Carn Brea

Carn Brea

Carn Brea ( _kw. Karnbre) is a civil parish and hilltop site near Redruth in Cornwall, England, UK, famous for its long history of human occupation.

Neolithic settlement

The earliest Neolithic settlement at Carn Brea was a tor enclosure occupied between around 3700 and 3400 BC. A two acre (8,000 m²) inner enclosure was surrounded by a larger eleven acre (45,000 m²) one. The ramparts consisted of stone walls with an earth bank and ditch. Traces of fourteen platforms on which would have stood Neolithic long houses have been found by archaeologists within its ramparts along with pottery and flint artifacts.The site was excavated between 1970 [cite journal
last = Mercer
first = R.J.
authorlink = Roger Mercer
coauthors =
title = The Neolithic Settlement on Carn Brea: Preliminary Report
journal = Cornish Archaeology
volume = 9
issue =
pages = pp54–62
publisher = Cornwall Archaeological Society
year = 1970
url =
doi =
id =
accessdate =
] and 1973cite journal
last = Mercer
first = R.J.
authorlink = Roger Mercer
coauthors =
title = The Excavation of the Neolithic Settlement, Carn Brea
journal = Cornish Archaeology
volume = 11
issue =
pages =
publisher = Cornwall Archaeological Society
year = 1972
url =
doi =
id =
accessdate =
] by Roger Mercer.A population of 100 to 150 people has been suggested. There is evidence that the occupants cleared the surroundings by burning away the undergrowth and removing stones to use the land for farming. The acid soils of the area precluded the preservation of any environmental evidence which would have provided more information on this aspect. Nearby outcrops of rock suitable for manufacture as axes would have contributed to the village's economy. Edge grinding stones, blanks and incomplete and finished axes found on the site indicate that the inhabitants were accomplished stoneworkers and traded their products to others. That the pottery found on the site appears to have come from a production centre almost 20 miles (30 km) to south in the present day parish of St Keverne further supports a complex economic network in the area.Fact|date=February 2007

The seven hundred flint arrowheads found scattered at the site suggest that Carn Brea may have been attacked at least once. Every timber structure on the site had been burnt, the charcoal being the only organic matter that survived the acid soils. The earthworks themselves may also have been deliberately damaged by an invading power.

Iron Age settlement

In the Iron Age the site was re-occupied and minerals were mined from the hillside. A hoard of Kentish gold staters found in the eighteenth century suggests trade links with the other side of the country at this time.Fact|date=February 2007 The Ravenna Cosmography, of around 700AD, makes reference to Purocoronavis, (almost certainly a corruption of Durocornovium), 'a fort or walled settlement of the Cornovii', (unidentified, but possibly Tintagel or Carn Brea).

Landmarks

; Carn Brea Castle: The medieval Carn Brea Castle stands near the top of the hill. This was originally built as a chapel, in 1379, likely dedicated to St. Michael, [http://www.cledha.co.uk/cbpg/ "About Carn Brea"] , Carn Brea Protection Group. Retrieved 2007-08-20.] before being rebuilt in the 18th century by the Basset family as a hunting lodge. [http://www.saint-illogan.org.uk/pics_carnbrea.htm "Pictures of Carn Brea"] , Parish of Saint Illogan. Retrieved 2007-08-20.] It is considered a Folly castle, due to the huge uncut boulders that make up part of its foundations, giving the impression of the building melting into the land. [http://www.follytowers.com/carn_brea_castle.html "Carn Brea Castle"] , Follies and Monuments, FollyTowers.com. Retrieved 2007-08-20.] In the 1980s the abandoned building was converted into a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant. [http://www.eatoutcornwall.com/cornwall-restaurant/print-details.php?pv=6055 "Carn Brea Castle, Redruth - Cornwall"] , Restaurants in Cornwall, EatOutCornwall.com. Retrieved 2007-08-20.] The stolen Ford Anglia featured in the Harry Potter films was found at the Castle in 2006. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = The Scotsman: Harry Potter's stolen car appears at castle
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = The Scotsman Publications Ltd
date = 2006-05-19
url = http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=3&id=742852006
accessdate = 2006-10-30
] coord|50|13|20.85|N|5|14|41.40|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Carn Brea Castle: An East India trading ship was named after Carn Brea Castle, wrecked off the Isle of Wight in 1829 and involved in excise tax fraud. [cite newspaper|publisher=The Times|date=1829-07-18|page=4|title=Some frauds of a very peculiar and extensive nature have been discovered]

; Monument: At the highest point of the hill there is a 90 foot high (30m) celtic cross. This is a monument to Baron Basset, Francis Lord de Dunstanville and Basset (b.1757, d.1835). Basset, a mine owner, gained his titles for erecting earthworks to defend Plymouth from combined French and Spanish fleets in 1779, and suppressing a miners' "food riot" in 1785. [http://www.cornishworld.net/HISTORYMAKERS/Basset_family.htm "The Basset's of Tehidy"] , Cornish History Reference Files, CornishWorld.net. Retrieved 2007-08-20.] Along with others, he petitioned the House of Lords against slavery in 1828. [cite newspaper|publisher=The Times|date=1828-06-03|title=Parliamentary Intelligence, House of Lords] The monument was erected by public subscription in 1836. It is inscribed 'The County of Cornwall to the memory of Francis Lord de Dunstanville and Basset A.D. 1836.' [As shown by the stone inscription on the south of the monument. See inscription text on |title=Tuesday's Post|quote=A chaste and elegant monument from the chisel of Westmacott put up in parish of Illogan, Cornwall, to the memory of the late Lord De Dunstanville] coord|50|13|16|N|5|14|56|W|type:landmark_region:GB|name=Basset Cross

; Cup and Saucer Rock: This large flat rock is perched next to the Monument showing several deep basins (see ). This rock has also been called "The Sacrificing Rock" (though with doubtful historical accuracy). [cite book
last = Curran
first = Bob
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Celtic Lore &

publisher = New Page Books
year = 2005
location =
pages = p36
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 1-56414-786-X
] coord|50|13|16|N|5|14|54|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Sacrificing Rock

; Smugglers' Cave: In a depression between the Monument and the Castle is the remains of the "Smugglers' Cave" blocked by the Council in the 1980s with rocks to stop children from entering. This tunnel is rumoured to travel from the top of the Carn down into Redruth town but is likely to have been abandoned mine workings. This may have been confused with the separate tunnel running from the castle down to St Uny’s church which was blocked off for safety reasons c.1970 by the castle owners. [(Tangye, 1981)] [(Historic Environment Service, 2006) page 3] coord|50|13|19|N|5|14|50|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Smugglers' Cave

; Saint Euny's Well: This well can be found at the foot of Carn Brea below the Castle and near St. Euny's Church. It has a plaque by Carn Brea Parish Trails reading "St. Euny Well. Holy well of St. Euny visited by the Celtic Missionary 500AD". Stories about the sacred use of this well may be confused with St. Euny's Well at Sancred (see Carn Euny).

Events

;Easter:At Easter Redruth Baptist Church erects a lit cross on the outcrop behind the hunting lodge overlooking Redruth. For many years an early morning Sonrise service has been held for local Christian worshippers on Easter Sunday.

; Midsummer Eve: The Midsummer Eve (St. John's Eve, 23 June) bonfire ceremony dates from a pagan ritual. Prayers are read in Cornish and the bonfire is lit, signaling other fires to be lit at Sennen, Sancreed Beacon, Carn Galver to the Tamar. When only the embers remain, young people leap across them to drive away evil and bring luck.

cite book
last = Noall
first = Cyril
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Cornish Midsummer Eve Bonfire Celebrations
publisher = Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
year = 1963
location =
pages = 11 pages
url =
doi =
id = ASIN B0000CLTVN
]

; Boxing Day: The Boxing Day meet of the [http://www.huntinginquiry.gov.uk/evidence/hunts/fourburrow.htm Four Burrow Hunt] starts at the top of Carn Brea. [

cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Bridgewater Mercury: This could be the last time
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Newsquest Media Group
date = 2003-01-03
url = http://archive.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/2003/1/3/34093.html
accessdate = 2006-10-30
] [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Smallholder: Ban? What Ban?
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Newsquest Media Group
date = 2005-12-28
url = http://archive.smallholder.co.uk/2005/12/28/50889.html
accessdate = 2006-10-30
] Due to the changes in fox hunting legislation foxes are no longer hunted.

See also

* Dumnonii a Celtic tribe who inhabited part of the South West peninsula of Britain, during the Iron Age and the early Roman period.
* Great Flat Lode Trail
* Carn Brea railway station - the site of the West Cornwall Railway's locomotive workshops.

Footnotes

References

* cite book
last = Acton
first = B.
title = Exploring Cornwall’s Tramway Trails, Vol. 1, The Great Flat Lode Trail with Carn Brea and Carn Marth
publisher = Landfall Publications
year = 1996
id = ISBN 1-873443-41-2

* cite paper
author =Historic Environment Service
title =Carn Brea, Illogan, Cornwall HEATH Management Assessment
publisher =Cornwall County Council
year =2006
url =http://212.104.147.54/media/pdf/i/p/Carn_Brea_MA.pdf
format =pdf
accessdate =2007-08-19

* cite journal
last = Mercer
first = R.J.
authorlink = Roger Mercer
coauthors =
title = Mercer, R.J et al.: Excavations at Carn Brea, Illogan, Cornwall, 1970-73. A Neolithic Fortified Complex of the Third Millennium BC
journal = Cornish Archaeology
volume = 20
publisher = Cornwall Archaeological Society
year = 1981
url = http://www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk/journal20.html
accessdate = 2006-10-30

* cite book
last = Tangye
first = Michael
title = Carn Brea: brief history and guide
publisher = Dyllansow Truran
year = 1981
pages = 69
id = ISBN 0907566111

External links

* [http://www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk Cornish Archaeological Society]
* [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/durocornavium.htm Roman-Britain.org] records of Romano-British Settlement of Carn Brea
* [http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/castles/carn-brea-castle.htm Cornwall calling] Carn Brea Castle listing
* [http://www.cornwallcam.co.uk/bestofinland/carn_brea.htm CornwallCam.co.uk] Tregajorran and Carn Brea seen from the railway footbridge near the old Carn Brea station
* [http://www.lookaroundcornwall.com/panos/carnbrea.htm Carn Brea fullscreen VR panorama]


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