalem, and in zealous gratitude for so great a blessing, she ordered the church of the " Holy Sepulchre " to be built ; it was first called the " Church of the. Resurrection," because it was supposed to cover the sites both of the crucifixion and sepulchre ; this church was of an irregular form. The oldest church in Rome built by Constantine (who A.D. 331 ordered the destruction of all the pagan temples found within the city), the Basilica of St. Giovani Laterano, consists of a nave and aisles separated by columns. From these instances it does not appear to have been usual at this period to build the churches cruciform ; but sopn afterwards the Latin form of the cross seems to have been adopted, and continued so in western Europe until the schism arose between the Latin and Greek churches, A.D. 1050. The Greek crosses in this county were probably erected during this contention. The " true cross " was seized by the Persians, A.D. 614, at the sacking of Jerusalem, and was recovered from them by the emperor Heraclius, 622-627. — Its form has been preserved on the coins struck by him to commemorate the event. A]Lji Crosses sometimes served only to mark a place of sepulture. In the Border war fare, Armstrong of Mangerton, having been assassinated, was buried at Ettleton, and a cross was set over his grave. Another cross, called the Mangerton Gross, remains to this day at Millholm, on the spot where the coffin rested previously to the inter ment. — It was to mark places similarly used that the crosses at Waltham, Charing, and elsewhere, were erected by Edward I. The Churchyard crosses were not always monumental, for one was sometimes placed near the south or chief entrance to the church, suggestive of due preparation previously to entering the sacred building. From such crosses proclamations were made, and occasionally congregations were addressed by the priest from the same spot, as was long done at St. Paul's Cross in London. The crosses set up in market places had much the same purposes : from these, proclamation was made of war or peace, or of any other matter of general interest. Those on the highways served as prayer-stations, and as indices or guide-posts to the different Oratories, Baptistries, or other religious foundations : many of them were of great public utility, being erected on dreary moors where there were no other marks to direct the traveller on his way. On these the rich traveller often deposited alms for the succour of the poor and distressed wayfarer who might follow him. Many crosses still stand near the sites of ancient churches or chapels, as at Pradanack and Perranzabuloe in this county, the churches or chapels themselves . having been long since destroyed. Some of them were no doubt erected at con siderable labour and expense, the Pradanack cross (of granite), for instance, being ten miles from the nearest locality in which material of a similar description can be procured. Besides the crucifix and the cross, many emblems referring to the Passion were also often engraved on the stone, — the nails, the spear, &c. The five bosses which occur on several, as at St. Erth, St. Burian, St. Paul, &c, are supposed to represent the five wounds in the body of Christ. The circle, or rather the encircling ring, is the well known symbol of eternity. It is remarkable that in all these monuments where the figure of Christ is given, the head inclines towards the right shoulder. In some of the more recent examples of these crosses, figures of kings, queens, bishops, &c, are introduced, in the Gothic style. The divisions which have been adopted (the Greek, the Transition, and the Latin crosses) are in many instances not free from objection, and must of course be to some extent arbitrary : since several which have a Greek cross on one face have a Latin or a Transition cross on the other ; and many which now have four equal parts like the Greek cross, have evidently been broken off from the elongated shaft of the Latin : much indulgence is therefore solicited for the attempt at identification. That the reader may feel assured of the accuracy of the representations, the author begs to state that, except in three or four instances where friends have kindly furnished him with the requisite drawings and information, he has himself visited all the spots where these antiquities are to be found, in order to take the necessary sketches and measurements, The following is a list of the ancient Chapels, Baptistries, or Oratories, which formerly existed in this neighbourhood, to which some of the crosses may have served as guide-posts, as excitements to holy feeling before reaching the church, or might have some other relation : — St. Anthony, near the Quay, Penzance. — (See page 54.) St. Clare. Chapel Uny, Sancreed : — remains of the well may still be seen. St. Clement's, St. Paul. Trewanack Chapel, Lelant. Rose-an-crowz Chapel, Lelant. Vellansajer, St. Burian. Brunian, Lelant. Higher Tregenna, St. Ives. Triggaminion, Mprvah. Kerrow and Cornellor, Zennor. St. Bridget, at Lanyon, Madron. Trewell, Ludgvan. Pradanack, Mullion. The field in which the cross at Trevan stands is called the " Chapel Field."— (Seepage 15.) Of those in the following list remains still exist : — Madron Well and Chapel.* — (See page 58.) Bosena Chapel, Sancreed. Chapel Cam Brea, St. Just. Sanctuary, St. Burian. St. Loy, St. Burian. Chapel near the Quay, St. Ives. Porth Curnow, St, Levan. Chapel Idne, Sennen Cove. Chapel at Cape Cornwall, St. Just.f Chapel and Well at Castle Treryn, St. Levan. Clahar Garden, Mullion : — remains of chapel. * In the preface to a Poem, — " The Petition of an old uninhabited House in Penzance to its Master in Town," published in 1823, is the following note: — " Perhaps it may not be known, but I find it related in an old Manuscript that What appears a seat on the side of Maddern Well was called St. Maddern's Bed, on which the Patient who came to be cured, reclined. Those, who were benefitted, left a donation at Maddern Church for the Poor. This may account for the preservation of the Well. Donations were left so late as the middle of the seventeenth century." f A cross was found near this chapel, and placed by the late Rev. J. Buller in the chancel of St. Just church. — See Report of Royal Institution of Cornwall, 1845. AT TREVTJ, CAMBORNE, THE RESIDENCE OF O. SMITH, ESO. Height, 2 ft. 7 ins. ; breadth, 1 ft. 7 ins. (On the reverse side is a plain Latin cross.) This Cross formerly stood near the present Railway Station, Camborne. PARC-AN-CHAPEL,— or ST. HELEN'S ORATORY, CAPE CORNWALL, ST. JTTST. Length, without, 32 feet; breadth, 12 feet — The doorway, which faces the north, is 5 feet high and 2 feet wide. MARKET PLACE, PENZANCE. Height, 5 feet ; breadth, 2 feet 3 inches. Removed in the year 1829 from the centre of the market-place. — Near the base, on the reverse side, the following inscription was then found: — " Sic procumbunt corpora piorum." />. CROWZ-AN-WRA, ST. BTOYAN. Height, 5 ft. 3 ins. ; breadth, at the head, 2 ft. 5 ins. (The reverse side is similar to the engraving at page 32.) TRENQWAINTON CAIRN, MADRON. Height, without base, 2 feet 2 inches ; breadth, 2 feet. (Reverse, — the same.) CROSS STREET, HELSTONE. Height, 1 foot 4 inches; breadth, 1 foot 7 inches. VICARAGE GARDEN, ZENNOR. Height, 1 foot 9 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 9 inches. (Reverse, — similar to the Cross at Helstone.) TREMBATH, MADRON. Height, without base, 4 feet ; breadth, 1 foot 8 inches. CLOWANCE, CROWAN. Height, 2 feet 3 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 11 inches. (Reverse,— similar to the Cross at Helstone, page 6.) CHURCH-TOWN, ST. BXTRYAN. Height, without base, 2 feet 8 inches. (Reverse, — the same.) This Cross stood originally within the limits of the churchyard. ST. LEVAN CHURCHYARD. Height, 6 feet 9 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 9 inches. (Reverse, — the same as at page 17.) 10 NEAR BOSKENNA, ST. BtlRYAN. Height, 2 feet 8 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 9 inches. 11 GWINEAR CHURCHYARD. Height, 5 feet 4 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 7 inches. (Reverse, — a plain Cross.) 12 ROSEMORRAN, GULVAL. Height, 3 feet ; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches. (Reverse, — same as at page 31.) 13 ON THE ROADSIDE FROM LELANT CHURCH TO ST. IVES. Height, 6 feet 8 inches ; breadth, 2 feet 2 inches. 14 TREVAN, ST. ERTH. Height, 4 feet 4 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 9 inches. 15 ST. ERTH CHURCH-TOWN. Height, 7 feet 2 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches. (Reverse, — a Greek Cross.) 16 -IP ST. LEVAN CHURCHYARD WALL. Height, 2 feet 6 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 11 inches. (Reverse, — the same.) 17 SANCREED CHURCHYARD . Height, 7 feet 7 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches. The reverse has a plain boss in the centre of the Cross, and a shield-like figure below a crossed panel, similar to that on the upper part of the shaft as engraved above. 18 j- W^^y<^^JkSSj.fj- ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. Height, 6 feet ; breadth, 2 feet. (Reverse, — a plain Latin Cross.) 29 4^ i- Usi. » ~^"^Z2> BOSWHARTON, MADRON. Height, 3 feet; breadth, 1 foot 10 inches. 30 OUTSIDE THE CHURCHYARD WALL, LELANT. Height, 3 feet 6 inches; breadth, 1 foot 4 inches. (Reverse, — a figure of Christ.) 31 NOON creeg (Nun Careg), ST. BURYAN. Height, 5 feet; breadth, 2 feet. 32 HEA, MADRON. Height, 2 feet 1 inch ; breadth, 1 foot 9 inches. ANJARDEN, SANCREED. Height, 2 feet 6 inches; breadth, 1 foot 11 inches. 34 CURY CHURCHYARD. Height, 9 feet; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches. 35 OPPOSITE BOSKENNA GATE, ST. BURYAN. Height, 4 feet 3 inches ; breadth, 2 feet. 36 VELLANSAJER, ST. BURYAN. Height, 3 feet 7 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 8 inches. An ancient Chapel once stood near the site of this Cross. 37 the gabden at trereife : — removed there for preservation. Height, 1 foot 5 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 1 inch. At Chun, or Chyowne, near the Sanctuary, St. Buryan. Height, 2 feet 3 inches ; breadth, 2 feet 7 inches. t^-'kstjkzsr SENNEN GREEN. Height, 3 feet 4 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches. 40 SVfc ' .S*0^-* HIGHER DRIFT, SANCREED. Height, 4 feet ; breadth, at base, 2 feet 2 inches. (Reverse, — the same.) 41 BOSCAIHNOE, MADRON. Height, 4 feet ; breadth, 1 foot 8 inches. At Landithy, immediately adjoining, the Knights of St. John had a Provincial Establishment. 42 ST. PAUL DOWN. Height, 6 feet; breadth, 1 foot 10 inches. 43 TREMETHICK, MADRON. Height, 5 feet 7 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 11 inches. Removed from Rose-an-Beagle, in the parish of St. Paul, 44 THE CHURCHYARD, LUDGVAN. Height, 3 feet ; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches. 45 e^£><# TREVILLEY; SENNEN. Height, 6 feet 5 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 5 inches. 46 BRANE, SANCREED, Height, 5 feet 3 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 10 inches. 47 PRADANACK, MULLION. Height, 5 feet 3 inches ; breadth, 2 feet 1 inch. (On the reverse there is a plain Cross with the upper part enclosed in a circle ; — a beading goes round the edge of the stone.) This Cross stands near the site of an ancient Chapel. 48 v, ii, 'r.-± , / ""===^3= s)j,-i ^ CHURCHYARD, GULVAL. Cross : — Height, 1 foot 4 inches ; breadth, 1 3j inches. Base : — Height, 2 feet 8 inches ; breadth, 2 feet 2 inches. 50 HEAD OF A CROSS IN THE COURT-YARD OF THE CASTLE, ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. (Reverse, — the Virgin and Child. There is also a figure on each of its narrowest sides ; — one has a crown and holds what may be a sword — the other holds a cross.) 51 EAST SIDE OF THE HEAD OF THE CROSS IN ST. IVES CHURCHYARD (p. 53). 52 ST. IVES CHURCHYARD. Height, 10 feet 6 inches. This Cross was discovered buried in the churchyard in 1832 : in the year 1852, Robert Hichens, Esq., of London, caused it to be placed on a new base and erected in its present position. 53 CHAPEL YARD, ST. MARY'S, PENZANCE. Height, 3 feet 10 inches; breadth, 1 foot 11 inches. This Cross, recently found near the Quay, Penzance, is supposed to have been connected with the ancient Chapel of St. Anthony, now destroyed. 54 HELSTONE. Height, 2 feet 9 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 3 inches. This Cross was found at Trewane, in the parish of St. Kew, and placed in the Vicarage garden, Luxulyan (as represented in the engraving).— It now stands in Mrs. G. Grylls's garden, Helstone. 55 LANTEGLOS CHURCHYARD. It has been thought proper to give this Cross, on account of its great resemblance to the Cross at St. Ives — the circumstances connected with it are also very similar. About eighteen years ago this Cross was discovered buried deeply in the trench which runs round the wall of the Church. After lying prostrate in the churchyard for two or three years longer, the Hon. G. M. Fortescue, with good taste, caused it to he erected in its present position near the Church porch. It consists of a hex agonal shaft, diminishing upwards to where at the height of 8 feet it is surmounted by an oblong head rising 2 feet above it; On the two broadest sides of the head, in doubly-arched niches, are the crucifixion, and the virgin and child : on the narrowest sides are St. Peter with the key, and a figure holding what appears to be a sword, probably intended for St. Paul. 56 LIST OF CROSSES which remain in the West of Cornwall, not engraved in this Work, many of them being very similar to those given. GREEK. White Cross, Ludgvan. — A plain Cross ; similar to the one at Helstone, p. 6. Gwythian Churchyard. Eosepletha, St. Levan. Garden-wall, Rolling Mill, St. Erth. — Figure of Christ. Trevorgance, St. Buryan. — Figure of Christ. Rosejarn, Lelant. — Similar to the Cross at Zennor, p. 6. Trenuggo hill, Sancreed. — Defaced. ^* Parc-an-Growz, Madron. — Defaced. Penbeagle, St. Ives. — Defaced. Lelant Church-town. Camborne Churchyard. — Similar to Cross at Helstone, p. 6. Trewhela, St. Hilary. Gwinear Churchyard. At Pendeen, St. Just. — Mutilated. Between Camel Green and Clowance. — Mutilated. Trecoven hill, Lelant. — Mutilated. A Cross formerly stood near the Half-way House between Helstone and Penryn : the shaft was marked in a similar manner to that at page 27*. A notice and representation of this Cross, by Richard Thomas, Esq., C.E., will be found in the Report of the Royal Institution of Cornwall for 1849. 57 TRANSITION. Sancreed Vicarage-grounds. — Removed from Sellan. Chygwidden, St. Levan. Brunian Cairn, Lelant. Maen, Sennen. Vicarage-grounds, St Just. LATIN. Tregurnow Down, St. Buryan. — Similar to that at p. 41. Paul Down. — Same as at p. 43. Escalls, Sennen. Merther Uny, near Helstone. Breage road. Landewednack, Churchyard, Ludgvan.— -Similar to that -at p. 47. In the garden of Glynn Grylls, Esq., Helstone, a Cross removed from Tresprisson, near Helstone, where it served as a stepping-stile. — Similar to the Cross at p. 47 Height, 2 feet 9 inches. A mutilated Cross at St. Keverne Church-town, recently discovered, and erected in its present position at the expense of the Rev. O. Manley. MADRON WELL CHAPEL. Madron Well is situated in a moor, about a mile to the north-west of Madron Church. The above engraving is a view of the interior of the chapel or baptistry, which is about 200 yards from the well. This building was partially destroyed, in the time of Cromwell, by Major Ceely of St. Ives. PLAN OF THE CHAPEL. The length of the building without is 25 feet, breadth 16 feet, the walls 2 feet thick. The altar-stone, A, is 5 ft. 10 ins. in length, 2 ft. 7 ins. wide, and stands 2 ft. 10 ins. above the level of the floor. B, is a socket, 9 ins. by 8, where a cross, or the image of the patron saint may have been placed. C, is a row of stones, forming a step which divides the chancel from the nave ; E, E, the remains of stone benches or seats ; D, the door-way, which faces exactly north ; — it is 2 ft. wide without, and 2 ft. 8 ins. within. In the south-west corner is an excavation, G, which appears to have been used as a font, the water being supplied from the well above, for which purpose there is an inlet in the wall at P. H, is a drain to carry off the waste water. The building was inclosed by an outer wall, remains of which may still be seen. 58 HOLY WELL, NEAR HELSTONE. Stone benches are ranged round the interior of this Well ; — the height of the doorway is about 5 feet. (Near Grade Church there is another very similar to the above.) 59 This beautiful Seal, in perfect preservation, and probably of the 14th century, was dug up in the parish of St. Burian. How it found its way into Cornwall it would he difficult to say, but it is pretty certain that it was only by accident, as the inscription on it, which reads — " Sigillum Confraternitatis Augustini Parisias," shews that the seal has no connexion with our local history. It may possibly have been lost by some member of the Confraternity whilst visiting the Brethren of his Order at Burian, but who do not appear to have had attached to them any Confraternity of the Conception. The Seal is the property of J. J. A. Boase, Esq. 60 Crnmkjt*. ,>T is generally supposed that cromlechs were erected by the Ancients for the purpose of distinguishing the burial-places of their chiefs, or of other celebrated individuals. Paulinus and Agricola, in their several descents on the island of Anglesea, found Druidical circles and cromlechs there ; and this mode of burial continued to be practised for some time after. We find that when Vortimer defeated Hengist and Horsa at Aylesford, in Kent, where both Horsa, and Catigern the British chief, perished, the fine cromlech, now called " Kit's Cotty House," was erected over the remains of the latter by his sorrowful countrymen. They may also have been used by the Druids for religious purposes ; as similar structures are at the present time in India. For an account of these, we are indebted to W. J. Henwood, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., &c. After noticing the rock-basins, &c, which he observed there, he thus speaks of the cromlechs : — " In front of one of the Temples are two small cromlechs of slate : the larger is an oblong square, about 5 feet in length and 2J feet in breadth, and is supported at a height of rather less than 3 feet, horizontally, on six stones ; the smaller is triangular, and is perhaps 1\ feet wide ; but instead of being flat it is supported at an angle of about 30 degrees from the horizon, in such a manner, that one corner is the lowest part, and one edge — the highest — is level ; the props being applied to the inclined sides only, shelter the interior for about two-thirds of its circumference, but leave the rest open. The flat-topped cromlechs' are used in differently as altars or as seats : for I have observed rice and flowers, as offerings, often laid on them ; and just as frequently I have seen the natives sitting and resting their burdens on them : the inclined ones are employed only as receptacles for small rudely-made iron lamps, which are always lighted when religious rites are being solemnized. Level-topped cromlechs are frequently found alone ; but I do not recollect an instance, amongst the scores I have seen, of an inclined one without a flat one in its neighbourhood." * *Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, 1855. There are five of these ancient monuments in the west of Cornwall, all in a good state of preservation. The remains of one may be seen in a field about half-a-mile from the Lanyon cromlech, and of another at Bosprennis) in Zennor. There are two other cromlechs beyond the limits of our inquiries, — -one at Trevethy, in St. Cleer, and another, now fallen, at Coit, in St. Columb. The cover-stone of the Lanyon cromlech is 18J feet long and 9 feet wide ; from the under part of this stone to the ground it measures 5 feet. Borlase, and others who have followed him, state, that this cromlech is high enough for a man on horse back to pass under it. The Carwynen cromlech is less than that of Lanyon. The Zennor cromlech is the largest in the county : the supporters are about 9 feet high, — the cover-stone, 18 feet long and 10| feet wide. The cover-stone of Mulfra is about 9 feet by 12 feet. The upright stones are 5 feet high. The top-stone of Chun cromlech is- nearly 13 feet long and 11 J feet wide, — its elevation is about 4 feet. CIRCLES. Besides the circle at Boscawen-un (p. 65), there are several others in the neigh bourhood : as at Boskednan, in Gulval ; Tregaseal, St. Just ; and the Dawns M6n, commonly called " the Merry Maidens," at Rosemoddress, in St. Burian ; &c. They are supposed to have been connected with the religious rites of the Druids. Near the circle last named are the two large pillars called " the Pipers." HOLED STONES. The holed stones, of which a specimen is given at p. 67, have also been attributed to the Druids, but for what particular rite they were appropriated is uncertain. INSCRIBED STONES. ' The M6n Scryfa (p. 67) is, according to Borlase, one of the oldest monuments we have in Cornwall. The inscription, Rialobranus Cunovali films, signifies that Rialobran the son of Cunoval was buried here.- The inscribed stone at Bleu Bridge* was formerly in a horizontal position, and formed the stepping-stone of the bridge. The words of the inscription at length would be, — Quenatavus Icdinui filius. Another inscribed stone was found at Carnsew, Hayle, in 1843, an engraving and an account of which will be found in the Guide to Penzance. * " Bleu " signifies Parish. CAERWiNEN CROMLECH, PARISH OP CAMBORNE. 62 ZENNOR CROMLECH. MULFRA CROMLECH, MADRON. 63 The M£n Amber. — N.W. view. This stone is in the parish of Sithney, on the property of C. W. Popham, Esq., of Trevarno. It was formerly a logan-stone, but was thrown off its balance in the time of Cromwell, by Shrubshall, then governor of Pendennis. — The stone is 11 feet long from east to west; depth, 4 feet. Men Amber is a corruption of M6n-an-bar, which signifies, the top stone. Druidical Circle at Boscawen-un, St. Burian. The stone within the circle, which is in a slanting position, measures 8 feet in length. The Btones which compose the circle are at irregular distances, some being 8 and others 12 feet asunder ; they are from 4 to 5 feet high. This circle consists of nineteen stones, and is about 73 feet in diameter. 65 Sepulchral or Monumental Pillar, at Tresvannaek, in the parish of Paul, 12 feet high, and from 3 to 4 feet thick. The Urn was found near this stone ; it is 19 inches high and 15 in diameter. (See Report of the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society for 1848.) Trenuggo, Sancreed Height, 12 feet. Monumental Pillars, similar to the above, in the West of Cornwall. Two at Boleit, in St. Burian, called " the Pipers ; " the eastern pillar is 15£ feet high— the other 13§ feet high. There is another near these, 10 feet high. Near the circle at Boscawen-un, St. Burian Height, 8| feet. Longstone down, Boslow, St. Just 9 ,, Tregiffian, St. Burian „ 10 „ Bosworthon, Sancreed , 6 ,, Two at Higher Drift, Sancreed, 18 ft. asunder, • height of one 7 feet, the other 9 feet. Treleu, St. Burian Boshava, Lelant Trevear, Sennen Breu, St. Just Boswens croft, Sancreed Chyanhall, Paul Kerrow hill, Morvah 10 10 57 9 86 66 Men-an-tol (the holed stone), at Anguidal down, Madron. Centre stone, 4 feet in diameter and 1 foot thick, — the hole, 1 ft. 3 ins. in diameter. The other stones stand about 7 or 8 feet from the holed one, and are from 4 to 5 feet high. In the parish of Wendron there is a holed stone like the above ; it is 7 feet high, 9 feet long, and 1 foot thick, — the hole, 1 ft. 6 ins. in diameter. In a field adjoining there is a barrow covered with rough stones. The Men Scryfa, Madron. Length, 9 feet; breadth, 1 ft. 8 ins. Inscribed stone at Bleu Bridge, Gulval. Length, 6 ft. 2 ins. ; breadth, 2 feet. 67 ^5ESS>y«8MS™w ¦>» "— INSCRIBED STONES, ST. HILARY CHURCHYARD. ^^ D Q ^^»» The parish church of St. Hilary was destroyed by fire in 1853 ; in ~J^^L \\Je ^^ clearing away the ruins the above inscribed stones were discovered. (^^/*4 1^1 1 \ One was found built into the wall with the inscription downwards, ^^J | W^ filled with mortar, and a portion of one side had been chipped off to ^ f^ ^b^ make it even with the wall, and thus part of the inscription was ¦f S>% ^f destroyed. The first line is nearly gone, yet the letter P, as an ^S^^ 1^ I ^ initial letter, is perceptible ; then follow contractions of the words ^ fm Flavio Julio (or Juniori); then Constantio (or Constantino, these words being- used indifferently for the same person, as may be seen by reference to the Fasti Romani Consulares) ; then Pio, with the abbreviation of Augusto; then Caes, for Casari ; then an anomalous word which is considered to be Divi; then Constanti, for Constantini; followed by Pii; and Aug., for Augusti; terminating with Filio. The inscription maybe interpreted, — P.. .. to Flavius Julius (or Junior) Constantius (or Constantinus), the pious and august Ccesar, son of the divine and pious Constantine the Great. The date of this monument, which was probably a milliarium, or mile-stone, must be somewhere between A.D. 326 and 337 ; it is composed of a coarse elvan or porphyry which occurs in the parish. The length of this stone is 4 ft. 6 ins., breadth 1 ft 11 ins., and 10 ins. thick. The other stone is of granite, and measures 6 ft. 7 ins. in length, 1 ft. 9 ins. wide, and 10. ins. thick ; it was found at the north-west angle of the chancel, 2 feet below the level of the floor. From its position, it is probable that it was used as a foundation stone ; and it is imagined that the symbols inserted on it, arranged in two lines, represented Masonic tools and implements, which- had been adopted as a sign manual by Notus, the builder or architect of some ancient structure which might have stood on the same spot. The inscription would simply mean, — " Notus, his mark." " Notus, his mark." The symbols are shewn in the margin on a larger scale. %mi of lutoritro. Andrew, W. Esq., Redruth. Armstrong, Rev. J., Penare Souse. Batten, John, Esq., Penzance. Batten, Rev. Henry, Leskinnick Cottage. Bazeley, William, Esq., St. Ives. Bedford, D. B., Esq., Penzance. Bedford, John S., Esq., Pendrea. Berkeley, J., Esq., Penzance. Blee, Mr. Robert, Redruth. Blight, Mr. F., „ Blight, Mr. W. H., „ Boase, John J. A., 'Esq., Alverton Vean. Boase, Francis, Esq., Penzance. Bolitho, Thomas, Esq., The Coombe. Bolitho, Thos. S., Esq., Penalveme. (2 oopies.) Bolitho, Edward, Esq., Trewidden. Bolitho, Mrs. William, jr., Alverne Hill. Bolitho, R. F., Esq., Penzance. (2 copies.) Bond, W. H., Esq., Truro. Bone, Mr. C. B., Redruth. Borlase, S., Esq., Castle Horneck. (2 copies.) Borlase, Rev. W., Zennor. (4 copies.) Borlase, Walter, Esq., Lariggan. Cornish, Thomas, Esq., Penzance. Couch) Richard Q., Esq., „ Couch, T. Q., Esq., Bodmin. Coulson, John, Esq., Penzance. Dabb, Mr. F. W., Redruth. Danby, William, Esq., Park House, Exeter. Darke, Thomas, Esq., The Orchard. Davey, Mr. Thomas, Redruth. Davy, R. "V., Esq., Penzance. Eade,Mr. M. H., Redruth. Edwards, T. H., Esq., Helston. Ellery, Rev. Thos., Penzance. 'Etheridge, Rev. Dr., „ Festing, Rev. C. G.R., St. Paul Vicarage. Fortescue, the Hon. G. M., Boconnoc. Gould, S. Baring, Esq., Care Hall, Cambridge. Gregory, Mrs., The Abbey, Penzance. Grenfell, Pascoe, Esq., Chenhall. Grylls, Rev. T. G., Penzance. Grylls, Mrs. R. G„ Helstone. Grylls, Miss Emily, „ Grylls, Mrs. H. M., „ Grylls, Capt., Bosahan. Hacket, Thomas, Esq., London. Harris, C. S., Esq., B. Salterton, Devon. Harvey, Mr. Arthur, Penzance. Harvey, W. G., Esq., „ Hawker, Rev. R. S., Morwenstow Vicarage. Heard & Sons, Truro. Hearle, Mr. Samuel, Carlyon, Kea. Hedgeland, Rev. P., Madron. Henwood, W. Jory, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., &c, Penzance. Hichens, Robert, Esq., Dulwich. (2 copies.) Hichens, J. S., Esq., Redruth. Higgs, Samuel, Esq., Penzance. Higgs, Mr. George, „ Higgs, Mr. S., jr. „ Hill, Frederick, Esq., Helstone. Hockin, Rev. F., Phillack. Hockin, Miss St, „ Houghton, Rev. W., Sennen. Job, Mr. John, Redruth. Johns, Rev. J. W., Crowan Vicarage. Kevern, J. T., Esq., Penzance. King, Mr. Henry, „ Lanyon, Edward, Esq., Camborne. Le Grice, Rev. C. V., Trereife. Le Keux, J. H., Esq., London. Ley, Edwin, Esq., Alverton. Longlands, Miss, Penzance. Mc.Fadyean,Mr. G., „ Magor, M., Esq., „ Manley, Rev. 0., Helstone. Michell, Francis, Esq., Truro. Michell, Miss, Penzance. Michell, Mr. A. H. „ Millett, Richard, Esq., Penzance. Millett, Miss, „ Montgomery, J., Esq., M.D., „ Palmer, Mr. W., „ Pascoe, Rev. T., St. Hilary Vicarage. (4 copies.) Pascoe, Mr. J. R. C, Penzance. Pascoe, Mr. Thomas, Gulval. Pearce, Richard, Esq., Penzance. Pedlar, E. H., Esq., Liskeard. Peel, Mrs., Alverton Cottage. (2 copies.) Penaluna, Mr. W. J. N., Helstone. Penneck, Rev. Henry, Penzance. Popham, C. W., Esq., Trevarno. Prockter, Mr. John, Penzance. Punnett, Rev. John, St. Erth Vicarage. Purchase, Mr. A., Penzance. Read, Mrs., Helstone. Read, Mr. Charles, Penzance. Robyns, General, K.H., ,, Rodd, E. H, Esq., „ (2 copies.) Rodd, Rev. H. T., Gwinear Vicarage. Rogers, Rev. Canon, Penrose, Rogers, Miss, „ Rogers, J. J., Esq., London. Rogers, J., Esq., Plymouth. Rogers, J. R„ Esq., Helstone. Runnalls, Mr. H., Penzance. Scobell, John, Esq., Nancealverne. Scott, Mrs., St. Ives. Serpentine Company, Penzance. (2 copies.) Smith, G., Esq., F.A.S., Trevu, Camborne. St. Aubyn, Rev. H. M., Clowance. (4 copies.) St. Aubyn, H. J. M., Esq., „ Stevens, Mrs., Trewoman, Wadebridge. Stockham, Rev. J. H., Penzance. Symqns, Mr. J. N., „ Thomas, Rd., Esq., ,, Thomas, Mr. John, Pradanack, Mullion. Thomas, Mr. Jos., Trenarth, Constantine. Tonkin, Rev. U., Lelant Vicarage. Townsend, Rev. J. H., Rector of East Down. Tregellas, J. T., Esq., Truro. Trevenen, Miss, Comprigney. Trounson, Mr. W. H., Penzance. Trounson, Mr. F., jun., „ Tweedy, W. M., Esq., Alverton. (2 copies.) Tyacke, T. P., Esq., Helstone. Wearne, J., Esq., „ Williams, Mr. Henry, Penzance, Willyams, H, Esq., Carnanton. Willyams, Mrs., „ Willyams, Miss, B. Salterton, Devon. Wilson, Edward S. C, Esq., Truro. Wood, John, Esq., St. John's Coll., Cambridge. Wood, Mrs., Eltham Lodge. York, Samuel, Esq., Penzance. -^V. 8 ll.'l/l,,