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Stowe's Pound

OS Grid ref:- SX 257724

The pre-Iron Age and possibly Neolithic Hilltop Enclosure of Stowe's Pound is located on the summit of Stowe's Hill on the southeast edge of Bodmin Moor. Stowe's Hill is a prominent granite ridge which lies around 1, 500 metres north of Minions and rises to a height of 381 metres (1,250 feet).

The hill itself is perhaps best known as the site of the Cheesewring, a rock outcrop of granite slabs formed by weathering. The name derives from the resemblance of the piled slabs to a "cheesewring", a press-like device that was once used to make cheese.

A quaint local legend states that the Cheesewring (pictured below right) was formed in the early days of Christianity, the Giants were annoyed with the Saints . St Tue heard the Giants arguing about the best way to rid Cornwall of Saints. He decided to challenge the leader of the Giants, Uther to a trial of strength. Twelve large rocks were gathered for the contest. Uther picked up the smallest rock and hurled it onto the summit of Stowes Hill. St Tue, aided by divine intervention, picked up a larger rock and threw it the same distance, landing on the smaller first rock. The contest continued until Uther failed with the last rock, and it rolled back down the hill where St Tue picked it up and hurled it onto the top of the heap.

Two huge and impresive prehistoric enclosures encircle the summit of Stowe's Hill, the smaller enclosure is situated around the upper summit to the south and the larger to the north, surrounding the lower summit. These enclosures are similar to the tor enclosure at Carn Brea

The southern, upper tor enclosure is surrounded with a ruinous flat- topped wall which rises to a height of 4.5 metres in places, the wall is said to be the oldest in Britain. The enclosure contains a number of flat, turf covered areas but little sign of occupation. The wall itself links together a number of tor rock formations that surround the edges of the summit, including the famous Cheesewring. The southern edge of the enclosure has been destroyed by quarrying, when the Cheesewring itself was threatened the local people protested and mananged to have the quarrying stopped.

The lower larger enclosure has smaller ramparts, which rise up to around 1.5 metres in parts. The ramparts may have up to 14 entrances. There are around 110 identified hut circles within this lower area, as well as 19 platforms cut into the ground, these cluster around the two entranceways and the southern parts of the enclosure. There are also two flat topped cairns with stone kerbs, one of these it is claimed incorporated a cist which contained a Trevisker pottery urn with 100 flint spearheads, arrowheads and a dagger. Although this find remains unconfirmed.

The site is thought to be connected with other settlements and ritual monuments in the vicinity




Bodmin Moor


Prehistoric Sites in Cornwall