Merry Maidens |
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| District:
Cornwall Ordnance Survey map reference: SW 432245 Landranger map number: 203 Latitude: 50.386 degrees. Longitude: -5.3532 degrees. Architecture: Outlier Length of the major axis: 23.8 metres. Length of the minor axis: 23.8 metres. Height of the highest stone: 1.4 metres. Shape: Circle. Number of stones in the circle originally: . Number of stones in the circle now: 29 Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 10 Burl rating of the circle: 1 (Good, worth visiting). Thom reference for the circle: S1/14 Astronomical alignments from this circle: -. Excavations undertaken at this circle: - Details of any finds at this circle: This circle is not in state care. Access to the circle: No problem with access to this site, it is situated just yards from the roadside on the B 3315, less than half a mile south west of Boleigh. The field in which it stands is open to the public via a kissing gate and it is possible to park at the roadside near the gate. Description:A circle of evenly placed stones, all of which are approximately the same height, about 1.4m. In excellent condition and situated in a field of short grass. The stones are also known as ‘The Dawns Men’ and 320m to the north east stand ‘The Pipers’, two outliers 4.6m and 4.0m tall. These however are not visible from the stone circle, even if the wall between them were to be removed. To the west however is the Goon Rith standing stone which stands 2.7m high and this can be seen from the circle. The Merry Maidens is one of the most impressive circles in Cornwall and well documented. On the day of my visit, the day after the 1999 solar eclipse, it was buzzing with people and offerings had been left on the tops of all the stones, not a practice I agree with, especially as the items included cans of drink and cigarette lighters. |
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| The Merry Maidens the day
after the 1999 solar eclipse was buzzing with visitors. |
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| A very neat ring of stones
that has easy access making the Merry Maidens perhaps the best stone
circle in Cornwall for the casual visitor. |
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