Holed stones were also viewed as gateways. The holed stone above is called ‘Men a Tol’ - a Cornish name meaning ‘stone of hole.’ It is roughly twelve feet in circumference. The hole in its centre is large enough for a person to crawl through.

This holed stone in conjunction with the other standing stones near it may have been used as an astronomical device. It has been noted this site with its holed stone and dolmans, along with other standing stone sites in this area are orientated on the major southern standstill moonrise.

Holed stones were thought to promote healing and fertility. Even well into the eighteenth century the holed stones were believed to have curative powers. Crawling through the stone was thought to provide a cure for various ailments and diseases. They were also thought to augment psychic vision. Looking through the hole in the center, one could be endowed with “second sight.”

The photo above was taken by Rt. Rev. John Merron, AU, of London, UK, during a trip to Devon and Cornwall in 2007. John is an ArchPriest, ArchDruid, Grand Knight Commander and Hierophant in the Fellowship of Isis. Photo © John Merron, all rights reserved. Used by permission.