Mr Hamhead

Mr Hamhead

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Farley Moor

Standing Stone / Menhir

Time Team 2025

In this episode, the Time Team Expedition Crew—Lawrence, Naomi, Derek, Hilde, and a small group of volunteers—head to Farley Moor, Derbyshire, just outside the Peak District National Park. This rugged landscape of gritstone moors is rich in prehistoric monuments, from henges and ring cairns to stone circles, but the team’s focus is a single, enigmatic standing stone. Could it be a remnant of a larger, lost, Bronze Age monument?

Men Marz

As we were camping within walking distance it seemed a shame not to visit. This is a massive stone! Like Jane says, shame about the cross perched on top. There’s now an interpretation area across the road, in French, but with some great old photos.
I managed to get a stone on the ledge! I’m hearing wedding bells already!

Bartlow Hills

Without any fieldnotes or a map these monsters took a bit of finding. I eventually parked at the south end of the village and walked back along a footpath through woods before branching off to the right deeper into the woods where the ‘hills’ suddenly appear in front of you. Wht are they not known better? possibly because there are very few other sites in the area?
Visiting in early April there is very little greenery around, though more than in Cornwall at the moment. Even so there is no view from the top of the tallest mound because of the trees all around, which is a shame.
I would love to know more about the excavations here, how they were carried out and where the story of the light being left burning inside came from.

Lesquite Quoit

Inspired by CARLs visit, I thought it about time I got to see Lesquite Quoit, especailly as I spend quite a bit of time in the area during the spring due to its close proximity to Redmoor nature reserve.

So, having spent the day watching woodpeckers and blue tits feeding their young, being mugged by three over excited squirrels and generally having a great time deep in pristine woodland, I drove over to the pull in beside the field.

As I got out of the car I spotted a fox cub on the other side of the road scarper into the corn with a vole in its mouth. I walked across carefully hoping to catch sight of it only to be greeted by three other cubs, all happy to have photos taken...

...but back to the quoit.

It’s an interesting one as there is no sign of how, if it did, the cap stone sat atop of the uprights. Perhaps it never did, the other large stone that stands behind is too far away to have been part of one structure, so why is it there? The small stone that sits beneath the sloping cap stone, is it original or just a large stone placed there years ago and now considered part of the group?

Is there a connection with Helman Tor and its supposed Neolithic encampment?

So many questions...

Race against time to save hill fort

In the North Devon Gazette this weekend.

northdevongazette.co.uk/news/race_against_time_to_save_hill_fort_1_1368697

A TEAM of archaeologists will be surveying and excavating the remains of a hill fort before it is lost to the waves forever.

The work at Embury Beacon in Hartland will be a race against time to save the remaining 25 per cent of the fort.

Previous surveys suggest that the monument may have enclosed the crest of a prominent coastal headland, most of which has eroded away in the last 2,000 years.

The current excavations, which began on April 16 by a team of volunteers, are examining how the original entrance opened.

Justin Seedhouse, National Trust Ranger, said: ““We have enjoyed involving local schools in the digs.

“Woolsery Primary School got their hands dirty learning to be trainee archaeologists and hearing about the history of the fort here, and we have Hartland Primary School also coming to visit.”

The excavation is part of the ‘unlocking our coastal heritage’ project, supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, which aims to improve the visitor experience along the South West Coast Path National Trail.

The excavation is being undertaken by AC archaeology in collaboration with the National Trust, English Heritage and SWCP Team.

Langstone Downs Cairns

Three large cairns sit on Langstone Downs. Apart from a few uprights in place in and around the eastern cairn they appear to be just three large piles of stones. The ‘hill’ itself is overshadowed by Sharptor to the east, one of Bodmin Moors finest summits.
The Langstone, that gives the hill its name, is conspicuous by its absence...unless you know better?

Image of The Hurlers (Stone Circle) by Mr Hamhead

The Hurlers

Stone Circle

Taken in the 1930s, this shows a different view of The Hurlers, in that there are far fewer stones upright than there are now. The main stones that can be seen are, I think, the middle circle.
Photo is from a collection in Looe Museum.

Image of Trethevy Quoit by Mr Hamhead

Trethevy Quoit

Dolmen / Quoit / Cromlech

This monument standeth in the parish of St Clere. The couer being all one stone, is from A to B 16 foote the length, the bredth from C to D is 10 foot, the thickness from G to H is 2 foote; E is an arteficiall holl 8 inches diameter, made thorowgh the roofe very rounde, which serued as it seemeth to putt out a staffe, wherof the howse it selfe was not capable : F was the dore or entrance.

Image credit: John Norden 1650

Changwens Menhir

This stone is on private land belonging to Trelew Farm.
www.trelew.co.uk

Built into the wall, it is recognised as a monument although some might say it was ancient farmers making use of a large lump of stone...we may never know?
Another stone has been identified nearby lying recumbent in the wall.
Within five mins walk of Boscawen-un, this whole area seems to have more standing stones than any other part of Cornwall.

Trelew Menhir

Wow! photos do not do this stone justice..it’s a big un!
Easy to find just up the drive to Trelew Farm. It is on their land but they are happy for people to visit. In fact guests using the farm for B&B are encouraged to walk through the fields to visit Boscawen-un passing another menhir on the way.
See link for details
trelew.co.uk/