Fernacre Explained

Fernacre
Map Type:	Cornwall
Location:	Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Coordinates:	50.59°N -4.6224°W

Fernacre, also known as Fernacre stone circle or Fernacre circle, is a stone circle located on the slopes of the De Lank River, 1.25miles northeast of St Breward on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall in the United Kingdom.^{[1] [2]}

Description

It has been suggested to mean bracken-land or come from the old plural for fairy; feren, who was said to be sacred to the ancient Cornish.^[3] Fernacre is one of the biggest stone circles in Cornwall. It is slightly flattened in a northwest to southeast direction, measuring 46.2m (151.6feet) by 43.3m (142.1feet)^[4] The circle contains some 68 or 69 stones with a further 3 displaced within, 38 or 39 remain standing upright. They are deeply sunk into the soil with the tallest stone measuring 1.3m (04.3feet) high and the longest fallen stone 2.1m (06.9feet).^[5] Fernacre is a marker for the start of a medieval drove road from Rough Tor to Garrow.^[2]

Archaeology

The ruins of what was called Fernacre farm were first recorded in 1327 AD.^[6] Numerous hut circles dot the landscape nearby and it has been suggested that the dating for Fernacre is contemporary with these.^[7] No bones or remains were found in these hut circles, only a few flaked flints gave clues to its occupation.^[8] The Fernacre settlement covered 164 acres, of which 84 show signs of having been farmed.^[2] The dating of the sites is uncertain. However, it has been suggested to have been constructed either in the Neolithic or Bronze Age.^[9] There are signs that the circle had a retaining bank of earth on its southeast.^[10]

Alignments

Fernacre carries a pivotal location between Rough Tor located due north and Brown Willy located due east.^[11] Garrow Tor also lies to the east and Louden Hill to the west-southwest. It is only 100 ft from being in a direct line in an easterly direction between Stannon and Brown Willy Cairns; another small erect stone stands in this line eastwards on the way to Brown Willy which has been suggested to mark the equinox sunrise.^{[12] [13]} William Page note that when viewed from the centre of Fernacre circle the sunset on 1 May would align approximately with Louden Hill.^[14]

Literature

• Book: William Borlase. Observations on the antiquities, historical and monumental, of the county of Cornwall ...: Consisting of several essays on the first inhabitants, Druid-superstition, customs, and remains of the most remote antiquity, in Britain, and the British Isles ... With a summary of the religious, civil, and military state of Cornwall before the Norman Conquest .... 1754. Printed by W. Jackson, in the High-Strand.
• Book: William Copeland Borlase. Naenia Cornubiae: the cromlechs and tumuli of Cornwall. 1872. Llanerch. 978-1-897853-36-8.
• Book: William C. Lukis. The prehistoric stone monuments of the British Isles: Cornwall. 1885. Printed for Nichols and Sons for the Society of Antiquaries.
• Book: Aubrey Burl. A guide to the stone circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. 2005. Yale University Press. 978-0-300-11406-5.

External links

• Cornwall's Archaeological Heritage – field guide to accessible sites – Fernacre stone circle
• Illustrated entry in the Megalithic Portal
• Illustrated entry in the Modern Antiquarian
• Pastscape – English Heritage entry about Fernacre stone circle

Notes and References

1. Book: William C. Lukis. The prehistoric stone monuments of the British Isles: Cornwall. 1885. Printed for Nichols and Sons for the Society of Antiquaries.
2. Book: Karin Altenberg. Experiencing landscapes: a study of space and identity in three marginal areas of medieval Britain and Sweden. October 2003. Almqvist & Wiksell. 978-91-22-01997-8.
3. Book: Susan M. Pearce. The archaeology of South West Britain. 1981. Collins. 212.
4. Book: Aubrey Burl. A guide to the stone circles of Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. 2005. Yale University Press. 978-0-300-11406-5. 32.
5. Book: William Page. Cornwall. 1906. Archibald Constable & Co.. 394.
6. Book: Nigel Harvey. The industrial archaeology of farming in England and Wales. 1980. B.T. Batsford. 978-0-7134-1845-3.
7. Book: Society of Antiquaries of London. Archaeologia, or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity. 1908. The Society.
8. Book: American journal of archaeology. 1910.
9. Book: Prehistoric Society (London. England). University of Cambridge. University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society for .... 2005. University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. 357.
10. Book: Rodney Castleden. Neolithic Britain: new stone age sites of England, Scotland, and Wales. 23 March 2011. 1992. Routledge. 978-0-415-05845-2. 37.
11. Book: Harold Bayley. Archaic England: An Essay in Deciphering Prehistory from Megalithic Monuments Part Two 1919. October 2004. Kessinger Publishing. 978-1-4191-7324-0. 550.
12. Book: British Association for the Advancement of Science. Meeting. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Report of the annual meeting. 1908. Office of the British Association. 371.
13. Book: Thomas Rice Holmes. Ancient Britain and the invasions of Julius Caesar. 1971. Books for Libraries Press. 211.
14. Book: William Page. The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall. 23 March 2011. Constable.