Featured: Stonehenge Tea Towels - Worldwide delivery

Stonehenge Tea Towels - Worldwide delivery

Random Image

Ancient Theatre of Lindos

Ancient Theatre of Lindos

Stone Worlds: Narrative and Reflexivity in Landscape Archaeology

Stone Worlds: Narrative and Reflexivity in Landscape Archaeology

Login

Register here - as a registered user you get more features and fewer ads.

Who's Online

There are currently, 1652 guests and 4 members online.

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Boleigh Fogou - Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) in England in Cornwall

Submitted by enkidu41 on Tuesday, 16 November 2004  Page Views: 21678

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Boleigh Fogou
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House)
Nearest Town: Penzance  Nearest Village: Lamorna
Map Ref: SW43712521  Landranger Map Number: 203
Latitude: 50.071638N  Longitude: 5.583092W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

Macha irodori-00 micske SolarMegalith would like to visit

TheCaptain visited on 19th Jun 2025 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 The plan for today is a visit to Boleigh Fogou then down to Lamorna Cove for a coastal walk to Mousehole. I had tried to call the contact number for Rosemerryn house several times, but got no response. As I was passing I saw two ladies wandering the grounds in the woods, so thought I would ask them. However, they turned out to be guests at the rental house, but did tell me that there may be somebody up in the main house to ask. So I walked up the road and along the driveway, when a lady came cycling down the lane, so I said hello and asked if she knew anything. She was in fact (Laura?) the owner of the house. I explained that I would like to see the fogou, and had called but not had an answer, but as I was actually down here near the place, and spoken to the ladies in the garden, I thought that it was worth going to see if anyone was in. She was very nice about it and seemed pleased to show me the fogou, which is not far outside the main house in a little woodland. Thank you very much. The fogou is wonderful, all quiet and calm away from the heat. The main passageway is now open at both ends letting adequate light in, and looks like it collects a large pool of water when it is wet, but not something for today. There are several white globes hanging from the ceiling, probably spiders egg cases, but maybe something to do with bats, or indeed just balloons of seafog. The creep passage off to the left has a small entrance, which I was unable / unwilling to crawl through, but could stick my head and camera inside for a picture. What a magical place this is, and its great to have been able to visit after all these decades.

Catrinm visited on 23rd Sep 2018 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 rang ahead.. beautiful autumn afternoon and peaceful inside fougou. open at both ends

markj99 visited on 23rd Mar 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Rosemerryn house owners were kind enough to allow access to Boleigh Fogou. It was my first visit to a subterranean site but I enjoyed it immensely.

brianlavelle visited on 27th Mar 2010 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Bladup ocifant have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.75 Ambience: 4.75 Access: 4

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Horatio : Looking back up towards what would possible the the front entrance? I stopped and rang at the beginning of the house drive as this is basically in someone's garden to seek permission to visit, as it was the gentleman was more than willing and showed where me where to go and as it turns out, he'd moved from close from my 'neck of the woods' about 4 years ago (Leicestershire), so we reminisced abou... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Boleigh Fogou sits within the private grounds of Rosemerryn House. The main passage is some 36 feet long, and 6.5 feet high.

A creep passage, nearly 13 feet long extends off from close to the modern day entrance. The original external entrance via the creep is now blocked. The internal entrance to the creep is very low and tight for an adult. A torch is essential when visiting. The end of the main passage is also blocked due to the collapse of the roof at that end.

Note: The fogou is in a wonderful private garden. Please do not just turn up and go looking for it without first obtaining permission. The lady of the house is very willing to let people visit the fogou, but does not want strangers wandering around the property unnanounced.
The Rosemerryn Wood web site gives details for contact, and of the guest cottage, should you wish to stay and visit.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Bladup : A very strange light effect in Boleigh fogou, I promise the camera was totally still all the way though the shot, As can be seen by the rocks being pretty much in focus in the background, We had a very strange feeling at the time the photo was taken, and was a little taken aback when we saw this photo later. (4 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by brianlavelle : The entrance to Boleigh fogou, taken 27 March 2010. (5 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Bladup : Inside Boleigh fogou. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by cazzyjane : Boleigh Fogou, looking amazing in the spring sun. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Postman : Looking along the Fogou to the broken back end. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Postman : The entrance to the creep passage.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Bladup : Looking out of Boleigh fogou.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Bladup : Boleigh Fogou.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by enkidu41 : The opening to the creep passage just inside the entrance to the main passage.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by ocifant : Looking back out of the main passage. The creep entrance can be seen on the right.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by ocifant : Looking into the fogou. The creep entrance can just be seen on the left.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by ocifant : The entrance to the fogou.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain : The view along the main passage from the rear of Boleigh Fogou

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain : There are several white globes hanging from the ceiling. I like to thnk it is a balloon of seafog!

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain : Looking into the side "creep" passage. I decided that I wouldn't easily fit through, but that didn't stop me having a look.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain : The entrance to the side "creep" passage. I decided that I wouldn't easily fit through.

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain : Looking along the main passage of Boleigh Fogou

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by TheCaptain : The current main entrance to Boleigh Fogou

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Horatio : Back of the creep passage

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Horatio : Looking back along the creep to the main chamber, the fallen roof stone at the bottom of the photo

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Horatio : Front widest and deepest entrance

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Horatio : The other (rear) entrance in to the Fogou

Boleigh Fogou
Boleigh Fogou submitted by Bladup : Boleigh Fogou (Entrance)

These are just the first 25 photos of Boleigh Fogou. If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 318m S 190° Boleigh Holed Stone* Holed Stone (SW43642490)
 419m SSE 165° New Town Tumulus* Round Barrow(s) (SW438248)
 446m SSE 162° New Town Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW43832478)
 465m SSW 203° Pipers (nr Merry Maidens)* Standing Stones (SW43512479)
 501m NE 56° St Ann's Well (Lamorna)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SW44142547)
 653m SW 216° The Pipers barrow* Round Cairn (SW433247)
 695m SSE 168° Tregurnow* Stone Circle (SW4381824523)
 740m SSW 212° Nun Careg Cross* Ancient Cross (SW43292460)
 744m SSW 199° Barnatt's Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW43432452)
 746m ENE 64° Lamorna* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW444255)
 773m SSW 213° Merry Maidens Holed Stone* Holed Stone (SW43262458)
 789m N 357° Bellowal Farm Mound* Misc. Earthwork (SW437260)
 826m SSE 163° New Town Cross* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (SW43922441)
 834m SSW 209° Merry Maidens (Circle)* Stone Circle (SW43272450)
 925m SW 215° Maidens Cross Base* Ancient Cross (SW43142448)
 1.0km SW 214° Merry Maidens SW Stone Circle (SW431244)
 1.0km SW 218° Tregiffian Barrow* Chambered Tomb (SW43042443)
 1.0km ENE 78° Castallack Carn* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW4474025374)
 1.1km SW 223° Gun Rith* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW42942447)
 1.1km ENE 78° Castallack Round* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW44822540)
 1.2km SSW 212° Boskenna Tumuli* Barrow Cemetery (SW430242)
 1.2km SSE 150° Mên Frith* Holed Stone (SW44282411)
 1.3km WNW 296° Vellansaga Cross* Ancient Cross (SW42552585)
 1.3km NE 39° Trevelloe Carn* Rock Outcrop (SW446262)
 1.3km SW 223° Boscawen Ros Holed Stone* Holed Stone (SW4274524272)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Codford St Peter Cross

The Beeracres Stone >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Contribute!

· NEW: I have visited
· I would like to visit
· Submit an Image
· Add a description
· Give accurate position
· Add a comment or news about this site

Cornovia: Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly, Craig Weatherhill

Cornovia: Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly, Craig Weatherhill

Sponsors

Latest Visit Logs

  • The Bargain Stone
    “Sadly when I was there it was covered by a large box. At least the workers renovating the church ha…”
    by cactus_chris · 15 Jun 2026
  • Sigtuna U 389
    “Right next to the museum entrance, this runestone is hard to miss.”
    by CharcoalBurner89 · 15 Jun 2026
  • The Awen Stone
    “Situated in the grounds of West End Campsite, easily visible and accessible as of June 2026.”
    by TimPrevett · 15 Jun 2026
  • Dolmen de la Roc de l'Arca
    “GPS co-ordinates are accurate. Use the same parking as for Dolmen de la Cauna del Moro and walk 200…”
    by Jhalst1 · 14 Jun 2026
  • Dolmen de la Cauna del Moro
    “The GPS co-ordinates are accurate, and you can drive to withing 10m of the dolmen. There is parking …”
    by Jhalst1 · 14 Jun 2026

"Boleigh Fogou" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Boleigh by Anonymous on Monday, 18 October 2010
Time Team were here in the 90s and spent half their programme trying to debunk the late Hamish Miller's dowsing skills, then totally ignored the fogou's most important feature - the carving close to the entrance! Ian McNeil Cooke, the man who's done by far the most amount of fogou studying, was filmed - and ended up on the cutting room floor - while the programme concentrated on people it brought in from somewhere who wouldn't know a fogou if it collapsed on them!

Craig Weatherhill
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Boleigh by brianlavelle on Monday, 29 March 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)
March 2010, and a friend and I have spent a couple of days at Rosemerryn House, enjoying a lot of time in and around the fogou here.

It's an impressive site and feels alive. Going into the fogou is a little daunting, particularly with the absolute darkness at the far end, the slippery entrance after Spring rain, and the fact that, at least at this time of year, the floor was very muddy, with a huge puddle in the middle section of the main passage. The water there was about ankle depth, so wellingtons are essential if you're going all the way.

The current owner, Rob, told of us at least one person who had come to sleep overnight in the creep passage - quite an ordeal when you see the width of that small chamber and the size of the spiders!

Incidentally, the B&B run by the current owners is very comfortable and spacious and it's pretty unique to have a site like this to yourself for an entire weekend. No one else visited in the time we were there.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Boleigh by Andy B on Friday, 02 January 2009
(User Info | Send a Message)
A page about the fogou from an antiquarian book viewpoint

http://mercuriuspoliticus.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/boleigh-fogou/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Boleigh by ocifant on Saturday, 13 March 2004
(User Info | Send a Message)
March 2004, the site is in new hands, and the new owner has not yet decided on an access policy, so is currently amenable to granting access by arrangement as previously.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Boleigh by Bran on Monday, 02 September 2002
(User Info | Send a Message)
Boligh Fogou is one of the treasures of this part of Cornwall , but please do not call it a Souterain, FOUGOUS are unique to Cornwall and have no connection with Souterains at all .They are a ritual chamber not a defensive part of a settlement or store room.
I have been there many times and still cannot see any sign of the so called guardian carving at the enterance that is in use today, this is a modern myth that has only been disimated in the last couple of decades and is the old thing of finding what you are told to find if you look hard enough.
The entrance where the figure is supposeed to be is not the original entrance and was probably made sometime in recent centuarys by locals looking for the treasure that was always supposed to be burried in these underground chambers (though some of these Fogous were actualy built above ground,and there are still some in existance built into our massive stone hedges)
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Boleigh by Anonymous on Wednesday, 14 March 2007
    But... How do you know it was a ritual chamber? Do you know something the rest of us, including most of the scientific community, don’t?
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Boleigh by Anonymous on Sunday, 27 April 2008
    I'm not the OP but it seems unlikely to have been for food storage - mainly because its usually wet in Fougous in the winter!!! Also the very small entrance - hardly the best design for loading / unloading. Defence? Maybe, it would have merits - the small entrance for example. But again I doubt it - why would you retreat into a hole with no way out? Of course it may have served many purposes - in the same way that any public building does in times of need. But regarding ceremonial usage - it does seem to be designed as such - sensory deprivation, allegorical relationship with the sub/unconscious and, well, the place feels powerful...
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Boleigh by Anonymous on Sunday, 21 April 2002
Boleigh is a grand souterrain. It has a side chamber which can be entered if one is small enough to enter. There is also a carved warrior as sentry at the entrance. It is well worth the trip. To visit, one needs to make an appointment with the land owner. He is a grand gentleman who takes his stewardship of the land and the site very seriously.
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.