Whether the use of the number nine in relation to these stones can be traced back to the Bronze Age is a matter of personal interpretation but the idea that the name was a universal one given to these stones circles because of some mythical or ritual association is an interesting explanation. Nine was certainly a sacred number for the Celts, 3 times 3, the triple Goddess of maiden, mother and crone, and its use may well date back to a much earlier period when the circles were constructed.” “Nine as a number in a ritual context is first seen as far back as the Upper Palaeolithic area (c10,000BC) on a cave painting at Cogus in Spain which pictures nine women dancing in a circle. In her book, Pagan Cornwall, Cheryl Straffon suggests that the connection to the number runs deep into our ancient Celtic past. Nine was indeed a common number used in folklore rituals I have read of rocking a logan rock nine times at midnight in order to become a witch, curing a stye by rubbing it with gold nine times or passing through Men-an-tol or the Tolvern holed stone nine times to become pregnant or to cure some ailment. “You know, everyone hereabout uses nine in all their charms and many other matters.” The 19th century writer and collector of myths, William Bottrell, implies that there is some kind of magic associated with the number nine itself. According to Craig Weatherhill in his book Cornovia, two of its stones are now part of a modern wall.

There were once twin circles here but the second one which stood about 20m west of the Sisters has been almost completely destroyed. It is a circular circle (yes, I know but stone circles aren’t always round) and is roughly 16m in diameter. The uprights are fairly small, ranging from 0.8m to 1.2m (2.6ft to 4ft) tall. When Borlase visited here in c1760 there were ten stones remaining. The circle, known as the Nine Sisters, once had an estimated fourteen or fifteen stones but only six survive and two of those are now positioned in the nearby hedge.

You can also discover solitary menhirs, mysterious cup-marked stones, a tor enclosure at Carn Brea, Carwynnen quoit and Men Amber rock, as well as the remains of two ancient Bronze Age stone circles in the parish of Wendron. With a little investigation and a good map of the area you can find barrows, cairns and prehistoric settlements where you least expect, close to industrial estates or surrounded by modern housing.

Prehistoric Cornwall by John Barnatt