Featured: Ark of Secrets - Neolithic spirit alive in the Middle Ages

Ark of Secrets - Neolithic spirit alive in the Middle Ages

Help Protect this Brigantes Hillfort - Click to Sign the Petition

Help Protect this Brigantes Hillfort - Click to Sign the Petition

Who's Online

There are currently, 529 guests and 6 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Chun Castle - Hillfort in England in Cornwall

Submitted by JimChampion on Wednesday, 26 April 2023  Page Views: 20424

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Chun Castle Alternative Name: Chûn Castle
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Penzance  Nearest Village: Madron
Map Ref: SW40503395  Landranger Map Number: 203
Latitude: 50.148692N  Longitude: 5.633798W
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
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 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.
3 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

coin would like to visit

micske visited on 6th Jan 2024 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

hallsifer visited on 1st Feb 2023 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 5 Access: 2 Stunning hill fort, very windy during winter.

TheCaptain visited on 14th Jun 2022 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 3 After struggling to find somewhere to eat, I really want to see Chun Quoit and Castle at sundown, so with a rapid drive, being guided by another force, I get to the bottom of the hill already in full shadow. Its almost 30 years since I last climbed the hill to visit the Chûn sites. A rapid walk up to the top, its a long way, and I get to the quoit just as it is in the golden glow of the sunset, but perhaps now past its best. Lots of photos, including the sun setting through the stones, then a quick look around the wonderful castle, and back down the hill to the car. Easy drive home with a fabulous full strawberry moon rising, and I am back to the cottage just before 11:00.

SandyG visited on 17th Sep 2019 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 3

lucasn visited on 16th Jun 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

bishop_pam visited on 27th Sep 2017 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 3

ajmp3003 visited on 2nd May 2016 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

LINCOOK visited on 28th Aug 2011 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 3

jeffrep visited on 13th May 2011 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

LiveAndrew Bladup h_fenton davidmorgan JimChampion cazzyjane have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 4.33 Access: 3

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by pebbletripper : Sept 25th 2018 Equilux alignment. As sun finally set it appeared to form a halo or collar behind pointer stone as captured by my wife on her iPhone (Vote or comment on this photo)
Chûn Castle is an Iron Age hillfort on the summit of Chûn Downs, commanding extensive views north and north-west to the Atlantic Coast and south towards Mounts Bay. It is roughly circular in plan with two impressive stone walls, each with an external ditch. Within the interior are the remains of several stone walled round houses, heavily disturbed by later activity. One of these is oval in shape and may be connected with the later phase of re-occupation of the site in the post-Roman period. Traces of stony banks may be the remains of later animal pounds.

The only entrance to the site is a stone-lined passage through the larger inner rampart on the west side with an offset opening through outer rampart, suggesting a defensive function, which is reinforced by a short length of bank outside of the opening through the outer rampart providing defence in depth.

Pottery evidence from excavations carried out in the late 1920s and early 1930s suggests that the main period of occupation extended from the 3rd century BC until the early 1st century AD, with a possible re-occupation in the 5th or 6th centuries AD.

More on this site at Historic Cornwall.

Note: Sunset alignment photos from Pebbletripper, more on our page, and click his name to see more of his photos
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by h_fenton : An almost vertical view of Chûn Castle, this photo is composed of 45 Kite Aerial photograph s that have been stitched together using Microsoft ICE, I think this image is slightly warped but it does give a good overview of Chûn Castle. The bottom of the photograph is roughly north. 10 April 2010 (6 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by h_fenton : Chûn Castle from the South. Kite Aerial Photograph, 27 June 2009 (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by JimChampion : Looking northeast from the inner rampart of Chun Castle. The rocky outcrop on the horizon (left of centre) is Carn Galver. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by JimChampion : August 2007. The slumped and much-reduced wall on the eastern side of Chun Castle, with the north Cornwall coast in the distance. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Chun Castle Well
Chun Castle Well submitted by JimChampion : August 2004. Chun Castle well inbetween August showers of rain. A spider had spun an enormous web in the well. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Thorgrim : SW 405339. Iron Age hillfort.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by TheCaptain : The massive thickness of the Chûn Castle inner ring wall can be seen at the entrance. I had rushed from the quoit to the castle while there was still some light at sunset in June 2022.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Bladup : Chun Castle.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Bladup : The sun though the entrance to Chun Castle.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by jeffrep : Entrance to Chun Castle Settlement, Cornwall, England.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by thrip : The entrance. September 2008

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by bazcross : Chun Castle after dusk on 27.05.08 Looking towards the western entrance and the inner rampart. (1 comment)

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by JimChampion : August 2007. The simple entrance through the inner rampart, flanked by upright stones, on the western side of the hillfort. The path off to the left leads to Chun Quoit.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by davidmilner : Entrance looking out towards Tin mine

Chun Castle Well
Chun Castle Well submitted by ocifant : Atop Chun Hill, lies Chun Well.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by hallsifer : entryway from inside the hillfort

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Antonine : More of the inner ring and outer henge, 2010

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Antonine : From inside the castle, 2010

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Antonine : The portal stones at inner entrance showing inside the castle, 2010

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Antonine : The western outer entrance showing the inner defences, 2010

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by TheCaptain : The double entrance to Chûn Castle on its hilltop position, outer ring in the foreground, inner ring behind. I had rushed from the quoit to the castle while there was still some light at sunset in June 2022.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by TheCaptain : Chûn Castle on its hilltop. Rushing from the quoit to the castle while there is still some light at sunset in June 2022.

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Antonine : 2010

Chun Castle
Chun Castle submitted by Antonine

These are just the first 25 photos of Chun Castle. 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.

Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 10m N 360° Chun Castle Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SW40503396)
 279m W 269° Chun Quoit* Chambered Cairn (SW40223396)
 364m NNW 341° Chun Tumulus Round Barrow(s) (SW404343)
 426m WNW 300° Tor Noon Tumulus and Homestead* Round Barrow(s) (SW40143418)
 506m NE 55° Bosullow Trehyllys Fogou* Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (SW40933422)
 540m SSW 211° Chun Downs Tumulus* Round Barrow(s) (SW402335)
 557m ENE 61° Bosullow Trehyllys Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW410342)
 849m N 357° Carne Farm Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW405348)
 1.0km ENE 73° Kerrow Bosullow Standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW415342)
 1.1km NNE 13° Carne Farm Hut Circle* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW408350)
 1.1km NE 44° The Carn Field System* Misc. Earthwork (SW413347)
 1.2km NNE 20° Trevowhan standing stones* Standing Stones (SW40943502)
 1.2km SW 220° Woon Gumpas Common Tumuli* Barrow Cemetery (SW397331)
 1.2km SSW 202° Boswens Menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW40013289)
 1.2km NNE 16° Trevowhan Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW40893512)
 1.2km SW 223° Woon Gumpus Menhirs* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SW3960033079)
 1.3km S 173° Boswens Common Hut Circles* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW406327)
 1.3km NE 44° Bosullow Quoit* Modern Stone Circle etc (SW41453483)
 1.3km WSW 240° Woon Gumpus Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SW39343335)
 1.5km WSW 240° Portheras Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SW39143326)
 1.5km SW 231° Boslow Cross* Ancient Cross (SW39253304)
 1.6km NE 51° Dakota Homestead Ancient Village or Settlement (SW418349)
 1.6km E 96° West Lanyon Settlement Ancient Village or Settlement (SW421337)
 1.6km NNE 31° Watch Croft Settlements* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW414353)
 1.8km SW 230° Carnyorth Circles Ancient Village or Settlement (SW39103289)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 39

Sites of Meaning Marker Stone, Long Dale >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Cornwall in Prehistory

Cornwall in Prehistory

Web Links for Chun Castle

Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Chun Castle" | Login/Create an Account | 11 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
PLEN - an interactive online portal from Penwith Landscape Partnership by Andy B on Monday, 03 October 2022
(User Info | Send a Message)
Penwith Landscape Partnership have created PLEN - an interactive online portal that allows you to explore some of Penwith's amazing sites and landscapes from home!
Discover the PLEN at
https://www.penwithlandscape.com/360/virtual-landscape-hub/index.html
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by Anonymous on Thursday, 12 August 2021
Does anyone know why there are two stones with holes in inside the castle? The holes are around an inch in depth and diameter. I have photos.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Chun Castle by Bladup on Thursday, 12 August 2021
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hiya, They're most probably unused dynamite holes from breaking up the stones (You can see the same at Zennor Quoit), As they say the stones from Chun Castle basically built Penzance and it's roads, and that the walls at Chun Castle were originally far far more massive than they are now
    [ Reply to This ]

Chun Castle by lucasn on Saturday, 07 July 2018
(User Info | Send a Message)
[ Reply to This ]

3D Model of Chûn Castle by h_fenton on Monday, 21 December 2015
(User Info | Send a Message)
3D Model of Chûn Castle, created from kite aerial photographs taken 10 April 2010.


Chûn Castle by hfenton on Sketchfab
Sketchfab Navigation Controls

[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by frogcottage42 on Thursday, 03 March 2011
(User Info | Send a Message)
I never noticed from the ground but Hamish's excellent aerial shot shows how this is a Trivallate circular enclosure with a stone ring which may have been inserted later. This is entirely typical of Irish Ring forts in the early Christian period perhaps this place was reoccupied by similar people in the post Roman era?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by Mercian on Friday, 06 August 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)
The holed stone shown in the photo is a 'merriment stone' which dates from the 19th C. - probably. Chun Castle was a popular place for festivities for local people. Local miners would drill holes of varying depths in a large rock, fill them with black powder [used for blasting] and arrange fuses so that the holes fired in the right order to produce a 'tune'.
An interesting experimental archaeology project might be done, but I would not like to do the risk assessment.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by stonetramp on Thursday, 18 December 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
Just an aside, I am reading a novel called Penmarric, which is set in south Cornwall and mentions Chun Castle a number of times. Now I can truly picture it!
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by Anonymous on Tuesday, 04 April 2006
Seeing that it was probably my ancestors that built this site ,I think that it is a GREAT and I hope to visit it on my next trip to Great Britan Leonard Richard Chowns C.E.T. Canada Family Name CHOWNS known as {SON OF CHUN}
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by Anonymous on Saturday, 21 August 2004
From Graham Coad, Cornwall. The multi holed stone spotted by many visitors is almost certainly more recent, and is probably a tin miners "Exhibition" or Competition" piece, as hole drilling by hand was a popular 'sport' at feasts and fairs. I suspect that Chun Castle would have been a good spot for 'outings' or church 'tea treats' late 19th early 20th centuries.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chun Castle by Anonymous on Wednesday, 24 March 2004
Condition: Knackered
Ambience: Awesome
Access:Fine for someone with two legs.

A fine place to visit and sit a while. You access it from a fairly main road and go past Chun Quoit, avoiding cows and possibly llahmas.
[ 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.