The Merry Maidens facts for kids
The Merry Maidens
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 Location in Southwest Cornwall
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| Location | Cornwall |
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| Coordinates | 50°03′54″N 5°35′23″W / 50.06504°N 5.58973°W |
| Type | Stone circle |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Good |
| Ownership | CASPN |
The Merry Maidens is a famous stone circle in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It's also known as Dawn's Men. This name might come from the Cornish words Dans Maen, which mean "Stone Dance." This ancient site was built during the late Neolithic period, a time when early humans started farming. You can find it about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of St Buryan village. Close by are two tall standing stones called The Pipers. They are connected to the Merry Maidens by old legends.
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What is the Merry Maidens Stone Circle?
The Merry Maidens stone circle is believed to be complete. It has nineteen large granite stones. These stones are called megaliths, which means "big stones." The circle is located in a field next to the B3315 road. This road runs between Newlyn and Land's End.
How Big Are the Stones?
The stones are usually about 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. The tallest stone stands at 1.4 meters (4.6 feet). They are spaced out, with about three to four meters (10 to 13 feet) between each stone. There is a slightly larger gap on the east side of the circle. The entire circle is about twenty-four meters (79 feet) across. To the south, there's another stone that might show a north-south direction.
The Pipers: Nearby Standing Stones
About 300 meters (984 feet) northeast of the Merry Maidens are The Pipers. These are two very tall standing stones, each about 3 meters (10 feet) high. They are known as some of the biggest and most famous standing stones in Cornwall. Another ancient site, the Tregiffian Burial Chamber, is also nearby.
Myths and Legends of the Stones
There's a popular local story about how the Merry Maidens stones were formed. The legend says that nineteen young women were turned into stone. This happened because they were dancing on a Sunday, which was considered wrong. The name Dans Maen (Stone Dance) fits this story perfectly.
The Pipers' Story
The two large stones known as The Pipers are said to be the musicians. They were playing music for the dancing maidens. A more detailed version of the story explains why The Pipers are so far from the Maidens. It says the pipers heard the church clock in St Buryan strike midnight. They realized they were breaking the Sabbath (Sunday) and ran away. But the maidens kept dancing without music, and that's when they turned to stone.
Other Stone Legends
Stories about people turning into stone are common for stone circles. You can find similar legends at other nearby sites. For example, there are the Tregeseal Dancing Stones and the Nine Maidens of Boskednan. Further away, on Bodmin Moor, are The Hurlers and Pipers. Another old tradition says The Pipers were put there to remember two leaders, Howel and Æthelstan. They died in a battle in the 900s.
Researching the Merry Maidens
People have been studying the Merry Maidens for a long time. The first detailed look was by an expert named William Borlase in 1769. He also mentioned another large stone circle nearby. However, this second circle was gone by the end of the 1800s.
Modern Studies
In 1872, William Copeland Borlase, a relative of the elder Borlase, wrote a more detailed description. Later, in 1932, Hugh O’Neill Hencken provided the first modern scientific view of the site. A more recent study was done by John Barnatt in 1982. Today, experts believe there were originally 18 standing stones. In the mid-1800s, new stones were added to try and rebuild the circle. But they weren't put in the right places or in the correct number. Also, some of the original stones were moved. This is why the stone circle looks the way it does today.
Images for kids
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The Merry Maidens
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The Merry Maidens
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The Merry Maidens engraved by W. & G. Cooke in 1804
