More information : (SX 24877182) Craddock Moor stone circle. Diameter 128 ft all stone prostrate. (1,2) (SX 24877182) Stone Circle (NR) (3) First recorded by Mr W A Pascoe in August 1937, although first discovered circa 1923 by the Rev H A Lewis, then vicar of St. Cleer, who did not publish the find. It lies on an old track between Minnions and Lombadla. (4,5) Centred SX 24867183. The remains of a stone circle 39.0m in diameter, now consisting of fifteen fallen stones 1.0m to 2.2m in length, some of which are partially below ground level and the stumps of three stones up to 0.3m high. One large stone is fragmented, the remainder appear to be of original proportions. Small mounds possibly represent the positions of removed/buried stumps. It occupies a level hilltop position in open moorland, just above 1050ft OD.
Not visible on OS APs. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6) The circle appears to have been deliberately slighted by uprooting and snapping off some stones, a few subsequently being drill spilt lengthways. An area 5.0m by 2.0m at the centre has recently been dug over by treasure hunters.
The circle is situated on rough moorland pasture and slightly below the crest of a broad hilltop, precluding any view to the north east and south east except for the top of Stowe's hill. It now comprises 14 prostrate stones, 1 clearly snapped stump and 2 fairly earthfast small stones which may be no more than protruding trig stones. Recumbent stones vary in length between 1.1m and 2.0m, the majority falling between 1.5m and 2.0m. In section, one stone is post like, measuring 0.5m by 0.4m, all others are distinct slabs 0.2m to 0.3m thick and 0.5m to 0.8m wide, even in the case of two which have been reduced by stone splitting.
The distance between stones is approximately 5.0m and on this basis the circle may originally have had about 26 stones.
Most (perhaps seven) stones are missing from the northern quadrant, Authority 6 notes two slight 'mounds' in the north west as possibly concealing stumps. Positionally they are reasonable, but no stone could be located by probing and the slight rises seen to have resulted from the matting of furze roots.
Where gaps occur in the perimeter of the circle there are no indications of socket holes and in the extreme north a peat stack platform (a) occupies part of the area.
Mostly depicted on NMR Bodmin Moor AP transcription.
Surveyed at scales 1:2500 and 1:1250 (1974) with corrections and detail amendments 1984. (7)
(SX 2486 7183) The circle has similar charcateristics to the central ring at the Hurlers (SX 27 SE 8) but differs slightly in size and number of stones. It appears to be circular in plan perhaps with a slight deviation in the North East. The original number of stones was probably 27-28, the largest present in the North West quadrant. (8)
The monument is included in the gazetteer and distribution map of Neolithic Sites in Cornwall. (9)
October 2015 work was undertaken to clear and re-expose some of the buried ring stones. This work involved recording and photographing the stones prior to work and again afterwards. Careful cutting of the turf to just beyond the edge of the stone. Where stones were completely buried these were either revealed if not lain too deep or revealed for recording purposes but then re-covered as considered a danger to both stock and the public. Prior to the work 16 granite stones were recumbent, with some broken or purposely drilled and split. After the work was completed there were at least 23 stones which lay within the circle setting. 128 feet diameter to the circle. For the complete report please see source (10) and a brief summary (11)
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