The Arthur Stone at Slaughterbridge, the legendary Camlann

Arthur Stone at Slaughterbridge, the legendary Camlann

I first saw the famous Arthur Stone in the 1990s and had failed to get a photo of it. I had been meaning to go back but had been a little put off by the idea of the 'visitor attraction' Arthurian Centre now on the site. At last, in August 2007, I did return on a day sunny enough to get a photo of sorts, not easy in its heavily wooded valley site.

The stone, a memorial stone, probably of the early 6th century, may once have stood on a mound above the River Camel only to be cast down to its riverside position after the Saxons defeated the Cornish here in AD823. Its inscription reads LATINI IC IACIT FILIUS MA[…]RI but what makes it unusual is that an Ogham inscription, now illegible, also contains the name Latini. Nothing about Arthur here; the association comes from the legend that Slaughterbridge was Camlann, the site of Arthur's death at the hands of Mordred, somewhere around AD540.

The Arthurian Centre contains a romanticised exhibition and video but does bring together most of the Arthurian literature. On the way from there to the stone I was fascinated by the archaeological dig of Melorn village, once part of the Worthyvale estate (the Tudor house still stands) and by the restoration of Lady Falmouth's Garden by the river. The stone and the archaeology make the �3 charge for a visit well worthwhile.

The Arthur Stone lies by the infant River Camel

On B3314, � mile east of B3266 Camelford - Boscastle

I strongly recommend looking at two websites for much more detailed information. Joe Parsons' (could it have been his ancestors who farmed Lord Falmouth's estate here in the early 18th century?) excellent and highly detailed Arthur-Online site; and archaeologist Nick Hanks' own informative site about his digs of Melorn village and Lady Falmouth's Garden.