More information : (SX 20907513) Goodaver Stone Circle. Marked on H.H.
Breton's Map. (1)
It is composed of 24 stones, 23 of which are firmly embedded.
The other as shewn in the illustration is lying flat on the
ground. The stones are in good condition being approximately
4' high by 1' by 5" wide and roughly rectangular in shape. I
was informed by a local farmer that forty years ago, these
stones were lying about the moor and local farmers supplied labour
for erecting them in their present position, whether under
expert guidance or not, I was unable to ascertain. (2)
Goodaver stone circle was discovered and reconstructed by the
Rev. A.H. Malan about 1906 when only three stones were standing.
It is clear that some mistakes were made in spacing and some
stones are now inverted. There are also doubts as to whether
all the stones were replaced in their old sockets. (3)
(SX 20877515) Stone Circle (NR) (4)
This stone circle may not be genuine. The stones may merely have
been lying about the moor and their present positions may not
be original, although it seems unlikely that the ring is an
entire fake.
The diameter, 106 ft 7 ins. is very close to to 39 Megalithic
Yards. See plan. (5)
SX 20877515. Goodaver Stone Circle situated near the summit of
Shephard's Hill at 306m OD in a pasture field. The 23 standing
stones in the circle are from 0.6m to 1.6m high. There are a
number of small stones lying about the circle but the recumbent
stone (2) has been removed and cannot be traced. The condition
of the site is very good.
Surveyed at 1:2500 scale. (6)
Goodaver is a typical Bodmin Moor Circle which has been reconsructed by Malan. Without excavation it is impossible to determine how accurate the reconstruction is. The spacing of the stones is more irregular than other circles of this type in Cornwall indicating some slight errors in the present plan. It is also not clear if the diameter is the original one. (7)
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