Piskey’s Hall is a small fogou which shows many of the classical signs: a main passage orientated towards the south west, an apparent creep passage and what looks like a former side passage. There is no sign of any former associated dwellings; evidence no doubt having been destroyed by generations of farming.

It lies just outside Constantine near Trewardeva House. It is 100m from a road and visible in a little hawthorn grove – of course – as a hump alongside a drystone wall.

The main passage is relatively short – about 10m – but rewarding for there is a most enormous capping stone worthy of a dolmen or passage grave in Brittany.

Sadly, the far end of the passage and creep has long ago decayed although some signs are visible from the exterior.

Have sympathy with the farmers. The field in which the fogou sits is often inhabited by cattle and, over the years, they have done damage to the entrance and the site has been a slight dumping ground for equipment, pieces of timber etc. It is good to see (in 2023) that the farmer has very helpfully put up an electric fence which should discourage cattle from looking and allow the vegetation to re-grow. Controlling the vegetation may be a different problem.

Compare the following images to get an idea of the changing nature of the entrance.

As you stand here, you will understand something of the landscape choices our ancestors made. Around you is a wonderful series of valleys which are barely inhabited by man today. Alongside are the remains of granite quarries and yet those masons left the fogou alone. Why?

Oh, and the OS map calls it Pixie’s Hall but we all know that in Cornwall we only get piskey’s and so Piskey’s Hall it is.

The fogou can be found here.