Here we see photographic evidence of The Cheesewring, on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. The Cheesewring is not the only famous cheese related article that Cornwall is famous for. Cornish Yarg cheese is a mild but tasty white cheese, which comes wrapped in stinging nettles what have had their sting taken away. There is also Cornish pepper cheese, which, as it's name would suggest, is rolled in cracked peppercorns. Since the advent of vegetarianism, cheese and potato pasties have provided a delicious alternative to the steak ones usually favoured by traditionalists. They are widely stocked by bakeries and shops, and I can recommend Rowe's in Truro, or Anne's Pasty Shop, on the Lizard. I am skirting around the issue of The Cheesewring for two reasons: a) cos it's not technically a standing stone. It's a natural rock formation, caused by erosion, and b) I know nowt about geology. It's certainly a magnificent sight, and well worth having a good look at. This rather moody photo was taken by my friend Graham, who isn't usually moody.
This next photo is of my favourite ancient monument in Cornwall, Trethevy Quoit, and the house behind it, situated in the village of St. Cleer, near Liskeard. Imagine having that in your back garden. Cor! Quite often cows and that can be seen nearby. The quoit was described in 1598 by the antiquarian Norden, as "A little house raysed of mighty stones, standing on a little hill within a fielde." Yes. It really is remarkable, isn't it? The capstone measures 3.7 metres in length and has been teetering at that hair-raising angle since the 1850's, when the slab at the rear of the structure collapsed. Most eggheads agree this was a burial chamber, and the mound surrounding the quoit was used as a ramp, for shoving the bodies up. In the front wall of the chamber, there is a hole (see photo below right), the function of which is a mystery, but was most likely used for the passage of the bodies. Like many other ancient monuments, Trethevy Quoit has people living nearby, but both times I visited, it seemed like a very isolated and lonely place indeed. Hmmm.
The last photo on this page is of Men-an-Tol. It looks a bit rude, if you ask me. It symbolises exactly what you all think it symbolises. It isn't rocket science. Graham had a comical photo of himself wedged in the hole, but he declined to let me use it. But it doesn't matter. I can't see as it matters. I know nothing else about Men-an-tol, but it was the last decent photo I have permission to use.All's I can tell you is that it was taken in Cornwall, in the middle of nowhere, on a somewhat grey and gloomy day. I did warn you I wasn't a professor. Right then, you've had your fun, and I hope you may have even learned something in the process, now get back to work. Lazy duck.
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