TREWORTHA BRONZE AGE FARM
Trewortha farm lies in Twelve Men’s Moor on Bodmin Moor and is in the middle of a complete Bronze Age funerary landscape. Close by lies a hut circle and five hundred yards a way is a Bronze Age settlement with hut circles and walls.
The valley is littered with cairns, chambered cairns, round barrows and more recently discovered, by Tony Blackman, propped stones, similar to quoits, but with smaller propping stones, probably of Neolithic origin. There are also some interesting stone alignments, and all this is set against the dramatic backdrop of the granite skyline.
Trewortha Valley
This map shows the two medieval field systems in the centre of the map, and the prehistoric field systems with the contemporary round houses and burials. The map is based on the Bodmin Moor survey of archeological sites.
The Trewortha valley is even more interesting when looked at in the context of the entire Bodmin moor Bronze Age landscape. Saddled between the two tors, Trewortha and Kilmar whose rugged outlines can be seen from a great distance.
There seems to be a strong connection between high ground, tors and the barrows, and on the tor itself one of the Neolithic propped stones is aligned with one of the two most prominent features on the northern horizon, a hill top twelve miles away called Brown Willy.
Three miles to the south lies the complete Bronze Age landscape of Craddock Moor,
with large areas of settlement with ceremonial monuments, and a whole array of burial cairns, (which include the Rillaton barrow), an embanked avenue, a stone row and four stone circles, three of which make up the Hurlers. Also included is Stowe's Pound, a hill top enclosure, which was built around the tor called the Cheesewring during the late Neolithic period.The weather in the early/middle Bronze Age was generally warmer than today and some time around 1200BC there was a rapid deterioration in the climate. Two of the more interesting theories about the cause are a volcanic eruption or the impact of a comet, with the resulting atmospheric pollution affecting the weather patterns.
Bodmin Moor and many other high moors became untenable for agriculture, and were abandoned. It's also from this time that the peat starts to form and is probably why the Bronze Age landscape remains so well preserved today.The farm consists of three round houses with the largest still under construction. The farm is mainly used for educational purposes, from schools to archaeology societies, and more recently has offered practical workshops.
Liz and Graham Lawrence, the owners, and Tony Blackman started it as a project in 1996, and I was delighted to become the resident Bronze Age metal worker. Where else can you cast a bronze axe without hearing a car or looking at the twentieth century? This year I am pleased to be able to offer the unique experience of casting your own bronze sword in a bronze age setting.
INDIVIDUAL SWORD CASTING WORKSHOP
A unique opportunity to open a window on the past.
Cast your own bronze sword using charcoal, inside a roundhouse in a Bronze Age landscape on Bodmin Moor, without a car in sight or sound. The workshop lasts all day, and involves carving your own mould from a soft ceramic material. It is quite involved and requires basic craft skills and reasonable hand to eye coordination.
Once the mould is carved and assembled, we use bellows and charcoal to melt the authentic bronze alloy, and with my assistance you will pour the bronze into the mould. Once the bronze has set, you will be allowed to cool the mould in the pond before opening it: freeing your own bronze sword from the mould has got to be one of the most exciting and magical experiences.
The location of Tre-wortha Farm on Bodmin Moor makes this a unique Bronze Age experience that cannot be rivalled anywhere in Britain. The sword cast is 23.5 inches long and is based on the Ewart Park style: the casting will require further finishing, and bronze rivets are supplied, along with designs for handles and scabbards
As we are so far from anywhere a picnic lunch is provided, which includes tea/coffee, and it is recommended you book your own B+B at the same time as we agree dates (click here for info). An ordinance survey map and direction will be forwarded on receipt of deposit.
The places are very limited and the price £200 This workshop is on a one or two - to - one basis with the tutor, and can only be booked though Bronze Age Craft and will necessitate a non-returnable deposit of one hundred pounds per person.
The farm is privately owned and can be viewed by appointment only. A small fee is charged to help with the upkeep of the farm.
Map ref SX-241- 753
