Nine Maidens stone row facts for kids
Nine Maidens stone row
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 Location in Cornwall
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| Location | St Columb Major, Cornwall |
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| Coordinates | 50°28′18″N 4°54′34″W / 50.47167°N 4.90944°W |
| Type | Stone row |
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| Periods | Neolithic / Bronze Age |
The Nine Maidens stone row is an ancient monument found in Cornwall, England. It is near a town called St Columb Major. People also know these stones by their Cornish names, Naw-voz or Naw-whoors, which mean "the nine sisters." This row of stones was built a very long time ago, during the late Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. It is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north of St Columb Major.
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What is the Nine Maidens Stone Row?
This ancient site is a line of nine large stones, called megaliths. You can find them in a field next to the A39 road, between St Columb Major and Wadebridge.
How Big Are the Stones?
The whole row of stones is about 108 meters (354 feet) long. The stones themselves are different heights. Some are small, like a stump, about 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) tall. Others are much taller, reaching up to 2.1 meters (6.9 feet). The stone at the very north end is lying down and broken.
How Are They Arranged?
The stones are not perfectly spaced out. They are lined up in a direction that points towards the northeast. They seem to be pointing towards another special stone known as the Fiddler. This Fiddler stone is about 800 meters (2,625 feet) away on the open moorland.
Myths and Legends About the Stones
There are many old stories and legends about how the Nine Maidens stone row came to be. These stories have been passed down through generations.
The Dancing Maidens Story
One popular local myth says that the nine maidens were once young women who were turned into stone. This happened as a punishment because they were dancing on a Sunday, which was considered wrong at the time. The Fiddler stone, which is some distance away, is said to be the musician who played music for their forbidden dance. He was also turned into stone.
Other Stone Legends
Stories like this, where people are turned into stone (called petrifaction legends), are often told about stone circles and other ancient stone sites. You can see this in the names of other nearby places. For example, there are sites on Bodmin Moor called The Hurlers and The Pipers.
Early Records of the Stones
The Nine Maidens stone row was first written about by a historian named Richard Carew in 1605. He wondered about their purpose. He wrote that they seemed to be placed there to remember something important, but time had hidden their secret.
The Stones in Art
The stones have even inspired artists! A British composer named George Lloyd wrote a Celtic opera called Iernin. The opera was first performed in 1934 in Penzance. It tells the magical story of one of the Maidens who comes back to life as a fairy.
