Slaughterbridge

Cornwall

Sight of a mighty battle that was one of the last stands of the Cornish against the Saxons in 823AD - 300 years too late for Arthur.  Slaughterbridge is near Camelford, and Geoffrey of Monmouth placed the battle at the "River Camblan" (Camel).  The battle was said to have taken place in the water meadow by the river.  Arthur, mortally woulded by Mordred's poisoned sword, stumbled upstream and finally perished where now lies an inscribed stone.

The sight has now been turned into a tourist attraction.  Before this puts you off, it makes the place easier to find, guaranteed parking spaces and, most importantly, that haven't detracted any from the actual surroundings.  From the car park it is a short 300m walk along a path, at the end of which is a small visitor centre which leads to the actual stone, and another path which leads to the site of the alleged battlefield.

The stone itself, although it now lies prostate, looks as though it should have originally stood erect.  It is believed that during the centuries after the demise of Arthur, when the Saxons were sacking the land, it was the Saxons that toppled the stone from it's original upright position to the site where it now lies.

Directions

Southbound on the A39, the centre is sign posted as Arthurs Stone.  I f you reach the turnoff for Camelford, you've gone too far.

 

Photos

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