The Hurlers

Heritage Site in Cornwall

England

The Hurlers

Caradon Hill and Wheal Jenkin Credit: Sandy Gerrard

The Hurlers is a unique heritage site located in Cornwall, England. It consists of a group of three stone circles dating back to the Bronze Age, believed to have been constructed around 1500 BC. The circles are located near the village of Minions on Bodmin Moor, an area known for its rich archaeological history.

The largest of the three circles is known as the "Hurlers," while the other two are referred to as the "Pipers." The circles are made up of large granite stones, some of which are thought to have been originally brought from as far as 10 miles away. The purpose of these circles is unknown, but they are believed to have been used for rituals, ceremonies, or as a form of ancient astronomical observatories.

The Hurlers are a popular tourist attraction and are protected as a scheduled ancient monument. Visitors can walk among the stones and explore the surrounding landscape, taking in the history and mystery of this ancient site. The Hurlers are a fascinating glimpse into Cornwall's ancient past and continue to intrigue historians and archaeologists to this day.

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The Hurlers Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.517/-4.462 or Grid Reference SX2571. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Caradon Hill and Wheal Jenkin

Sandy Gerrard

Wind & rain at the Cheeswring, Minions, Cornwall

Cold, Wind & rain in mid September, 2017.

david coombes

Cheesewring Old Chapel

Paul Barnett

Surface Remains of Mine, Below Stowe's Hill

Chris Andrews

Collapsed Shaft Near Minions

Chris Andrews

Wardbrook Farm

Chris Andrews

Disused Quarry, Craddock Moor

Chris Andrews

Stone Circle on Craddock Moor

Chris Andrews

The Longstone, Minions

Also known as Long Tom.

Chris Andrews

Former Primitive Methodist Chapel, Minions

More or less identical to SX2671 : Converted Methodist Chapel in Minions, and unachanged in eight years, but a chance to quote from Link

: " in the second half of the nineteenth century Minions accommodated two chapels ... The larger of the two chapels is the former Primitive Methodist Chapel. It was built in 1863 when the majority of industry-related building took place in the village. Originally the chapel would have been positioned a small distance from the track joining the Gonamena Incline, but in 1877 the new railway line was constructed hard behind it. The essential character of the building still remains; the high pitched roof with original slates, tall lancet windows on the façade, the date stone and the original low front wall with railings. The chapel is now however a domestic building, the walls and quoins have been painted and there are velux windows in the roof."

Derek Harper

Houseman's Shaft Engine House, Minions

The engine house, part of South Phoenix Copper Mine, is also shown at Link and described at Link

. On the right is one of the Wheal Jenkin group of 2 engine-houses, with the transmission mast on Caradon Hill in the background.

Derek Harper

Craddock Moor with the Cheesewring in the distance

Chris Gunns

The Hurlers Minions

Chris Gunns

Craddock Moor with the Cheesewring in the distance

Chris Gunns

Disinterested Local at Craddock Moor Quarry

Matthew Hatton

Boundary Stone on Craddock Moor

One of a series of single stones that mark a line from the edge of the enclosed land near Trewalla to the Withybrook. They do not appear to be a parish boundary so I wonder if it was to do with grazing rights or the mines dotted about the moor.

Matthew Hatton

Mine Chimney on Craddock Moor

Part of the Craddock Moor Mine which is marked hereabouts and close to the West Caradon Mine; both of which jumped on the boom created by the nearby South Caradon Mine which hit a very productive lode of copper in the mid 19thC. "In 1846 we have a report on the Craddock Moor Mine in the grandly entitled 'The Railway Register and Record of Public Enterprise for Railways, Mines, Patents and Inventions' by Hyde Clarke Esquire stating: 'Craddock Moor, to the north-east of Caradon Consols, and west of West Caradon, is a splendid sett; but the workings are on a miserably small scale, and such as will never, we should think, prove it a mine. The engine is a small 22-inch cylinder, and the shaft, which is now only 18 fathoms deep, is on an inclined plane, and sinking on the course of the lode, at an expense of £30 per fathom. When we were there, two men were drawing up the stuff by means of the horse whim'."

Matthew Hatton

Old Whim Shaft on Caradon Hill

Most likely begun in the hunt for tin pre 1840; when the mineral of choice in this area changed to copper. It was later absorbed into the Wheal Jenkin's Mine, before coming under the Marke Valley Mining Company ground in the 1870's.

Matthew Hatton

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The Hurlers is located at Grid Ref: SX2571 (Lat: 50.517, Lng: -4.462)

Unitary Authority: Cornwall

Police Authority: Devon and Cornwall