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<< Our Photo Pages >> Boskednan stone circle - Stone Circle in England in Cornwall

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 21 June 2023  Page Views: 36200

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Boskednan stone circle Alternative Name: Nine Maidens
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Penzance  Nearest Village: Porthmeor
Map Ref: SW43423513  Landranger Map Number: 203
Latitude: 50.160554N  Longitude: 5.593804W
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.
 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

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I have visited· I would like to visit

jonnyboyward PAB Andy B whese001 rrmoser would like to visit

ajmp3003 visited on 1st Jan 2027 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 3 Nice place, great setting on the more

Couplands visited on 29th Jul 2023 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 2

hallsifer visited on 19th Feb 2023 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 1 A long walk but worth it - stunning circle despite being a few stones short.

LiveAndrew visited on 19th Aug 2021 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

Catrinm visited on 25th Jun 2021 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Lovely June day at Boskednan

SandyG visited on 15th Sep 2019 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 3

markj99 visited on 15th Oct 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 2 Boskednan stone circle's isolated location and the impressive height of the stones amplify the gravitas of this monument.

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

Psy1968 visited on 11th Jul 2002 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Jun 1987 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 2

StoneLee visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

lucasn visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 2

LiveAndrew coin Bladup h_fenton JimChampion AngieLake ocifant TheCaptain X-Ice cazzyjane Bolstered mark_a have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 4.33 Access: 2.67

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by LINCOOK : Boskednan Nine Maidens - Summer Solstice Sunrise 2022 (Photo Competition) (Vote or comment on this photo)
Also known as the Nine Maidens, this Cornish stone circle is mostly in ruins, although its isolation on desolate moorland make it very attractive. There were probably twenty-two stones making up the original circle, but only six are still erect, and most of those in the north are missing.

They average about 1.2m ( 4 feet) in height, although the broken one at the north was over six feet when it was standing.

Access: 2km south of Porthmeor, via Carfury to Boskednan Farm. Few hundred metre walk north-west

Note: Happy Summer Solstice! Here's the sunrise from last year captured by LinCook. Please send us your photos from this year and we'll put the best ones on our front page
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Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan stone circle. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by cazzyjane : Boskednan Stone Circle. Oil on Canvas. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan Stone Circle (Vote or comment on this photo)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : An amazing winter sunset at Boskednan Stone Circle (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan stone circle Sunset

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : An otherworldly Nine Maidens of Boskednan, because it is a bit. This Original Artwork in a glass frame is £39.99 + Postage (Just whatever it costs), and is 20 cm x 13 cm. A limited (to a 100) edition print in a 8" x 10" glass frame would be £19.99 + £2.90 postage, E-mail me at paul.blades@rocketmail.com if interested.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Runemage : A small sample of the kind of image you can see at the exhibition described in this article, 'Virtual Merlin' transports Nine Maidens to Drogheda

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by AngieLake : (3 comments)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan [Nine Maidens] stone circle.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : The wonderful Boskednan [Nine Maidens] stone circle.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by BazCross : One of Boskednan's stones with Carn Galver in the background. The 'Galver' dominates the landscape and is ever present when viewing Boskednan, Men an Tol, Lanyon Quoit and the Men Scryfa inscribed stone. (4 comments)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Psy1968 : A bit of a walk from the Men-An-Tol but not too demanding.The wife even enjoyed up there. (5 comments)

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by BazCross : Part of the Boskednan circle. Summer 2006

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : A dramatic sky at Boskednan Stone Circle

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan [Nine Maidens] stone circle.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan [Nine Maidens] stone circle with Carn Galver behind.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Boskednan [Nine Maidens] stone circle.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by Bladup : Sunset at Boskednan stone circle.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by cazzyjane : August 2010.

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by h_fenton : Boskednan / Nine Maidens stone circle viewed from the north west Kite Aerial Photograph, 16 October 2008

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by h_fenton : Boskednan / Nine Maidens stone circle. Kite Aerial Photograph, 16 October 2008

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by knap : A ground level view of the restored Boskednan stone circle, looking North-West on a mid-March afternoon. A friend told me that this site is now sometimes referred to as the Eleven Brothers of Boskednan to avoid confusion with other sites called Nine Maidens. Perhaps a good idea as I can think of at least two off the top my head that are in completely different areas. Hope this doesn't compound ...

Boskednan stone circle
Boskednan stone circle submitted by BazCross : One of the stones with Carn Galver that dominates the landscape in the background. (3 comments)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 56m NW 312° Boskednan Menhir 1* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW43383517)
 181m NW 313° Boskednan B* Cairn (SW4329435260)
 197m SSE 153° Boskednan 4* Cairn (SW43503495)
 219m NW 314° Boskednan Menhir 2* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW43273529)
 234m NW 318° Boskednan A* Cairn (SW43273531)
 243m ENE 68° Boskednan 2* Cairn (SW43653521)
 398m SSE 149° Ding Dong Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW43613478)
 522m N 3° Little Galver Kerbcairns* Ring Cairn (SW43473565)
 523m W 275° Venton Bebibell* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SW429352)
 528m WNW 299° Four Parishes Rock* Sculptured Stone (SW42973541)
 548m E 89° Gulval 2 Round Barrow(s) (SW43973511)
 703m NW 319° Bosigran Barrows* Barrow Cemetery (SW42983568)
 721m W 261° Men-an-tol Artificial Mound (SW4270135048)
 747m W 280° Men Scryfa* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (SW42693530)
 751m W 264° Men-an-tol Mound Cairn (SW4266835086)
 770m SE 124° Park Vorn* Souterrain (Fogou, Earth House) (SW44043467)
 778m SW 218° Bosiliack Huts N Ancient Village or Settlement (SW42913454)
 796m WSW 254° Men-An-Tol* Holed Stone (SW4264434942)
 834m E 95° Boskednan 3 Ancient Village or Settlement (SW44253502)
 843m N 3° Carn Galver Cairn* Cairn (SW43503597)
 909m N 349° Little Galver Propped Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SW43293603)
 935m NNE 20° Bosporthennis 2* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW43793599)
 937m SW 216° Bosiliack Huts* Ancient Village or Settlement (SW42833440)
 939m SSE 161° Bosiliack standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SW43693423)
 970m SSW 196° Bosiliack Barrow* Chambered Tomb (SW43113421)
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"Boskednan stone circle" | Login/Create an Account | 16 News and Comments
  
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Re: Boskednan stone circle by 4seasonbackpacking on Saturday, 09 February 2019
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Re: Boskednan by Arjessa on Thursday, 09 August 2018
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Visited there back in 1992 while on holiday. I was so fascinated by them that I forgot to try a little experiment.........it is said that if you hold a pendulum up against the stones, it will shoot out to a horizontal position. Just wondering if anyone has ever tried this here or elsewhere?
[ Reply to This ]

Boskednan and Men-an-Tol guided walk, 27th August 2018 by Andy B on Tuesday, 24 July 2018
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Cheryl Straffon writes:
Carolyn Kennett, the archaeo-astronomer who gave such an interesting talk to our recent Pathways to the Past weekend, is offering a couple of guided walks to ancient sites in August - which are both completely free as they are part of the Bright Stars/Dark Skies project. The details are -

Tuesday 14th August at 5 pm meet at the large layby on the B3318 North Road to Pendeen opposite the Trewellard turning. (50°08'34.6"N 5°38'58.9"W). This will be an off-road walk (other than a short section at the start) down to Tregeseal stone circle, visiting barrows and the holed stones along the way. If time we may go to Chun Quoit afterwards. She expects it to take about 2 hours and it will be easy/moderate in places.

Monday 27th August at 5 pm meet at the large layby before Ding Dong mine, opposite the farm turning on the road which is signposted Bosiliack -the turning between Madron and Lanyon Quoit (50°09'04.3"N 5°35'18.9"W)
This walk will be an off-road circular walk covering Boskednan, Men-an-Tol. It should last about 2 hours and will be easy to moderate in places!

Carolyn will be at both locations 30 minutes prior to setting off, and ask that people car share where possible. Come dressed for all weathers and bring along a drink and a snack as she will be having stops along the way. Due to the distance, it may not be suitable for very small children as they may get tired along the way. Dogs on a lead are very welcome. For more details you can e-mail Carolyn at carolyn@hird.net

More details at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/137301386294086/permalink/2067581106599428/
[ Reply to This ]

Nine Maidens of Boskednan by lucasn on Friday, 15 June 2018
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A video of Nine Maidens of Boskednan Stone Circle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v9P0oXSl_M&t=20s
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Re: Boskednan by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 20 June 2017
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Notes from a visit Sept 2014

It has been a long while since I visited this circle, probably before any restoration work, so I wanted to visit it again, and thought it would be a good place to be with the sun dropping down. We walked along the lane to the remains of the DingDong mine, before trying to figure out how to get to the circle. This is a mistake. Should continue along on the main trackway as it bears round to the right before the mine. From the mine buildings, the map has a path marked on it to the circle, but its all very unclear, and also very rough and overgrown ground with all the mine waste, and also several old shafts to be avoided.

We eventually got across the wasteland / open moor to the ridgetop pathway, but again this was not the wide open trackway that I remember, and was still a bit of a difficult route through all the overgrowth and hollows, and it seemed to be much further along than it should have been.

Now clearly the remains of a stone circle, there must be several more stones stood up than when I saw before, so I took plenty of pictures. Unfortunately, the sun was now obscured by a misty haze which was enveloping everything, so the spectacular golden light and views I was hoping for did not materialise.

As time was getting on, I then rushed along the path towards Men-an-Tol, to look for the cairn circles, and satisfied myself at the first one, again taking several pictures. From what I had seen on the portal, the large stone here was referred to as the menhir, but it doesn't really seem to be much more than part of the cairn circle. From my dim memories, I thought that the menhir was somewhere between the circle and these cairns, but there was nothing obvious to be seen. Maybe that stone has fallen, or was used as part of the restoration of the circle. Whatever, I am still very unsure of what is what up here, so leaving room for another visit sometime when not in a hurry.

With darkness approaching, I ran much of the way back along the track, and went back to the car following the main (but not direct) trackways, munching on the plentiful blackberries.
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Re: Boskednan by 4862 on Sunday, 26 March 2017
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After a bit of finding we finally found this amazing stone and hope to come back again one day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYi__hDwtg
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Re: Boskednan stone circle by Anonymous on Friday, 11 March 2011
The original number of twenty-two standing stones is particularly significant. It is the number indicative of a degree of sacred value attributed to the site, thirty-three is tops and related to the Otherworld, the highest attainment.
Knowth passage mound in Ireland was surrounded by four times 33 kerb stones.
The perimeter measure of the Aubrey Holes at Stonehenge is four times 33 faethms.
Avebury comprised three times 33 standing stones.
Stonehenge is twenty-two megalithic miles in a straight line from Highcliffe on the Channel coastline, 49 and 1/2 km.
Alexander the Great supposedly died aged 33. Jesus ascended to Heaven in his thirty-third year, there are many more.
Neil L Thomas, enjaytom@hotkey.net.au
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Re: 'Virtual Merlin' transports Nine Maidens to Drogheda by LINCOOK on Thursday, 10 March 2011
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Thanks Andy. This is my 'local' - and a very fine and liminal one it is. Anyone needing help finding this can contact me here and I'll be glad to help.
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'Virtual Merlin' transports Nine Maidens to Drogheda by Andy B on Monday, 07 March 2011
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Dans Maen by David Bickley - Droichead Arts Centre

Date: Starts Wednesday, 30th March 2011 and runs for six weeks
Time: 10am - 5pm
Venue: Stockwell Street Gallery, Drogheda, Co.Louth, Ireland
Tickets: Free

The geomancers of old were Earth magicians who understood the mysterious currents running under the soil and were able to manipulate this energy to harmonise the land, bringing fertility and well being to the people.

Following in this tradition, award-winning new media artist David Bickley is transporting the form and atmosphere of a stone circle from the remote moors of West Cornwall and digitally rebuilding it with light and sound in Drogheda. This piece, specially commissioned for the town's art centre, continues David's series of immersive installations under the heading An Index of Ritual Space, a series David has been working on since 1990. Steve Hartgroves, Principal Archaeologist with Cornwall Council has called David in relation to this project, "a virtual Merlin".

Dans Maen is Cornish for "Stone Dance" and is the name given to a number of stone circles around the remote West Penwith area that also comprises Lands End in Cornwall. The name supposedly refers to the legend that maidens were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday, an obvious Christianisation of a prehistoric site and its associated traditions.

In the early part of the last century, archaeologist TC Lethbridge visited one such site - the Merry Maidens. This is a near perfect circle of nineteen quartzite granite stones. He had with him a pendulum which he had learned to use for dowsing; he claims to have gotten the idea from a French nautical character who used it to find mines at sea. This idea to dowse for the energy lines, which the stones either map out or are based on, was probably influenced by the work of Guy Underwood who did much work mapping the underlying currents of many ancient sites and even cathedrals, which are all said to be built on even older significant sites or power spots. When Lethbridge started to dowse the circle he felt a very strong spiralling pull, a kind of magnetic field, he also said that the stones seemed to rock.

When I first saw this ancient circle, I was sitting in a vehicle with composer Steve Bayfield in a small lay-by looking up at their silhouettes on the moonlit hill. We both saw them appear to rock, then spin. Although I am definite that they didn't physically move I am sure that part of my being perceived their potential to do so, and the prevailing energies that might drive them.

This piece is about that time, though I have moved my focus to a more remote circle a few miles from the Merry Maidens called the Nine Maidens. This small, fragmented circle sits on top of wild moorland overlooking St Michael's Mount in an area known as Ding Dong.

David would like to acknowledge the generous support of Air South West and the Historic Environment Dept. Cornwall Council in the realisation of this project

More at
http://www.droicheadartscentre.com/whats-on/calendar?event=156
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Re: Boskednan by coldrum on Monday, 12 October 2009
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Pastscape entry:
http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=423718
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Controversy surrounds proposals to graze Penwith Moors by JimChampion on Tuesday, 19 August 2008
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Visiting Boskednan Circle and Men-an-tol today, I was handed a leaflet by Ian McNeil Cooke about his objections to the Natural England plans to fence and graze various areas of heath in West Penwith. Details are on his website at http://www.savepenwithmoors.com/

There is some detailed discussion of the issue in The Cornishman newspaper. Online articles/letters: Carry on grazing and Group forms to stop cattle grazing on moorland.
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Re: Boskednan Restoration by Anonymous on Saturday, 09 October 2004
"The Nine Maidens Stone Circle at Boskednan on the West Penwith moors was restored in early summer of this year. When first recorded by Borlase in the mid 18th century, there were 19 stones standing (the same as all other stone circles in West Penwith), but over the years many had fallen, leaving only 6 standing with 5 fallen. Cornwall Historic Environment Service, together with Defra (ESA) and English Heritage, agreed to fund extensive works at the site, including scrub clearance, drainage improvements, footpath repair, and the re-erection of 3 of the fallen stones. After an excavation to determine the original post holes, the three stones were manoevered back into position.

One of the three stones had been completely lost and covered over by gorse, and this was re-discovered and placed upright. Another fallen one was also put back into place. But the most exciting part of the restoration has been the re-erection of the large portal stone that had fallen. It now forms a pair with its existing neighbour, and (...) the two stones perfectly frame Carn Galva, the sacred hilltop a few miles away. This is a vindication of archaeologist John Barnett, who 20 or so years ago, suggested that the site was built in relationship to Carn Galva, with a processional route running from the circle to the holy hill.

Before the stones were put back in place, a visiting pagan women Annie Spencer, (together with Cheryl Straffon), placed a foundation offering into the post holes of small jade and turquoise stones wrapped in red cloth, in order to re-sanctify the site once again."

Reported in Meyn Mamvro No. 55 Autumn 2004
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Re: Boskednan by Vicky on Tuesday, 11 May 2004
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Restoration work is to begin on the circle - From BBC News 11/05/2004:

Restoration of pagan stone circle
Archaeologists are starting work to restore one of Cornwall's prehistoric stone circles.

Three of the stones at the Nine Maidens circle at Madron near Penzance which have fallen over will be re-erected in time for the summer.

The project is a joint venture with Cornwall County Council, the Environment Department (Defra) and the Nine Maidens Commoners.

Work is expected to last until the end of May.

In the 18th century there were 13 stones in the circle, but workings at the nearby Ding Dong mineral mine moved closer to the circle until they reached and disturbed the site.

Of the nine stones remaining, three have fallen, two are leaning and four are upright.

The Nine Maidens pagan circle derives its name from a group of maidens who broke the Sabbath by dancing on a Sunday and were immediately turned to stone.

The archaeologists will also be carrying out drainage improvements, scrub clearance and footpath repair.


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    Re: Boskednan by enkidu41 on Tuesday, 11 May 2004
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    A magical site at first light - I've experienced it many times. So my heart sinks when I hear of drainage improvements, scrub clearance and footpath repair. It'll be a burger bar up by the Ding Dong mine next.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Boskednan by hamish on Saturday, 21 July 2001
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I walked up to boskednan from Men-an Tol.It is very wet and boggy,but when you get eventually reach the stones it is well worth the effort.There is a cairn nearby which looks like a small circle.You can reach the circle from Zennor but it is quite a walk.
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