The Stone Circle at Tregeseal.
Tregaseal
A common point is that gaps in the arrangement of stones has been seen as a missing stone;
however, from inspection and dig, it has been discovered that
spaces were more often than not intentional.
At Tregaseal there are two stone circles, aligned east-west, their centres being 150 feet apart.
The hedge that separates them includes the stones of the west circle.
The centre line is at 39 degrees North.
The east circle is 66 feet diameter, in 1902 was of thirteen irregularly spaced stones, being no higher than 3 feet 10 inches;
the stones themselves are up to 5 feet 7 inches in length.
Thicknesses indicate the same construction date.
There appears to be a 'heel or marker stone' to the west of the circle.
It appears that there were originally nineteen stones. The stone was hewn from moor granite and shaped.
The west circle is 74 feet diameter. In 1902 it consisted of 11 stones ( five standing) of the circle irregularly spaced;
it has the appearance of having had some stones removed for agricultural access through the hedge.
Stone heights being maximum 3 feet 10 inches, length of stones maximum 5 feet 9 inches.
Outside the south west quadrant is a small 'enclosure' of unshaped stones of 4 feet height.
The 'enclosure was first recorded by W Cotton in 1826, noted to have been seen in other stone circles in Cornwall,
it appears to have been sepulchral in use.
Dr Borlase in 1738 describes these two circles ...
'two circles of stones placed on end, standing east and west of each other.
In the eastern 17 stones are still standing, two prostrate, one broken off - 23 paces diameter.
In the western 10 standing, four prostrate - 26 paces diameter, called Tregaseal Dancing Stones'.
No mention is made of a hedge.
The circles are built on a moor called 'Gump', meaning level.
The destruction to the west circle occurred c 1960 according to PAS Pool.
As to age, it has been offered as Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age. Said to be 4,500 years old.
Raymond Forward
