A little bit of History!

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A fine day saw us checking out a couple of ancient sites - namely Lanyon Quoit (Neolithic) and Men an Tol (Bronze Age). There are so many ancient sites scattered around Cornwall we decided we had to be selective and limit the number we tried to see.

Nearby is the little village of Zennor where we found the graves of some of John's paternal ancestors. We thought it appropriate to have a beer in the Tinners Arms - we are certain this is what they would have done!

On the way home we called in to Botallack to have a look at some amazing tin mine ruins. The most spectacular are the Crown Mine engine houses which were constructed in 1815 to pump water and so allow submarine mining. The shafts extend 400 metres out under the Atlantic, about 150 metres below sea level. It is difficult to imagine what a harsh life the miners (and their families) would have had to endure.

We rounded off the day at a fabulous restaurant ("2 Fore Street") in Mousehole which had been recommended by our hosts. It was so good we immediately booked a table for another night.

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Photos

Lanyon Quoit
Prior to being damaged in a storm in 1815 a man could ride under this megalith on horseback. The re-erected version is less spectacular. It was probably used for funeral rituals and dates to Neolithic times (3500-2500BC),

Men an Tol
Literally meaning a stone with a hole in it! Nobody's too sure what it was used for, possibly a burial site, but local folklore claims it has healing powers and can help you get pregnant (if you pass through the hole seven times backwards!) Dates to the Bronze age c2000BC.

St Senara's Church, Zennor
Grave of one of John's ancestors

Mermaid's Chair, St Senara's Church, Zennor.
Legend has it that a mermaid would sit in this chair every Sunday listening to one of the choristers with whom she had fallen in love. One day her infatuation proved too strong and she lured him back with her into the sea.

Inside the Tinners Arms (c1271)
No apostrophe!