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Cornwall’s Quoits

Rob Vickery

The Threads That Weave History and Folklore Together



Chûn Quoit
Chûn Quoit


Certainly, let’s explore the folklore surrounding Cornwall’s quoits in even greater depth and lengthen the narrative to enrich the connections between their legends, cultural significance, and enduring mystique.



Giants: The Legendary Builders of the Quoits


One of the most enduring themes in Cornish folklore is the belief that giants were responsible for constructing the quoits scattered across the landscape. The immense size and weight of the stones seemed beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans, especially to the early communities who passed down these tales. At Pawton Quoit, often referred to as "The Giant's Quoit," local legends suggest that the monument was built by a towering figure who carried the stones from miles away. Similarly, Zennor Quoit is said to have been the feasting table of a giant, while Lanyon Quoit’s massive capstone was allegedly thrown into place by a giant in a single act of herculean strength.



Pawton Quoit
Pawton Quoit


These stories highlight how early inhabitants sought to explain the presence of such monumental structures by attributing their construction to beings of extraordinary power. In some variations of these tales, the giants are depicted as protectors of the land, while in others, they are mischievous or even malevolent. For example, the giant of Chun Quoit was said to have guarded the surrounding moor, ensuring no one disturbed the sacred ground. These legends not only enhance the mystique of the quoits but also anchor them firmly in the imagination of the Cornish people, connecting the stones to the region’s dramatic landscapes and powerful natural forces.



The Druidic Connection: Sacred Altars of Ancient Rituals


In the 18th and 19th centuries, Cornwall’s quoits became closely associated with the Druids, an imagined link that reflected Victorian fascination with the Celtic revival and romanticised notions of Britain’s ancient past. Sites like Pawton Quoit, Chun Quoit, and Trethevy Quoit were referred to as "Druids' Altars," a name that persists in local lore and historical records. While the Druids were separated from the Neolithic builders of the quoits by thousands of years, their association added an aura of sacredness and mystery to these sites.


Victorian writers and antiquarians often described the quoits as places of ancient worship, where Druids conducted ceremonies to honour the spirits of nature or celebrate the cycles of the sun and moon. Some even speculated that sacrifices were performed on the capstones, their flat surfaces used as altars for offerings to appease deities or ensure the fertility of the land. Though these interpretations were largely imaginative, they added layers to the folklore surrounding the quoits and reinforced their role as sacred, otherworldly spaces.



Guardians of the Stones: Curses and Protection


Cornish folklore frequently portrays the quoits as guarded by supernatural forces. Disturbing the stones or removing anything from their vicinity is believed to bring bad luck, illness, or even death. These stories served a practical purpose, discouraging people from damaging or looting the sites, but they also reflect the deep reverence held for these ancient monuments.


One well-known tale involves a farmer who attempted to take a stone from Lanyon Quoit to use as building material. After removing the stone, his crops failed, his livestock sickened, and he himself fell gravely ill. He returned the stone in desperation, and his fortune reportedly improved soon after. Such cautionary tales were common across Cornwall, reinforcing the idea that the quoits were not merely relics of the past but living entities imbued with spiritual power.



Lanyon Quoit
Lanyon Quoit


Portals to the Otherworld: Gateways Between Realms


In Cornish folklore, quoits are often regarded as liminal spaces—thresholds between the physical and spiritual worlds. These monuments were seen as places where the veil between realms was thin, allowing for communication with the dead or passage into the otherworld. This belief ties closely to their function as burial sites, where cremated remains were interred in chambers beneath the stones.

At sites like Chun Quoit and Zennor Quoit, stories tell of ghostly lights dancing around the stones at night, thought to be the spirits of the deceased or omens of otherworldly activity. In some tales, the quoits themselves are described as "doorways" through which spirits could pass. This notion is echoed in the belief that standing within or near a quoit during certain times—such as solstices or storms—might allow an individual to feel the presence of the ancient spirits who once dwelled there.



Elemental Connections: The Power of Nature


The placement of Cornwall’s quoits is often tied to natural features, such as ridges, hilltops, or proximity to water. Their alignment with the landscape enhances their folklore, with many tales suggesting that the stones were intentionally positioned to harness elemental forces. For instance, Pawton Quoit’s position on a north-facing ridge overlooking a tributary valley of the River Camel connects it to the water’s life-giving properties, while its elevation ties it to the wind and sky.

The wind, in particular, features heavily in quoit folklore. It is said that during storms, the wind whipping around the stones carries the voices of giants or spirits, creating an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere. This connection to the elements reinforces the idea that quoits were places of power, where the forces of nature and the supernatural converged.



Shared Myths Across the Quoits


While each quoit has its own distinct stories, the recurring themes across these sites create a cohesive mythos. Giants, Druids, curses, portals, and elemental forces form the backbone of Cornish quoit folklore, binding these ancient monuments into a shared narrative that transcends their individual locations. Together, they represent a cultural landscape where the physical and the mythical intertwine, and where the stones serve as markers of both human ingenuity and spiritual wonder.

The folklore of the quoits reflects humanity’s enduring need to connect with the unknown. By attributing these monuments to giants, Druids, or spirits, the people of Cornwall preserved their cultural identity while imbuing the landscape with stories that continue to inspire awe and curiosity.



The Timeless Allure of Cornwall’s Quoits


Cornwall’s quoits are more than ancient stone structures—they are touchstones of identity, imagination, and belief. They connect us to the Neolithic communities who built them, to the myths and legends that have surrounded them for millennia, and to the landscapes that continue to shape their stories.


From the "Giant's Quoit" at Pawton to the spectral lights of Zennor Quoit, these monuments invite us to explore the intersection of history and folklore, where every stone carries a story and every shadow hints at the presence of something unseen. By honoring the legends that bind them together, we ensure that Cornwall’s quoits remain not just monuments of the past, but living symbols of wonder and mystery for generations to come.

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