Stones of England - The Pipers standing stones

The Pipers

Standing Stones
Cornwall
Nearest town: Penzance Nearest village: Trewoofe Map reference: SW 435248

One of the two Pipers, who were traditionally turned to stone for a transgression against the Sabbath. It is the tallest stone in Cornwall

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The Pipers are two tall stones lying in a field not far from the Merry Maidens stone circle. Local tradition tells that 19 maidens were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday to the music of two pipers, who were also petrified for their transgression of the Sabbath.
The first of the two stones is 320m to the north-east of the circle: it is 4.6m (15ft) high and is the tallest stone in Cornwall. The other Piper is almost 100m (328ft) up the hill: it is 4.2m (13ft 7in) high and is not visible from its stone partner. It is worth noting that these standing stones were never visible from the circle even after an inconvenient stone wall was temporarily removed to facilitate an astronomical survey. In contrast, the Goon Rith standing stone, 2.7m high, is plainly visible to the west of the Merry Maidens circle.

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