Damage report
If you have any information regarding any of the incidents below please contact us:
Email: info@cornishancientsites.com
Tel: 01736 787186
Madron Baptistry.
July 2012 "Extensive damage to Madron Baptistry occured on Sunday July 29th 2012, when the site was vandalised. Stones were wrenched from the wall behind the altar, destabilising it, and the stones were then flung into the well recess and all around the Baptistry. Local people are angry and upset at what has happened, and the matter has been reported to the police. In the past, there has been vandalism at this site from local youths, but this later incident is the worst that has been there."
Click here for photos of damage
Boscawen-un circle.
August 2008 : Small fire under Central stone that rests at bottom is
blackened. Large stone at side scorched on one side.
Chun Castle.
October 2010: A large quantity of nearby rocks have been pushed into
well & are too big to be easily removed.
Madron.
July 2008: Rocks thrown into well but have been removed.
June 2012: The water supply at Madron well has been
deliberately blocked with stones.
Merry Maidens.
July 2009: Damage to stone at left of entrance but has been repaired.
March 2010: Fire damage- no permanent harm.
March 2011: Scorch marks under N.E stone, small pieces of tin found
buried. Tin removed-no permanent damage.
Sancreed Well.
March 2010-May 2010:Granite stones surrounding site removed from field
and holes left filled with rubbish,possibly some asbestos? Environment
Agency informed.
Tregeseal Holed Stone.
May 2010: N.W Stone fallen , cause unknown.
Update MAY 2012: The stone has now been repaired and re-erected
Tregeseal Circles.
June 2009: 5 stones loosened with 2 badly destabilised.
June 2010:Vandalism to fences ansd stones.
July 2011: Stones 2/13 and 14 slightly loose, stone 19 and 35 leaning.
December 2011: Stone 10 leaning- needs permanent stabilisation.
Meetings ongoing with English Heritage and other interested parties
who are monitoring the situation closely .Work to be undertaken to
pemanently stabilise some of the stones.Cattle grazing in the vicinity
an ongoing issue.
30/12/07
Madron Baptistry 'Talisman'
Another resin 'talisman' of the kind that had been buried at the Men An Tol was discovered on one of the walls of Madron Baptistry.
14/11/07
Madron Well Area Vandalism
Vandalism to the Madron Chapel path reported. A tree was found to have been daubed with a message and 'magic mushrooms' motif in blue paint. The stone stile on the path and a stone beside the path had also been daubed.
14/10/07
Men an Tol Buried ‘Talismans’
Two more resin ‘talismans’ discovered and removed from the Men an Tol.
They had been buried in front of the two upright stones in East & West alignment. They are thought to have been buried during the night of the 13th / 14th as they were not in place when the site was inspected during the day on the 13th.
Photos:
Click on the links below to view each image
East talisman in situ East talisman removed West talisman in situ West talisman removed
Men-An-Tol Burried ‘Talismans’ & Stone Burning
Disturbed ground reported at the Men an Tol. Two patches of disturbed turf found approximately 7 inches in diameter to the North and South of the holed stone.
Beneath these turf patches were found and removed two hexagonal blocks of resin approximately 3 inches across and 1.5 inches deep containing what appears to be 4 different metal shavings, seeds a stone and copper coil/spiral.
There was also a small blackened burnt patch discovered on the upper south side of the holed stone.
Photos:
Removed talisman 1 Removed talisman 2 Burnt patch on holed stone
7/9/07
Zennor Quoit – breakage of internal stones
Small stones inside Zennor Quoit had been found smashed into pieces and used to spell out messages.
16/08/07
Boscawen-Un Burnt Ground
A patch of burnt ground discovered to the North outside the circle approximately 14 inches in diameter. The burnt patch discovered on the 11th found to have been turfed over.
Photos:
Returfed burnt patch New burnt patch
11/08/07
Boscawen-Un Burnt Ground
Area of burnt ground approximately 2-3 feet in diameter found to the east of the King Stone.
‘Strimming’ found to have been done around the stones, lichens removed from the bases of the stones as a result
06/05/07
Lesingey Round Camping & Littering
Campers at Lesingey Round had spread litter and rubbish about the site and dug a large fire pit. The site was later cleared by the owner after the campers had left.
28/04/07
Merry Maidens Stones Attacked
The tops of ten of the nineteen stones were found to have been struck; possibly with a hammer; resulting in small chunks being struck away from the stones.
Photos:
Hammer blow 1 Hammer blow 2 Hammer blow 3 Hammer blow 4 Hammer blow 5
27/04/07
Boscawen-Un Bench
A bench was found to have been erected against the hedge to the North West of Boscawen-Un circle. The construction consisted of two sections of telegraph pole sunk into the ground with a plank fixed across them. The bench was removed and the holes filled in.
Photos:
Bench photo 1 Bench photo 2 Bench photo 3
16/03/07
Men an Tol, Maen Scryfa & Nine Maidens Christian Stake Damage
Wooden stake found driven into the ground at Men an Tol site. Stake removed. Stakes also removed from Maen Scryfa site and Nine Maidens site. Stones heavily doused with red wine, stakes inscribed with “JESUS” and biblical text:
"Jesus' name above all"
Photos:
Men an Tol stake in situ Men an Tol stake removed Men an Tol stake off site Maen Scryfa stake in situ
Maen Scryfa stake removed Maen Scryfa stake off site Nine Maidens stake in situ Nine Maidens stake removed
Nine Maidens stake off site Men an Tol wine stain
12/03/07
Sancreed Well Christian Stake Damage
Stake found at Sancreed Well with signs of impact damage to stones in the Baptistry.
Stake removed on 21/03/07 found to be inscribed with “JESUS” and biblical text:
"Jesus' name above all names" and "King of kings and lord of lords"
Photos:
Sancreed stake in situ Sancreed stake off site
26/02/07
Merry Maidens Christian Stake Damage
Stake found driven into the ground in the centre of the Merry Maidens. Stones had also been doused with red wine. Stake removed on 02/03/07 and found to be inscribed with “JESUS” along with biblical text, two more stakes found at the Pipers inscribed “JESUS”.
Biblical inscription found on Merry Maidens stake:
"Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem
a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of
the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords
thereof be broken."
Isaiah Ch 33 v 20
Photos:
Stake in situ Stake removed Stake off site Stakes from Pipers off site
02/02/07
Boscawen-Un Christian Stake Damage
Stakes found at Boscawen-Un. Stones had also been doused with red wine.
Stakes removed (three in total) on 21/03/07 all found to be inscribed with “JESUS”
Photos:
King stone stake in situ Mother stone stake in situ Boscawen Un stakes off site
These next reports have no dates as to when they were discovered all have been reported in 2007
Lanyn Quoit – unwanted/harmful activity
Tour guides for ‘Haggis Enterprises’ found to have been climbing on top of the capstone to deliver ‘lectures’
Nine Maidens – damage to stones
Large rocks appear to have been taken to the circle and used to strike at least four of the stones. Stone ‘weapons’ left on site.