Lanyon Quoit, (Giant's Table) is a famous Cornish Megalithic Tomb near to Madron and Morvah, West Penwith, Cornwall, England, UK
Lanyon Quoit is possibly the most famous of all Cornish Megaliths, seen here with the remains of Ding Dong Mine on the horizon, consists of one large stone supported on three standing stones. It is believed to be the remains of a long barrow, or chambered tomb, which would have been covered in turf. The remains of the barrow can be seen, running for twenty-one feet on a roughly South-North axis and originally was probably as long as sixty feet in length. A conservative estimate dates the Quoit's erection at 2500BCE. It was originally aligned with Cardinal directions (North, South, East & West) and historians believe that the structure has been used for ritual activity. The monumentis thought to be a burial chamber or a Mausoleum. Another name for the Quoit is Giant's Table or Giant's Tomb which relates to the local legend that a Giant's bones were found in the tomb. The original monument had four upright stones but unfortunately collapsed during a violent storm in 1815. Nine years later in 1824, following a local campaign to raise funds, it was re-erected. During the restoration, one of the uprights was broken and the Quoit was re-erected, after being rotated ninety degrees on the three remaining uprights which were considerably shortened and squared off, making the monument much lower. It is said that before restoration, a horse and rider could pass beneath the capstone, which measues x and weighs an estimated tons. Despite all of these factors this imposing monument is still dramatic and impressive and very popular with visitors to the area. Location: OSGR - SW430 337 (203), Latitude: Longitude:
Size: 4960px × 3508px
Location: Situated beside the road from Madron to Morvah, 3 miles from Penzance, Cornwall, England, UK.
Photo credit: © Paul Deaville / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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