The Tristan Stone
OS Grid ref:- SX113521
A mile and a half from Castle Dore, at Manabilly East Lodge Gate near Fowey, stands an ancient weather beaten stone pillar, slightly split on the side, which is known as the Tristran Stone.
The menhir is carved with a Latin inscription, which purportedly dates from the sixth century, which reads:-
'DRUSTANS HIC LACIT/CUNOMORI FILIUS'
Which translates as -Here lies Drustan son of Commorus. Commorus has been identified as Mark of Cornwall and Drustan as Tristram.
Cunomorus (Kynvawr) was a Cornish king of the early sixth century. In a ninth century life of St. Paul Aurelian, Marcus Cunomorus is linked with King Mark of Cornwall.
The stone may have been the origin of the association with the story of the tragic love of Tristan and Iseult of Arthurian Legend. A now lost third line was described by the sixteenth century antiquarian John Leland as reading
CVM DOMINA OUSILLA ('with the lady Ousilla').
Ousilla is a Latinisation of the Cornish female name Eselt, otherwise known as Isolde. The disappearance of this third line may be due to the stone being moved several times.
The romantic story of Tristan and Isolde states Tristan to be the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall. Whilst escorting Isolde, daughter of the King and Queen of Ireland, to be the bride of his uncle King Mark in Cornwall , the tragic couple are said to have drunk a magic potion and fallen in love. Mark and Isolde were married but the liaison with Tristran continued until all was discovered and Tristan was forced to flee from his enraged uncle.
The stone previously stood nearby, the exact position has unfortunately gone unrecorded.