Although I have been living on Lundy for over three years now and visiting for many more, I have never known of the existence of the granite punchbowl. I knew of Punchbowl valley just West of Pondsbury, but considered it a feature of the terrain.

This all changed as when on one of my participatory art walks we met Debbie Cartwright at the Elbow of Lundy. After her colleague Andrew Collins explained the significance of the Elbow, Debbie mentioned the location of the the ‘punchbowl’ A granite stone also known as a ‘Bullaun’, ‘Turning stone’ or ‘Cursing stone’.

We were intrigued to see it so Renee led us to where this granite punchbowl was located. The granite bowl is about 3 feet wide and one foot in depth and consists of granite segments. It is currently lodged in the stream that runs down from Pondsbury.

‘No one is sure the origins of this bowl shaped piece of granite but many thories have been advanced. Originally complete, it was broken by workmen in the 19th century, repaired, broken again during the Second World War and repaired again by members of the Lundy Field Society.’ LFS

Questions arose within the group as to where it originally was sited and what it might have been used for. Their original purpose has many suggestions; being bowl shaped they would have naturally filled with water, and early Christians considered the water to have healing properties. Further suggestions are that these bowls may have been used for preparing ritual food in monastic times or maybe for the preparing of medicinal herbs.

As we moved away a bit of turf which covered the bowl, we could fully see the shape and segments, some of us touched the granite, others decided to draw a sketch. We all stayed for a while considering its use and location. We might have had different ideas of its purpose but we all agreed on the interest of the bowl.

Discovering the punchbowl not only deepened my appreciation for Lundy’s history but also sparked a sense of connection with those who were here before us.

References

http://www.lundyisleofavalon.co.uk/lundy/punchbowl.htm

Webster, C. (2023) Lundy’s Archaeology. A History and Field Guide, Lundy Field Society.