Matthew Shaw (Member no: 00)
Boswens Menhir
One of those amazing moments when everything joins up, the stones themselves speak and the ancient landscape opens up
I first spotted this standing stone last year, it appeared to me, prominent on the hill across from Tregeseal stone circle. Denzil Monk told me more about the stone, and the different approaches to get to it. Denzil’s advice led me straight to the stone and what a stone it is! Standing looking at the stone with Carn Kenidjack beyond, Boswens takes on a human form, as if a shrouded figure looks across this landscape. This form reminding me of the King Stone close to the Rollright Stones as well as various stones at Avebury. Then just before leaving I notice the alignment to Chûn Quoit on the brow of the hill beyond. One of those amazing moments when everything joins up, the stones themselves speak and the ancient landscape opens up.
After the visit I met up with Denzil and we chatted about the landscape and alignments between the sites. It turned into us meeting regularly at one site and walking together to another.
Such is the pull of this stone that not only did Denzil use it as the logo for his film production company Bosena, but also in Enys Men. Enys Men is the new film from Mark Jenkin and Boswens is one of the main characters in the film. We were lucky enough to be invited to the UK premiere of Enys Men last week along with the cast and crew. This is the most Stone Club of all movies. Or at least one of the best. Mary Woodvine plays the lead and is incredible. Ed Rowe equally brilliant in his supporting role. Mark has created a haunting work of art, more of a dream than a waking narrative, as mysterious, intriguing, some might say even weird but I would say masterful in it’s development of the plot and the use of landscape, peeling back layers of history throughout. To walk the talk this well shows the genius at work here. Mark Jenkin has excelled himself. The talk, or rather Q&A after the film is highly informative and entertaining. I can’t wait for the soundtrack lp Mark!
Nearest Town: Penzance (7km E)
OS Ref (GB): SW400328 / Sheet: 203
Latitude: 50° 8' 15.11" N
Longitude: 5° 38' 20.63" W
There will be preview screenings + Q&As happening in Cornwall, Devon & Bristol from Jan 2nd 2023
• Monday 2 January (7.30pm): Newlyn Filmhouse
• Tuesday 3 January: (7.30pm): Savoy Cinema, Penzance
• Wednesday 4 January (5.45pm) Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay
• Wednesday 4 January (8.30pm) Plaza Cinema, Truro
• Thursday 5 January (5.45pm), Capitol Cinema, Bodmin
• Thursday 5 January (8.30pm) Regal Cinema, Wadebridge
• Friday 6 January (6.30pm) Picturehouse, Exeter
• Saturday 7 January (5.30pm) Watershed, Bristol
Bookings can be made either via the host venue or by visiting www.enysmen.co.uk.
