Swinside stone circle was constructed from local slate slabs on a foundation of packed pebbles some 5,000 years before you were born. Such monuments have been constructed in many parts of the world throughout history for many different reasons. The stone circle at castlerigg is situated near keswick in cumbria, north west england. Like castlerigg, it dates from the neolithic period and its entrance seems to line up with the midwinter sunset. If you are new to the series, i imagine this makes the story pretty baffling. When one thinks of stone circles, the likelihood is that stonehenge and avebury are the first that come to mind. Sunkenkirk stone circle walking the cumbrian mountains. Castlerigg, cockpit, swinside and burnmoor stone circles in the lake district are all free to visit. The stones are up to 10 feet 3 metres high and form what appears to be virtually a perfect circle, with an entrance on the south east. Last year i bought a book on stone circles in the lake district, but still never got around to visiting the more out of the way ones. This littlevisited stone circle is one of the finest in britain. The best known tradition of stone circle construction occurred across the british isles and brittany in the late neolithic and early bronze age, with over surviving examples, including avebury, the ring of.
Descriptions, images and how to get there, and other stone age. Burl has written a good book, but has missed out many stone circles and. This book makes many allusions to the first book in the series. This is a fantastic stone circle that stands on a small plateau of land with thwaites fell to the north and more closely overlooked by swinside fell to the west which gives the site its alternate name of swinside circle. There is a welldefined entrance at the southeast, where there are two portal stones outside the circumference. The stone circle, known as both sunkenkirk stone circle and swinside stone circle, measures approximately 28. For those who are enthralled by these enigmatic rings, this book offers fascinating. When people think of megalithic structures, there is a clear behemoth which undeniably dominates the history books stonehenge. An early description of castlerigg stone circle can be found in the 1843 book the wonders. The purpose of scotlands ancient stone circles is one of archaeologys most enduring mysteries. Sunkenkirk swinside stone circle north of hallthwaites. Burl presents historical considerations of the stone circles, updated with his own.
Perfect neolithic stone circle, diameter about 90 feet, comprising 55 stones. Swinside, which is also known as sunkenkirk and swineshead, is a stone circle lying beside swinside fell, part of black combe in southern cumbria, north west england. Derryarkane stone circle is an axial stone circle and national monument located in county cork, ireland. The circle is on private land but can normally be accessed. The 4 lake district stone circles stone age and bronze age. Sunkenkirk stone circle, 230m south east of swinside. Breeny more stone circle is an axial stone circle and national monument located in county cork, ireland. Dating from the bronze age swinside circle is one of the best preserved in the county. Cumbria, however, is one of the most densely populated regions for these prehistoric marvels, and also contains some of the most complete stone circles in england even today the purpose of these stones remains a mystery. Earth the strange origin of scotlands stone circles bbc. Also known as sunkenkirk, from a legend that folk tried to build a church there. There are few stone circles in britain in such a dramatic setting as that of castlerigg, which overlooks the thirlmere valley with the mountains of high seat and.
One of around 1,300 recorded stone circles in the british isles and brittany, it was constructed as a part of a megalithic tradition that lasted from 3,300 to 900 bc, during what archaeologists categorise as the late neolithic and. Kate murdochs stone circle is a stunning historical fantasy debut set in renaissance italy, packed with rich imagery, welldeveloped characters, and an. History of castlerigg stone circle english heritage. A stone circle is a monument of stones arranged in a circle or ellipse. Author john malam studied ancient history and archaeology and worked as an. As one of the first such sites to enter into such an agreement it occupies a small place in the history of archaeological conservation. The circle stands far from the main a595 road and nearly a mile from a back road that leads north from close to the village of halltwaites to cragg hall. I bought a few books about stone circles to help me with a possible design.