Trethevy Quoit

Known locally as "the giant's house".

Standing 9 feet (2.7 m) high, this magnificent 5000-year-old

ancient structure consists of Six standing stones capped by a large slab.

Visit Date March 2024

Trethevy Quoit

Walking up to this structure, it is in a field close to some modern houses you do not get a feel of the size of this structure but as you approach the magnificence of this site overwhelms you.

Click on any image to enlarge

There are many of these burial sites in the UK and Cornwall has a large number of them.

Like many other portal structures, Trethevy Quoit would have been originally covered by a mound.

In the 19th century, William Copeland Borlase studied the site and made drawings of it.

A later investigation of the remnants suggests a mound diameter of almost 6.5 metres.

It is impossible to tell if stones have been removed from the site but the remaining seven stones a and an estimated 10.5-ton cover slab were inside the mound.

Trethevy Quoit

There are some unusual aspects of Trethevy Quoit, not only does it have 6 supporting stones forming its internal chamber, but it also has an antechamber at the 'front'. The only other Cornish quoit to boast two chambers is Lanyon Quoit.

Particularly interesting is the circular hole cut in the highermost corner of the capstone. Speculation has informed us that the hole could have been used for astronomy. The movement and settling over the millennia that have passed means it is impossible to prove, but it is peculiar and thought to be unique to this megalithic site.

Click on any image to enlarge

The massive capstone sits at a steep angle, and this is unlikely if this was the capstone's original position. At the lower side of the capstone, five small hollows can be found.

The entrance stone at the front in most portal structures can't be moved. however, Trevethy Quoit is a rare exception here, because a small rectangular stone moving at the bottom right of the front allows access to the chamber.

There is a rectangular cut-out at the side of the upright stone that forms the front of the main chamber it is unclear if this is a later modification of if it was used and an entrance this is not seen on any other Cornish sites.

Trethevy Quoit

Trethevy Quoit was first mentioned in 1584 by John Norden, in a topographical and historical account of Britain.

He described it as “A little howse raised of mightie stones, standing on a little hill within a fielde”.

Trethevy Quoit

In Cornish mythology, the monument is known as the Giant’s House and was believed to have been created by this fabled race.

It also like many other structures in Cornwall and indeed Wales it has links with King Arthur legend and is believed to have been magically built by Merlin.

Additional information:-

A Cromlech or Dolmen is an ancient underground tomb typically built with several large upright stones and a capstone on top. In its day, the whole thing would have been covered by a mound of earth. In some parts of the UK especially in Cornwall these structures are called Quoits.

Most date from the Late Neolithic period (4000–2000 BC)

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Google Reference: -
50.493185727515105, -4.455456201119047

What Three Words reference: -
///countries.extent.nibbles

OS Details: -
SX 25936 68813 : Altitude:725 ft

Additional information.

Visiting is fairly easy although the roads become just lanes for some of the way and parking is a small car park for about three cars (50.493164985542144, -4.454975466726607) and a short walk into the adjacent field.
The approach is via the B3254 and turn off towards the village of Darite. On this road you will see the turn off for the quoit.










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The Longstone Cross (Long Tom)

 

Commonly known as "Long Tom" this stick of granite stands more than 2.5 metres (9 feet) high. 

Taking the form of a deliberately shaped standing stone, the top quarter is marked with a carved Greek cross. 

As is common with these early Christian crosses, it is likely to have been added to a much earlier standing stone after Christianity took hold in the area.

Visit Date March 2024

The Longstone Cross (Long Tom) Cornwall

Situated on Bodmin Moor before being inscribed with the cross, Long Tom is almost certainly part of a landscape of prehistoric landmarks.

It would seem to be aligned with the three ancient circles of the nearby "Hurlers".

Regarding the carving of the cross, it was common for the early Christians to carve crosses on existing ritual sites and for the site to have been adopted for Christian rituals.

The Longstone Cross (Long Tom) Cornwall

It is difficult often to age these stones but the carved Long Tom is thought to be at least 600 years old and possibly much older and pre-carved standing Menhir is prehistoric.

The Longstone Cross (Long Tom) Cornwall

These crosses are quite common on Bodmin Moor with at least 35 having been found and 21 of these listed as wayside crosses. Long Tom is one of the best preserved and although many of the crosses may have been moved from their original position this is not thought to be the case with Long Tom which seems to be in its original place.

The carving on these wayside crosses found in Cornwall tend to be modeled like churchyard crosses which are often made from a single stone with a rounded wheel head with a cross carving.

The Longstone Cross (Long Tom) North Face

In Cornwall, such wayside crosses tended to be modeled after churchyard crosses or market crosses. Most were made from a single slab of stone topped by a rounded wheel head carved with religious figures. 

Wayside crosses served a dual purpose. While they were a gathering place for Christian preaching, they also served as way-markers or signposts in a landscape that could be difficult to navigate.

The Longstone Cross (Long Tom) South Face

The cross head is decorated with an incised carving of a cross on the north and south faces. The south face is much better preserved. 

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50.508796877158495, -4.461704999304393

What Three Words reference: -

///opens.assemble.bloomers

OS Details: -

SX 25546 70560 Altitude:1016 ft

Additional information.

Visiting is very easy and parking is a small lay by on the side of the road which was completely flooded on my visit.

Long Tom can easily be seen from the road on approach.

The road is much better when approaching from the south.

On the A38 you can turn off at Doublebois and head for St Cleer / Common moor and Minions. The site is around 5 miles from here.

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Aberthaw Limeworks

On December the 22nd 1888  

'The Aberthaw Pebble Limestone Company'

 opened the lime works at Aberthaw near the coast of South Wales. 

The owner David Owen was also the  owner of the

  local newspaper 'Western Mail' which still exists today.

Visit Date August 2023

Aberthaw Limeworks

The works were primarily built to utilise the huge number of Limestone Pebbles that had previously been taken inland and were readily available.

The lime produced at Aberthaw was well known before the opening of the lime works and subsequent cement works. Experiments in 1756-7 were undertaken by John Smeaton to test the setting qualities of lime in seawater preparatory to designing and building the Eddystone lighthouse. Although Aberthaw lime was not used in the final construction of this lighthouse the fame it got from its inclusion of testing of materials to be used in the construction and its use in the actual construction of other docks, piers, harbours, ports and other lighthouses naturally led to increased demand which could not be fully met until this major new works was built.

Aberthaw Limeworks

Aberthaw Lime mixed with Pozzolana and fired produced a remarkably hard lime mortar whose quality of setting under water proved invaluable and may have been the forerunner to Portland Cement.

Click any image for a larger view

Aberthaw Lime Works ran until its closure in 1926 and is now a derelict structure.

Click any image for a larger view

The local limestone and brick structure is still largely intact however there has been some work done to preserve what is left and the structure is now a grade II listed building.

Internal image of the building

What we see today are 2 large vertical pot draw kilns that would have held up to 300 tons each and produced 40 tons of lime per day.

A tramway leading to the top of the kilns serviced the lime and coal for the kilns but this has now disappeared.

These wagons with the material would then have been winched to the kiln top by cables via a winding house which also has disappeared.

The lime would have been withdrawn from the bottom of the kilns again by trams and some of the track still exists and can be seen at the base of the kiln.

Base of the kiln showing rail tracks

The surviving remains include roofless stone buildings which would have housed the crushing plant and boilers. 

One of the main buildings

Internal view of one of the main remaining buildings

The square brick chimney can still be seen and is perhaps the most iconic part seen from a distance, alongside this would have been the engine house sadly this has been demolished.

The interior of the kilns is lined with firebrick and iron doors. 

The carefully constructed stone-lined draught tunnels under the kilns can still be seen. 

Interior of kiln

Draft tunnel of kiln

Although this works closed in 1926 cement is still produced in this area about 1km north of the site, at a factory founded in 1914. It receives limestone from an adjoining quarry.

Constructed near the south Wales coast, and despite being surrounded by trees it is still quite a landmark that can be seen from the coast if one walks along the Wales coastal path.

Its location is just east of the now decommissioned Aberthaw power station, whose tall chimney in the distance can still be seen dwarfing the lime works chimney.

Looking out to sea further the cold water inlet from the power station, which looks like something from a Star Wars movie, can be seen just off the coast close by.

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51.38587662515887, -3.383564003219934


What Three Words reference: -
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OS Details: -
ST 03813 66115 Altitude:38 ft

Additional information.

Visiting is very easy but parking close is not.

The best place for this is to park in the Fontygary holiday park car park (51.38526429361768, -3.365962684286137) This park is open to visitors daily throughout the summer. It also has good facilities including a good restaurant and cafe.

From the car park you can walk down to the beach and then head west along the coast until you see the works and then join the coastal path. This would be a reasonably easy 1.6 km. WARNING: This path way is on the beach so watch for the tide times.

Alternatively go north from the car park to the top road of the park and head west. You then leave the park onto a path and then this leads down to the beach, this can by quite a climb however there are quite steep steps down to the beach but if you are mobile you can achieve this. Follow the coastal path then from the beach. This path is only on the beach for a short distance so the tides do not matter. This is slightly shorter at 1.3 km

On both these walks you will leave the beach at (51.385594477460046, -3.3807672028986824) and cross the concrete wall via the gate.

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Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber

Neolithic burial sites can be found all over Wales, the UK and across Europe.

I have visited many of these sites and have posted information on them here such as

Maen Ceti (Arthur's Stone)   St Lythans Dolmen  Carreg Samson and Coetan Arthur

What makes the site at Duffryn Ardudwy different is that there are two tombs close together.

Visit Date May 2023

Click on any image to enlarge.

The two dolmens are just 30 feet apart within a much bigger mound.

The chambers were built sometime between 4000-2000 BC, probably as a communal burial site. The entire monument was probably originally covered by a mound of small stones.

Click on any image to enlarge

The investigation following the excavation seems to explain that there had been two different periods of construction at the site.

The Western Dolmen

First, the smaller, western, dolmen had been put up and surrounded by an oval cairn.

The Eastern Dolmen

Sometime later, a larger Eastern tomb was constructed with a trapezial design which was needed to combine both tombs.

Click on any image to enlarge

Today the site consists of an elongated oval, running up a slight slope, with one large chamber at the top eastern end of the slope and a smaller chamber beneath the branches of a tree at the lower western end. Beside the upper chamber is a solitary standing stone.

Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber

The site was excavated in 1961-2 by T.G.E. Powell. Although the tomb had been rifled, at the smaller dolmen a pit containing fragments of five Neolithic pottery vessels was found sealed by the cairn in front of the tomb.

This tomb has a small prehistoric cup-mark carved on one of its portal stones.

The Eastern Tomb

The second, larger megalithic tomb was built to the east and was set within a large, rectangular cairn which incorporated the earlier tomb. This later tomb produced both Neolithic and Bronze Age pottery.

Other finds included a fine, broken, stone pendant.

It was found necessary in 1961-62 to provide additional support for the great roofing stone on the eastern dolmen and a buttress was built on either side of the chamber for this purpose.

The Western Tomb

There is little doubt that the two tombs were built several generations apart.

Stones from this site have been used in the past as building materials and this is often the case at these sites but there is still a vast amount of stones around the site.

Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber

In his book, 'Guide to Ancient Britain' Bill Anderton writes that: “As part of an outbreak of light phenomena, columns of light were seen issuing from the ground here in 1905. 

The site stands on the Morchras geological fault.

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52.78462455046947, -4.094379021652469

Google search term:
Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chamber

What Three Words reference: -
///bagpipes.genius.snowmen

OS Details: -
SH 58852 22835L : Altitude:141 ft

Additional information.

Visiting is very easy but parking close is not so.
First there is Station road parking (52.78834904037549, -4.097879713123781) this will be the closest and it is just a 500 metre walk back to the main road and down to the school where the marked path alongside the school takes you to the site.
Alternatively park opposite the community centre (52.78834904037549, -4.097879713123781) and the walk is just an additional 200 metres and you may then visit the friendly café in the community centre. Good coffee and a warm welcome.

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St. Dogmaels Abby and St Thomas' Church.

Founded in 1120 on the site of an earlier pre-Norman church, St. Dogmael’s status as a religious centre can be seen in extensive ruins which span four centuries of monastic life. Elements of the church and cloister are 12th century in origin, while the tall west and north walls of the nave are 13th century.

Visit Date September 2023

St Dogmaels Abbey - Infirmary

St Dogmaels story starts long before the abbey was built.

The Abbey was constructed and inhabited by The Monks of Tiron.

St Dogmaels Abbey - Infirmary

The Tironensian Order or the Order of Tiron was a medieval monastic order named after the location of the mother abbey (Tiron Abbey, French: Abbaye de la Sainte-Trinité de Tiron, established in 1109)

St Dogmaels Abbey - Infirmary

The foundation of Tiron Abbey by Bernard of Abbeville was part of wider movements of monastic reform in Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Bernard intended to restore the asceticism and strict observance of the Rule of St. Benedict in monastic life, insisting on manual labour.

St Dogmaels Abbey - The Nave & West Wing

Tiron was the first of the new religious orders to spread internationally. Within less than five years of its creation, the Order of Tiron owned 117 priories and abbeys in France, Britain and Ireland.

St Dogmaels Abbey - The Nave & West Wing

Tiron's influence in Britain was limited. St Dogmaels was the only Tironian abbey to be established in Wales or England, although the house also had daughter priories in Wales and Ireland. A few Tironian abbeys were established in Scotland, but they soon formed their own independent order.

St Dogmaels Abbey - The infirmary

And so in in 1120 on the site of an earlier pre-Norman church, St Dogmael’s status as a religious centre was created.

The Chancel with a Crypt

The monastic vows laid great stress on poverty, chastity and obedience, and these ideals were characteristic of the monastic life, especially in the early years. The abbey would have taken in any pilgrims and travelers requiring hospitality.

The Refectory with the Cloister and Nave in the background

Not all aspects of the monastic life at St Dogmaels continued to flourish, and in later centuries the abbey suffered from a decline in standards as well as in its financial position. In 1402, for instance, at the time of the visitation by the bishop of St David’s, it appears that only 4 monks were left in the abbey and they were of disrepute, it having been noted, "They were gluttonous and one of them named as Howel Lange had been found drunk and because of this and his "evil deeds" he was banned from drinking any alcohol for a year".

The Refectory

After this visit for some time, the abbey saw an improvement in its monastic life but despite this, St. Dogmaels was never raised to the levels seen years before and its life as a monastery was declining again and was ended during the reign of King Henry VIII when in 1536 it took its place with many other places with an income of less than £200 a year.

The North Transept

The assessed annual value of the monastery at the dissolution was £87 8s.6d

St Dogmaels Abbey - The North Transept

Much of the abbey's possessions, including Caldey and Fishguard were leased to John Bradshaw of Presteigne, in Radnorshire. A few years later, in 1543, Bradshaw was able to purchase the properties which he already had on lease. He built a mansion for himself, almost certainly within the abbey grounds, and possibly took stone from the abbey buildings for its construction. It is thought that none of the remains of these buildings can be seen today.

St Dogmaels Abbey - The North Transept

It was reported that by the start of the 17th century, the site was in a ruinous state.

In 1646 the site was bought by David Parry of Neuadd-Trefawr, near Cardigan but he never lived there.

The North Transept, Nave and Guest House

Early in the eighteenth century, a new parish church was erected alongside the old abbey church. A century later, in 1847, this was replaced by St Thomas' Church which now stands on the site.

St. Thomas' Church

The original plans were made in 1847 for a church to cost £600, but the final cost was £1,500. A tower was proposed but funds were insufficient. Daniel Evans of Cardigan superintended the building, and John Davies and John Thomas of Llechryd were the contractors.

St. Thomas' Church

St. Thomas' Church

St. Thomas' Church

1866, a vicarage and its coach house were added with materials from the old abbey buildings.

St. Thomas' Church

In 1934 the remains of the abbey were placed in State guardianship by the Representative Body of the Church in Wales. The site was cleared and the masonry consolidated between 1947 and 1968 and the ruins are now maintained by Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments.

St Dogmael

Finally, Saint Dogmael was a 6th-century Welsh monk and preacher who is considered a saint. His feast day is 14 June.

Saint Dogmael seems to have concentrated his preaching in Pembrokeshire, where there are several churches dedicated to him.

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Google Reference: -
52.080568145326666, -4.680455205913844

Google search term:
St Dogmaels Abbey

What Three Words reference: -
///rescuer.conspire.same

OS Details: -
SN 16401 45858 Altitude:62 ft

Additional information.

Visiting is very easy.

A487 and then B4546 to the Abbey
There is limited parking at the site. (52.08084819413824, -4.679396371342211) and this is not always available especially on Tuesdays when it is the venue for the local market. but a better bet is at the town parking (52.08178485298606, -4.677090769613847) and it is just a short  200 m walk to the Abbey.

There is a great cafe and also museum an the site.

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