Jerry Cartlidge
logans rock
Not so much a legend but a forgotten fact. The story of the Logan Rock of Treen is unusual to say the least. The Logan Rock is a massive granite rock weighing about 80 tons. It lies perched on the cliffs about a mile from the small hamlet of Treen near Porthcurno on the south coast of Penwith, Cornwall. Due to the action of erosion over the countless centuries since the formation of the cliffs the rock now lies finely balanced. In its original state the rock could be rocked by applying only a little pressure at the correct point. 'Logan' or 'rocking stones' are not uncommon, being found mainly in areas of granite moorland and limestone. However the claim to fame of this one is that it has been replaced after being pulled down by one infamous Lieutenant Goldsmith in April 1824. For many, many years the Logan Rock had been a tourist attraction. With the advent of trains and more particularly the Great Western Railway, tourist trade grew and so did the mystery of the Logan Rock. Lt. Goldsmith was a Royal Navy sailor in charge of the cutter HMS Nimble. He was sent to attach a warning buoy at the nearby Runnelstone Reef off Gwennap Head. After several other failed attempts Lt. Goldsmith and his crew were successful. Why they now turned their attention inland is unknown. Did they wish to 'make a name for themselves' who knows?
Lt. Goldsmith and some of his crew set off to view the cliffs around Treen ostensibly to look for smugglers hideouts and caves. Why they took with them a number of bars and levers is unknown but their intention soon became very clear. Arriving at the Logan Rock they set about rocking the huge boulder, making it sway until finally it fell from its pivot and crashed down the cliffs. The people of Cornwall horrified by such an act, asked the Admiralty to strip Lt. Goldsmith of his commision unless he promised to reinstate the rock to its former position 'at his own expense'. The Royal Naval base at Plymouth offered to help the lieutenant with his task so as to quell the considerable local unrest about this act of 'vandalism'. It took several months and scores of local riggers and labourers to build the structure to replace the rock. It is known that the rock was finally replaced at 4.20pm on Tuesday 2nd November 1824. The rock may have taken a few minutes to dislodge but the whole enterprise of replacing the rock took at least 60 men almost SEVEN months to do. The cost in 1824 was over £130 - what would it cost these days?
logans rock
Not so much a legend but a forgotten fact. The story of the Logan Rock of Treen is unusual to say the least. The Logan Rock is a massive granite rock weighing about 80 tons. It lies perched on the cliffs about a mile from the small hamlet of Treen near Porthcurno on the south coast of Penwith, Cornwall. Due to the action of erosion over the countless centuries since the formation of the cliffs the rock now lies finely balanced. In its original state the rock could be rocked by applying only a little pressure at the correct point. 'Logan' or 'rocking stones' are not uncommon, being found mainly in areas of granite moorland and limestone. However the claim to fame of this one is that it has been replaced after being pulled down by one infamous Lieutenant Goldsmith in April 1824. For many, many years the Logan Rock had been a tourist attraction. With the advent of trains and more particularly the Great Western Railway, tourist trade grew and so did the mystery of the Logan Rock. Lt. Goldsmith was a Royal Navy sailor in charge of the cutter HMS Nimble. He was sent to attach a warning buoy at the nearby Runnelstone Reef off Gwennap Head. After several other failed attempts Lt. Goldsmith and his crew were successful. Why they now turned their attention inland is unknown. Did they wish to 'make a name for themselves' who knows?
Lt. Goldsmith and some of his crew set off to view the cliffs around Treen ostensibly to look for smugglers hideouts and caves. Why they took with them a number of bars and levers is unknown but their intention soon became very clear. Arriving at the Logan Rock they set about rocking the huge boulder, making it sway until finally it fell from its pivot and crashed down the cliffs. The people of Cornwall horrified by such an act, asked the Admiralty to strip Lt. Goldsmith of his commision unless he promised to reinstate the rock to its former position 'at his own expense'. The Royal Naval base at Plymouth offered to help the lieutenant with his task so as to quell the considerable local unrest about this act of 'vandalism'. It took several months and scores of local riggers and labourers to build the structure to replace the rock. It is known that the rock was finally replaced at 4.20pm on Tuesday 2nd November 1824. The rock may have taken a few minutes to dislodge but the whole enterprise of replacing the rock took at least 60 men almost SEVEN months to do. The cost in 1824 was over £130 - what would it cost these days?