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Post by Blackbird on Apr 7, 2005 7:32:10 GMT -1
So - the first of the regional threads. I'll kick us off with Tintagel. There can not be many places that have so many illustrious personages associated with it. Tintagel is the scene for the tale of Tristan and Isolt, and of the begetting of King Arthur. The present castle was built by Earl Richard of Cornwall, brother to Henry III. Previously, Reginald, Earl of Cornwall had built a castle upon the site. In the 14th Century, the castle was owned by the Black Prince, but after this time, it became neglected. Tintagel used to be connected to the mainland by a natural causeway, but this has been gradually eroded, so that it is now reached by a narrow bridge. Beneath the rocks of Tintagel are two tunnels. One shows signs of being man made. The other, the larger of the two, is named 'Merlin's Cave'. Tennyson placed the bard and prophet here in his 'Idylls of the King'. The remains of a monastery have been found upon Tintagel, along with many building dating to the 6th century. A vast amount of pottery has been found, much of which originates from the Aegean, African and Asia. For some, this supports the idea that Tintagel was the seat of a sixth century leader, perhaps Arthur himself. This theory was fuelled by the discovery of an inscribed piece of slate, known as the 'Arthur Stone'. The inscription includes the name Artognov, which has been equated by some with Arthur. Other sites around have been linked to the Matter of Britain. Dozmary Pool, which lies about 15 miles away, is said to be the lake into which Bedwyr returned Excalibur to the waters. See www.tintagelweb.co.uk/ for a nice mixture of legend and everyday life www.time-scapes.co.uk/Arthur%20in%20the%20Southwest/tintagel.htmlwas the main source of the info for this post.
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Post by siaron on Apr 7, 2005 12:43:00 GMT -1
Annwyl Blackbird,
Tintagel is one of my very favorite places. It is definitely has a magical air about it, regardless of the legends. When we were there last time, we explored a cave directly opposite Merlin's cave, and discovered a large flat rock with what I have heard described as "Celtic" runes! It was quite exciting!
It's easy to get discouraged by the commercial nature of the town (Ye Olde King Arthur's Fish & Chips, etc.) but it doesn't deter from the site itself.
Pob Bendith,
Siaron
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Post by Midori on Apr 7, 2005 19:29:08 GMT -1
It's amazing how the Arthur legends have taken over the town, when I first went there there was only Arthur's Hall and the castle plus the Old Post office.
I must admit I am remembering back to the mid-1950s, even before the Witchcraft Museum moved to Boscastle from the Isle of Man. ;D
BB Midori
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Post by Brochfael on Apr 8, 2005 9:40:27 GMT -1
Has anyone been to Madron's well?
It is the ruins of a small chapel next to a sacred spring. There is a tree there to which pilgrims (Probably christian and pagan) have tied strips of cloth and ribbon.
All in all a very magical place.
As for Tintagel I remember doing a re-enactment show there some years ago where I told the tale of Culhwch and Olwen. I think the magic of the place helped as it's not a story I'm normally confident of doing justice to but I was told I'd done very well.
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Post by siaron on Apr 8, 2005 13:28:45 GMT -1
My husband is from Cornwall and Madron Well is probably his favorite place in the entire world. A very sacred spot.
I haven't been yet, but I made him promise to take me there the next time we're in that area.
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Post by Blackbird on Apr 8, 2005 14:57:43 GMT -1
Dozmary Pool
Sourced from the 'Atlas of Occult Britain', Charles Walker, Hamlyn 1987:
With a 30 acre extent, the largest natural expanse of water on Bodmin Moor. Romantic literature would have it that here, Bedivere threw Excalibur into the waters for the dying Arthur.
This was also the place where Jan Tredeagle was 'condemned to moan away his penitence, emptying the waters with a limpet shell.'
Dozmary Pool was popularly believed to be bottomless - until it dried up in 1869...
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Post by siaron on Apr 8, 2005 16:54:44 GMT -1
The last time I was there (2 years ago), the pool was very nearly dried up...looked more like a marsh than a pool. Hard to imagine it being the source of so much mystery and lore....
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Post by branynos on Apr 10, 2005 8:41:05 GMT -1
Its been years since I went to Tintagel. I remember the crush of humanity in getting there, it was as bad as a busy High Street climbing up the causeway
Then suddenly everyone seemed to melt away and there was just my son (about 18 months old then) and me basking in the sun amongst the ruins. The background noise of humans at play faded away and was replaced by sounds of the sea carried on the wind. A little bubble of peace in the midst of the tourist season. Then the bubble burst and there I was back in the same Tintagel as everyone else.
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Post by Midori on Apr 10, 2005 9:41:30 GMT -1
I have experienced that, it seems easier in Cornwall and Wales than elsewhere, I find.
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Post by Blackbird on Apr 12, 2005 6:30:25 GMT -1
The Merry Maidens Nineteen maidens, were on their way to church on Sunday, when they heard the music of two pipers. They started to dance along to the merry tune. A thunderbolt struck both maidens and pipers, turning them into stone. This is the legend told of the Merry Maidens stone circle, which lies a stones throw (;D *sorry*) away from Penzance. The circle is also known by the names 'Danse Maen' (ie. Stones Dance), Rosemodress Circle and Boleigh Circle. It is a large circle, about 78 foot across. The stones are evenly spaced and well matched for height, giving a curious perfection to the site. The Pipers are two tall stones which stand in another field nearby. The circle was restored in the 1860s. There are maps, photos and a discussion about the site here: www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=118
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Post by siaron on Apr 12, 2005 13:43:09 GMT -1
I love the Merry Maidens! Unlike many circles, it is inside a field by itself and no animals roam through it. You can lie down in the grass if you feel like it (and I have done!) It holds a special place for my husband, because that is where they held the Gorsedh when he was made a bard.
The last time we went we were saddened because somone had built a fire in the middle and there was a bunch of debris left in it....we carefully cleared it away so the grass could grow back.
Why can't people honor these places instead of desecrating them? It was very upsetting....
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Post by Blackbird on Apr 12, 2005 13:50:20 GMT -1
That's sadly typical of many sites, though awareness is improving slowly. I have often arrived at places to find tea light cases left, wax dripped on stones, scorched or burnt grass, fag ends, lager cans... Some people call it sacred offerings, I call it litter.
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Post by siaron on Apr 12, 2005 15:51:36 GMT -1
While we're in Cornwall, a stop on Bodmin Moor is well worthwhile. We love to visit the Hurlers, an ususual triple stone circle arrangement. The moor is wonderfully stark, and dotted with stacks from the tin mining boom times.
Then after a LONG walk ;D, you reach the Cheesewring, a very unusual rock formation across the moor from the Hurlers. It is well worth the trek! From the vantage point on top of the formation, you can see FOREVER!!! We were there on a lovely afternoon last year near dusk with a beautiful sunset in the making...it was heaven.
I love that area. There is archeological evidence of early human habitation there, and from the Cheesewring you can actually make out "pillow mounds" which I have read were used to as rabbit warrens.
Anyway, a lovely spot altogether. Highly recommended if you are in the area.
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Post by Brochfael on Apr 12, 2005 17:18:10 GMT -1
I remember doing a navigation exercise across bodmin moor as a young Territorial Lance Corporal, When we were told that our next checkpoint was a stone circle, the officer winked at me and suggested we should sacrifice a certain young and almost certainly virgin soldier.
When we arrived there, the said virgin soldier with no prompting but the disbelief of the rest of the group, proceeded to take of all his clothes and run naked around the circle.
Just as he was finishing his circuit an elderly couple out walking appeared over the nearby crest of the hill. As they passed us the corporal in charge of the group remarked "Sorry about my friend he's never been the same since he got back from the gulf!".
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Post by arth_frown on Jun 6, 2007 15:31:18 GMT -1
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Post by Midori on Jun 8, 2007 6:39:27 GMT -1
St, Nectans was badly damaged in the floods which also hit Boscastle, but I believe it is mostly restored.
Cheers, midori
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Post by littleraven on Jun 8, 2007 6:58:27 GMT -1
Just a FYI, that link doesn't work properly, the last few characters havn't been included in the URL, you'll need to copy and paste the whole address into the address bar. Arth, any chance of editing the link?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2007 8:25:30 GMT -1
Annwyl Blackbird, When we were there last time, we explored a cave directly opposite Merlin's cave, and discovered a large flat rock with what I have heard described as Celtic runes! It was quite exciting! There's a large boulder outside with the shape of a smiling face on it too (not sure if it's carved or natural). I didn't notice it at the time but when we got home there was a rather amusing photo of me sitting with my legs dangling on either side of it.
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Post by arth_frown on Jun 8, 2007 10:14:16 GMT -1
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