St. Cleer
OS Grid ref:- SX2468
The village of St. Cleer is siuated on the south eastern edge of Bodmin Moor, its name is thought to derive from St. Clarus, a ninth century Benedictine monk.
The village church, with its commanding granite tower dates back to the Norman era although there was extensive rebuilding in the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries.
The holy well in the village (pictured left), which is dedicated to St. Clarus, has been covered by a gothic style open chapel. The well was once seen as a place of healing magic, the water from the well flows into a pool which is supposed to have been a bowsening pool, where the insane were ducked in order to effect a cure. A cross which measures around seven feet high stands next to the well. The chapel was destroyed by religious fanatics during the Civil War, after which it lay in ruins for nearly 200 years before being restored.
The village has two pubs, a farm shop a post office, newsagents and general store and offers a range of accommodation.
Around a mile north west of St. Cleer lie the King Doniert Stones, which are two granite slabs with Latin inscriptions and intricate patterns. One reads "Doniert Rogavit Pro Anima" (Doniert prayed for his soul). They are the remains of two crosses associated with the Dark Age Celtic King Doniert or Durngarth, who drowned in the river Fowey about 875 AD.
The imposing prehistoric megalith of Trethevy Quoit lies around a mile to the north of St. Cleer.