Finding Inspiration
by Mary Anne Yarde
I have always been interested in standing stones. I have visited Stonehenge and Avebury Stone Circle, countless times. But while writing The Du Lac Princess, I was drawn to Cornwall and a very special ancient monument that has inspired several myths. Let me introduce you to…
The Hurlers
Are you ready for a story? I thought so!
It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for playing a game of hurling on Bodmin Moor. The men set out with their sticks and their ball ready to enjoy a friendly game. They were laughing and joking, placing bets on which side would win. They got themselves ready, and were about to start when something terrible happened…
You see these men had forgotten that it was Sunday, It was the Lord’s Day. This was the day of rest. But alas, it was too late. The hurlers were turned to stone. A just punishment? Or a story to frightened the locals into observing the Sabbath?
But the hurlers were not the only ones to be turned into stone.
Now, it is said that the best place to practice playing your pipes is out in the open. Two such pipers decided to take a stroll on Bodmin Moor and feeling so inspired by the beauty that surrounded them, they decided to play a tune on their pipes. But like the hurlers, they had forgotten what day it was, and before they knew it, they too had been turned to stone.
The stones are in fact a fine example of a late Neolithic / early Bronze age Stone Circle, but what makes the Hurlers really interesting is that this stone circle is not one circle, it is three, and that makes the Hurlers unique.
I was very excited to visit the Hurlers, and they didn’t disappoint, and they even made it into The Du Lac Princess ~ how could I leave something so special out?
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