Boscawen
- Un
Cornwall
Boscawen-Un or "the house of the elder tree", is an impressive site, with evenly spaced stones that are a respectable size. The focus of fascination with the circle has to be it's central pillar. The quartz pillar has two axe carvings near its base, and although it is 8ft in length, the stone leans at such an angle that it's tip is only 6ft from the ground. Excavation of the site has revealed that the central pillar was actually laid in the leaning position. Although the stones are evenly placed, there is a wide gap at the west of the circle. There is speculation as to whether the gap is the entrance to the circle or an astronomical alignment to that of the Merry Maidens Stone Circle, which is nearby. The stones vary in height from 5ft to 3ft, and in the summer months are half concealed by bracken.
Some
rather strange claims have been made about this circle. It was state by
Stuckley in the 18th century, that this "famous Druid temple called Biscawoon"
was the circle that was built in Britain, and that it was Tyrian Hercules, the
proto Christian that built it. Also, one of the three great gorsaddau of
Britain, "Beisgowan",in the Welsh Triads may well have been the moot
or judicial assembly place of West Wales down to 926 AD.
Now this circle definitely had an "atmosphere" to it. There was a sanctity about the place that was almost tangible. Although the stones were not clearly visible because of all the vegetation that was growing around them, there was a clear path leading all around the outside of the circle and through the the centre. It appeared as though the circle was still being used and there blackberries placed on top of every stone and fruit and posies of flowers left underneath the central pillar and on top of the stone in alignment to it. The whole place had a magical aura about it.
It seemed a bit of a trek to get to as the path was only narrow and the plants and brambles growing on either side seemed to be closing in on the path, but it was a journey that was extremely well rewarded.
Directions
The circle is a few hundred metres south of the A30, approx 1.5km north of St. Buryan. The circle lies at the end of a farm track. From the A30 the farm track has a very small signpost for Boscawen-Noon Farm. The farm is halfway down the track, after which the track narrows until there is a very small sign post and a footpath that leads off from the track leading to the circle.