Carn-Menellis

CARN-MENELLIS, an ecclesiastical district, in the parish of Wendron, union of Helston, W. division of the hundred of Kerrier and of the county of Cornwall; containing about 3000 inhabitants. This district, the centre of which is about six miles north-east from Helston, comprises 5330 acres of land, standing high, for the most part poor and uncultivated, and chiefly of a mining character; the turnpike-road from Truro and Penryn to Helston forms the south-eastern boundary. Numerous small tin-mines are wrought, and there are some considerable tin stream-works. The district was constituted in December, 1845, under the act 6th and 7th Victoria, cap. 37: divine service is at present performed in a licensed schoolroom. There are several places of worship for dissenters. On the top of Carn-Menellis hill are some hollowed stones, usually termed Druidical altars; also a huge barrow or mound of stones, which forms the apex of the eminence; and in the north of the district are nine large upright stones in a circle, called the "Nine Maidens," popularly said to have been girls turned into stone for dancing upon a Sunday.