Sperris Quoit

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

Sperris Quoit is a collapsed burial chamber (dolmen), a megalithic monument, known as a Penwith Chamber Tomb.

It is situated on Zennor Hill, on the high moorland of the Land's End peninsula a short distance from Zennor Quoit (400 yards/365 metres away).

The quoit dates from the Neolithic period and could be anything from 4000 to 7000 years old.

It was described by the historian and antiquarian, William Borlase, in his 1769 book 'Observations on the Antiquities, Historical and Monumental, of the County of Cornwall', when it was much more complete than it is today. It is thought that at some time in the 19th century the quoit was ransacked to use its stones for building materials in Zennor and in local mines.

The site was rediscovered by Charles Thomas and Wakes and excavated in 1954 by Charles Thomas, who discovered a small pit which showed evidence of a burial of cremated remains. Five stones were identified. Thomas also found flint, charcoal and fragments of pottery. There is a south facing antechamber.

It stands within a shallow, oval barrow which as an approx. diameter of 39 ft (12 metres). Most of the stones are broken or missing but one remains upright and is around 5ft (1.5 metres) high.

Sperris Quoit is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It has also been known as the Giant's Rock.

To access Sperris Quoit, park at Zennor and take the public footpath which leaves the B3306, just up the hill from the exit road from Zennor Churchtown.

Location:
Land's End Peninsula

Grid reference
SW 4709 3826

Road directions to Sperris Quoit

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