The Tolmen Stone

9 x 12.5 cm

Wood engraving

The Tolmen Stone is a large boulder near the riverbank of the North Teign River, lying close to Scorhill Stone Circle on Dartmoor. The name Tolmen is thought to come from two Celtic words: “Tol” meaning hole and “maen” meaning a stone. So Tolmen literally means “holed stone”.

Over thousands of years, the North Teign River has eroded a large hole through the stone. The diameter of the circle is almost a metre wide. According to local folklore, the stone has many healing qualities. If you pass through the hole it is said that you will be protected from rheumatic illness, children passing through the hole will grow up healthy and if a couple clench hands through the hole they will have everlasting love bestowed on them. Choose carefully when to pass through the stone as you may get very wet!

These prints are original wood engravings. I engrave on boxwood or lemon wood blocks using traditional hand tools. Then I ink up the block and print the edition one at a time. Each print is an original artist print.

No. of prints in edition: 50

This print is made using Lawrence Original Linseed Oil Relief Ink. The formulas used to create these inks have been in use for hundreds of years and are “free from animal-based or derived ingredients, made with linseed oil, not honey or gelatine”. The paper is archival and acid free.

Each print is signed, dated and editioned in pencil below the image.