Trenuggo Longstone - "The Blind Fiddler

The Blind Fiddler is one of Cornwall’s most distinctive standing stones. It stands near Catchall, north of the A30 on the road towards Land’s End, and is visible from the road. The stone is over 10 feet high and is also known as the Tregonebris or Trenuggo Longstone. Its size, shape, and prominent position make it one of the most recognisable menhirs in West Penwith. The stone is made from granite and has a distinctive triangular form. It measures about 3.3 metres high, 1.9 metres wide, and 0.4 metres thick. From the side, it appears narrow and almost blade like. Bands of quartz run through the stone, adding to its visual character. It stands on the slope of a ridge between two valleys, close to a public footpath and within a landscape rich in prehistoric monuments. The nearby route running south east from Sancreed through Kerris towards the coast near Mousehole may preserve the line of an ancient trackway. This has led to the suggestion that the Blind Fiddler may once have served as a marker within the landscape. Its position on a ridge would have made it visible to people moving across this part of Penwith. Like many standing stones, it may have marked a route, boundary, gathering place, or ceremonial area. In 1872, a local labourer dug beneath the stone while searching for treasure. Instead, he uncovered a deposit of cremated bone and ash. This suggests that the stone became part of a funerary or ritual setting, although the burial may have been placed there after the stone was first erected. The discovery also links the Blind Fiddler with the wider ceremonial landscape around Boscawen Un and other prehistoric sites in the area. The name Blind Fiddler comes from local folklore. According to tradition, the stone was once a musician who played on the Sabbath and was turned to stone as punishment. Similar stories are attached to other Cornish stones, especially where dancers or musicians are petrified for breaking religious rules. These tales probably developed in the Christian period as moral explanations for older prehistoric monuments. Why this stone is specifically described as blind is unclear, but the name has become an important part of its identity.
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