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| What remains of Daniel Gumb's cave. |
Yesterday I was thinking about Daniel Gumb and his elegant carvings on gravestones. Daniel lived on Bodmin Moor in North Cornwall literally on the moor in a cave with quite a few children. I had hunted out
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| The Hurler circles are large. Seen in the mist and the stones become humanlike |
information on him, and there was plenty for this mathematician who carved geometry on top of the cave. This 18th century poor man, made the most of what he had, and lived his life, truly inspirational.
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| The gray and stony moor his family looked out on. |
Bodmin Moor is bleak, I met this moor one very rainy day as Paul and I drove down to stay for a few days. We arrived at the little village of Minions and drove into the small car park with the rain literally pissing down. I leapt out of the car much to Paul's anguish about the rain and walked to see the famous three circles of the Hurlers with the tor in the distance. Stone circles have a magic, even in the rain, they stand for thousands of years, drawing you close as you enter their mystery. We design everything square but once the circle ruled, copying the sun and moon these two objects in the sky that dictated the lives of our prehistoric ancestors.
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| St.Melor's Church, Linkinhorne |
Daniel must have walked through them as well as he made his way back from the village to his cave home, where no taxes were paid. An artistic rebel he made his life what he wanted it to be.
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| A genius amongst the grave stones? |
We went to the church in Linkinhorne, where you can find some of his carved gravestones. The experience was highlighted by the great owl that suddenly flew past chased by crows I think, obviously had intentions on the young, it was April and cold!
His carving is delicate and yet the Celtic swirls remind you that he must have swallowed reams of knowledge from books that he got from the clergy when he was a boy. His Euclid equation carved on the top of the great flat stone that topped the cave, here atop his mansion he would sit and contemplate the stars and presumably just think.
I suppose he came to mind because I am listening to Nomadland, different people in a different era, forced by economic circumstance to wander America and work for the likes of Amazon. Choice has been made to live their lives as seen fit for purpose.
Poverty or wealth afflicts us all, have you ever thought of winning the lottery, but think of all the work entailed if you won. How to distribute equally, who to give it to. In the end you only need a roof over your head, warmth and food the rest is just surplus to requirements.
I feel very different about winning the lottery in old age than when I was younger and just starting out. I have lived a rich and full life and would have fun giving it all away to good causes.
ReplyDeleteTrue it would be fun, but also filling a hole that was always bottomless. Cynical soul that I am Tabor.
DeleteI pity Gumb's poor family. Imagine Winters in that pile of stones. Near Waverly Abbey in Surrey, there is a spacious cave called Mother Ludlam's Hole. Nobody knows if the witch Mother Ludlam ever really existed, close to it there was a small hole cut out of the hard sand which was home to a recluse called Father Foote. I used to know a man who lived in a shed on an allotment here, but he ended it all by jumping in the river. A lottery win might have helped him.
ReplyDeleteI have just noted the 'plug and feather' holes on the edge of the stone top left. These were pins used to neatly split stone. I wonder if he did it or a quarry worker did.
DeleteSorry, me again. I have just read the previous blog which says he worked at the quarry...
DeleteYes the three stone circles are close to the Cheesewring Tor, which had been quarried for a time, some of the cave stone must have been used as well. The 'breaking' of stone is interesting, Avebury medieval period used fire of course. I also agree about the poor children, sadly no birth control in those days, they must have lived a cold life up on the moors. There is a settlement on top of the Cheesewring which probably relates to the stone circles, the layers of life and history a palimpsest of events.
DeleteAnd of course Tom his children seemed to have survived I had a comment from a direct descendant of Daniel. In America ....
Delete"Hello Thelma - Very interesting post about my direct relative, Daniel. He must have been a fascinating man and I've always wonder what he could have achieved had he been born into a family with wealth, he could have been a great man but he still has a very fascinating legacy none the less! Most of his descendants that I've been in contact with through my family history research have ended up in Australia rather than America. For my own line I'm descended through his son John 1744, Daniel 1778 and Elizabeth 1812. Elizabeth married Samuel Doney and my line eventually moved to Durham in 1871, no doubt for the work available in the coal mines. I was born in Durham but, strangely enough, emigrated to America when I was 27! What I like most about Daniel was the wry sense of humour exhibited in his own self-carved epitaph at Linkinhorne church. I think it says a lot about him personally."
Here I lie by the churchyard door
Here I lie because I'm poor
The further in, the more you pay
But here lie I as warm as they.
I planted a memorial stone at a church on the banks of Loch Lomond once. The area was/is comprised of two families who had been feuding for hundreds of years, as Scotsmen tend to do. The graveyard was divided into two separate sections, one for each family. Even in death...
DeleteYou bring up such interesting characters Thelma - don't ever stop blogging - I get such a lot of information fron you
ReplyDeleteI have always found Cornwall bleak but probably because we went more to the North than South Pat, but it is full of stories especially about saints, who sailed round the coast from Wales.
DeleteI can't get over the idea of living with 9 children and a husband in that cave. Poor Mrs. Gumb!
ReplyDeleteI suspect that she sent them out to play on the moors Ellen ;) But you can see that some survived this harsh environment.
DeleteAs usual I learn something new from your blog. The letterwork on the gravestones is fine - a dying art (forgive the terrible pun) I expect
ReplyDeleteHe is quite a hero of mine, Cornwall is so far away from everything else in Britain but he followed his trade and made a life that was individual.
DeleteWhen I downsized first I had one bedroom worth. When I downsized the second time I had a little more. Better kitchen equipment, for example. I intended to keep it at that, but in two years I've filled a closet with clothes.
ReplyDeleteClothes are not a great need for me Joanne, I have fallen into that terrible habit of jeans and t-shirts. But having less is a great relief, the responsibility of owning stuff nags at my conscience.
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