Trethevy Quoit
OS grid ref:- SX 259 688
Imposing Trethevy Quoit, situated near to the village of St. Cleer on the south eastern edge of Bodmin Moor, is one of the best known of Cornwall's prehistoric monuments and is remarkably well preserved.
Also known locally as the Giant's House or King Arthur's Quoit, the monument measures over 15 feet high (4.6 Metres). The Quoit stands in a field at the back of some cottages.
The megalithic chamber, the largest in the country, sits on a mound which it is thought covered the lower part of the stones, acting as a ramp to aid access to the chamber during burials. It consists of six upright slabs of about three metres high (10 feet) which support a capstone measuring 3.7metres (12 feet) long. The rectangular chamber measures 2 x 1.5 metres.
A small portion of the front entrance stone is missing, it has been theorised that this was cut to provide an entrance into the chamber. A natural hole exists at its highest point. The function of this hole remains an enigma, although there is speculation that it was used for astronomical observations. The chamber was used as a tomb between 1,800 and 1,200B.C. The western stone collapsed before 1850.
To reach Trethevy Quoit take the road South West to St Cleer from the Minions, passing a Cornish cross on the left and approximately one mile later take the road on the left to Darite. The site is signposted and a small parking area is provided. There is free access at all times.
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