John Burke's Curiosities   Ancient Stones & Tombs
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Chun Quoit Chun Quoit, Cornwall

This burial chamber is one of several quoits to be found in the Lands End peninsula. This can be found by turning westwards from the unclassified road from Morvah (near Pendeen) to Madron (just north of Penzance). There is an artist's studio and shop and a lay-by near the turning. A sign points in the opposite direction to Men-an-tol (see later). Follow the road to a small farm. The farmer will allow cars to park and there is a box for voluntary contributions. Walk up the hill from the farm past a large white stone that can be easily seen from the car park. The path is not too steep but is narrow and lined with gorse so some protection for legs is recommended otherwise it will be an uncomfortable climb!

Men-An-Tol Men-an-tol, Cornwall

This is a strange collection of standing stones with a holed stone standing between them. It was the custom to pass children through the hole in the circular stone in the belief that it would cure rickets and other diseases. The stones are an easy 15 - 20 minutes walk from the lay-by mentioned above.

Men-An_Tol
The Devils Arrows, Yorkshire

Three tall standing stones with fluted edges looking like the flights of arrows stand, two in a field (pictured) and one at the opposite side of the road adjoining the field.

The Devil's Arrows can be found near Boroughbridge, roughly 10 miles north east of Knaresborough. The grass in the field was waist height when the photograph was taken around 1982.

The Devils Arrows
Lanyon Quoit Lanyon Quoit, Cornwall

On the eastern side of the same road from Morvah to Madron mentioned above, but roughly halfway between the two. This quoit is easily seen from the road and can be visited by those with less enthusiasm for walking!

It used to be possible for a man to ride on horseback beneath the capstone, but the tomb was destroyed during a storm and was re-erected in 1824, evidently a good deal lower. The remains of foundations of the mound that would originally have covered the tomb can be seen in places and give a good idea of how large the site would have been when first built.

Wayland's Smithy, Oxfordshire

This is an example of a long barrow and can be found on the Ridgeway, a prehistoric track.

You will have to get out of the car and walk to this one. I parked where the signpost told me and left the wife in the car and was gone an hour and a half with only a short stay at the barrow.

The thing about the Ridgeway is that you can see about 200 yards and when you come to the corner you can then see another 200 yards which looks exactly the same!

Unlike West Kennet (see later) it is impossible to enter this barrow. Wayland Smith was a legendary blacksmith. It is unlikely that this barrow was connected to him by anything other than name however.

Wayland's Smithy Wayland's Smithy
West Kennet Long Barrow West Kennet Long Barrow, Wiltshire

The barrow can be entered behind the stones to a central passage with chambers.

A torch is a good idea. Glass panels are let into the roof here and there, but the turf grows over them!

West Kennet Long Barrow
Belas Knap Belas Knap Belas Knap Long Barrow, Cotswolds

This has a grand - but false - entrance shown far left. There are five real entrances leading to small chambers where the internments were made. One is shown left with the interior to the right.

Belas Knap
   
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