Zennor Quoit
Encyclopedia
Zennor Quoit is a ruined megalithic burial chamber or dolmen
, located on a moor about a mile (1.6 km) east of the village of Zennor
, Cornwall
. It dates to 2500–1500 BC. Aside from the 12.5 tonne roof, which collapsed some time between 1770 and 1865, the chamber is in good condition.
. From the road, the site can be reached via a trail from a spot named "Eagle's Nest" (OS coordinate SW468387).
The quoit measures 12.8 metres (42 ft) in total in diameter. Five stones support the roof, a massive slab measuring 18 by 9.5 ft (5.5 by 2.9 m) and weighing an estimated 12.5 tonne, which has slipped from its original position, with one end resting on the ground. The chamber itself consists of seven upright stones and was originally covered by a cairn. It had a small porch at its entrance for the purpose of entering the chamber and also had an antechamber with an even smaller entrance.
300 metres (984.3 ft) to the east is Sperris Quoit, although this is in a considerably less fine state than the Zennor Quoit.
A local legend is associated with the chamber in that it is said that the quoit possesses mystical powers and that removed stones from the structure would soon mysteriously find their way back in the middle of the night. In 1754 and in 1769, before the roof had fallen, the quoit was analysed by the antiquary Dr. William Borlase
(1695–1772), who described and provided detailed drawings of it and published some of his findings in his Antiquities of Cornwall (1769).
In 1861, a local farmer proposed to convert the monument into a cattle–shed by removing one of the upright pillars and drilling a hole in the sloping capstone. The vandalism soon reached the disapproving ears of the villagers of Zennor and the local vicar, William Borlase (a great grandson of Dr. William Borlase), intervened and successfully offered a financial incentive of five shillings to the farmer to build it elsewhere, although he had already built stone posts on the site to erect it. Traces of drill–holes can still be seen in the stone
In 1882, a member of the Borlase family came to the defence of the quoit again when the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society
visited the site. The following account was reported:
Every year, the Old Cornwall Society meets behind the chamber on Midsummer's Eve and lights a ritual bonfire.
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
, located on a moor about a mile (1.6 km) east of the village of Zennor
Zennor
Zennor is a village and civil parish in Cornwall in England. The parish includes the villages of Zennor, Boswednack and Porthmeor and the hamlet of Treen. It is located on the north coast, about north of Penzance. Alphabetically, the parish is the last in Britain—its name comes from the Cornish...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. It dates to 2500–1500 BC. Aside from the 12.5 tonne roof, which collapsed some time between 1770 and 1865, the chamber is in good condition.
Structural description
Zennor Quoit is located on the West Penwith moors about a mile to the east of the village of Zennor (OS coordinate SW468380). It is accessed by the B3306 road about two miles from St. IvesSt Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
. From the road, the site can be reached via a trail from a spot named "Eagle's Nest" (OS coordinate SW468387).
The quoit measures 12.8 metres (42 ft) in total in diameter. Five stones support the roof, a massive slab measuring 18 by 9.5 ft (5.5 by 2.9 m) and weighing an estimated 12.5 tonne, which has slipped from its original position, with one end resting on the ground. The chamber itself consists of seven upright stones and was originally covered by a cairn. It had a small porch at its entrance for the purpose of entering the chamber and also had an antechamber with an even smaller entrance.
300 metres (984.3 ft) to the east is Sperris Quoit, although this is in a considerably less fine state than the Zennor Quoit.
History
The chamber dates to between 2500–1500 BC and is one of eight remaining quoits on the West Penwith moors. Archaeological evidence unearthed on the site has indicated that the chamber was used for the burial of bodies which at some point would be cremated and removed and replaced with others. The purpose of the exterior stones are believed to have been for resting the dead bodies against for the flesh to be devoured by birds before burial. Excavations at the site have revealed flint and Neolithic style pottery and cremated bones.A local legend is associated with the chamber in that it is said that the quoit possesses mystical powers and that removed stones from the structure would soon mysteriously find their way back in the middle of the night. In 1754 and in 1769, before the roof had fallen, the quoit was analysed by the antiquary Dr. William Borlase
William Borlase
William Borlase , Cornish antiquary, geologist and naturalist, was born at Pendeen in Cornwall, of an ancient family . From 1722 he was Rector of Ludgvan and died there in 1772.-Life and works:...
(1695–1772), who described and provided detailed drawings of it and published some of his findings in his Antiquities of Cornwall (1769).
In 1861, a local farmer proposed to convert the monument into a cattle–shed by removing one of the upright pillars and drilling a hole in the sloping capstone. The vandalism soon reached the disapproving ears of the villagers of Zennor and the local vicar, William Borlase (a great grandson of Dr. William Borlase), intervened and successfully offered a financial incentive of five shillings to the farmer to build it elsewhere, although he had already built stone posts on the site to erect it. Traces of drill–holes can still be seen in the stone
In 1882, a member of the Borlase family came to the defence of the quoit again when the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society
Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society
Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society was a local society founded in Penzance in Cornwall, England, UK, whose aim was "the cultivation of the science of Natural History, and for the investigation of the Antiquities referring to the early inhabitants." It was established at a public...
visited the site. The following account was reported:
Every year, the Old Cornwall Society meets behind the chamber on Midsummer's Eve and lights a ritual bonfire.