King Arthur’s Hall

Overview

King Arthur’s Hall is a mysterious rectangular enclosure which dominates the open moorland. The interior measures 48m x 21m internally (slightly smaller than an Olympic sized swimming pool) and scientific dating methods now confirm that its construction dates to the Neolithic era (5000 years old), with some probably re-use in the Iron Age (2500 years ago).

The substantial banks measure up to 10m wide and 2m high. They are formed of earth and stone which is likely to have been quarried from the interior, leaving the inside lower and prone to flooding.  A natural spring is possibly located towards the northern end, and perhaps capturing water in its interior was part of its early purpose.  Certainly, the marshy pool we sometimes see inside today has an ethereal quality as it reflects the light of the sky.

Large upright granite slabs line the inside faces of the banks, though many of these are missing – only 56 are still visible, some are leaning or fallen, and others may be concealed behind slumped bank material. It is estimated around 140 slabs would have been originally placed side by side.

Excavation in the early 20th century by the Rev Sabine Baring-Gould suggested paving in the north-western corner, but it is now thought more likely that he had simply reached bedrock.

Today there is a narrow entrance gap in the south-west corner, although this is probably not original. The function of this most unusual site has been the cause of much debate since the 16^th century. There is no doubt it would have had enormous significance to the Neolithic people who inhabited the area, with dramatic views of surrounding hill tops, including Roughtor, the Moor’s most significant tor-topped hill in prehistoric times. Perhaps the Hall was a prehistoric ceremonial or ritual gathering place. Other possibilities that have been considered in the past include: a prehistoric court of justice, early Christian church and a trap for wild animals, but most of these now have been discounted. Even though it is known as a ‘Hall’, it is believed to be too wide to have ever been roofed.

Perhaps over the millennia, it has been all of these things and more to the various communities occupying the moors. The 2022 excavations showed that a drainage channel had been cut in the south-west corner during the medieval period and the hall used as a reservoir at least until the 18th century. The purpose of this was to supply water via a series of channels, or ‘leats’ to tin streamworks at nearby Leaze.

Historical Significance

King Arthur’s Hall is an incredibly rare type of monument, there’s nothing else quite like it in England. Its long rectangular shape, lined with standing stones, is very unusual for the Neolithic period. Most monuments from this time are circular, like stone circles or henges. The fact that this site has survived for over 5,000 years makes it even more special. It shows that people living on Bodmin Moor thousands of years ago were building large, complex structures, possibly for important ceremonies or gatherings. The site has also been reused in later periods, including during medieval times, which adds more layers to its story and shows how the landscape kept its importance through the ages.