The circle is also known as sunkenkirk after a legend that the devil made the stones sink into the ground to prevent them being used to build a churchs foundation. Swinside stone circle is one of the most impressive, and at the same time, one of the least visited, stone circles in britain. Sunkenkirk stone circle, 230m south east of swinside is a wellpreserved and excellent example of a rare monument type. 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. 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. Jul 25, 2017 the stone circles of wales and the fascinating reasons behind them. In gentle isolation about a mile along a farm track, swinside, also known as sunkenkirk, stone circle is a lovely wellpreserved circle with a charm of its own.
Swinside stone circle was constructed from local slate slabs on a foundation of packed pebbles some 5,000 years before you were born. View all hotels near swinside stone circle on tripadvisor. The great prehistoric structure is enclosed within a circular ditch 300 ft 91 m in diameter, with a bank on the inner side, and is approached by a broad. This practical and knowledgeable guidebook deals comprehensively with the stone circles of britain and ireland and with the cromlechs and megalithic horseshoes of brittany. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. The best known examples include those at the henge monument at avebury, the rollright stones and elements within the ring of standing stones at. Very often, burial sites are in the circle, or nearby. Burl concludes by reconstructing the social history of swinside in the lake district, describing the builders, their way of life, and the ceremonies they performed inside their. Descriptions, images and how to get there, and other stone age. 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 bce, during what archaeologists categorise as the late neolithic.
Sunkenkirk swinside stone circle north of hallthwaites. Romance, sagas, short stories, spy story, suspense, technothriller. Her most recent series is the suddenly supernatural group of four books, which i think is one of the absolutely best and most creative modern girlghostadventure series available. The group and some of its individual members have also been associated with, written or been responsible for, the publication of books of local and general historical interest, most of which have formed the basis of talks, eg. This is one of several stone circles amongst the fells of cumberland, which include the castlerigg stone circle and long meg and her daughters. Drombeg stone circle rosscarbery, ireland atlas obscura.
Aug 01, 2001 first off, bear in mind that elizabeth cody kimmel writes wildly different types of books from year to year. It is made of several standing stones, usually menhirs that are arranged in a certain way. Posts about swinside stone circle written by lapoubelle1969. Sunkenkirk was featured in episode three of bbcs history of ancient britain. Out of an estimated 60 original stones, 55 survive. The swinside stone circle is aubrey burls favourite. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons. Stone circles are prehistoric monuments comprising one or more circles of upright or recumbent stones.
The circle stands in a superb setting amongst a mountain backdrop on artificially raised ground five miles north of the town of millom. The stone circles of wales and the fascinating reasons behind them. It is found to the right of a footpath up a track to thwaites fell not far north o. 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 examples still surviving to this day, including famous examples. Swinside stone circle broughton in furness 2020 all you. Day we will spend today in the western lake district taking in the collection of burnmoor stone circles, gretigate stone circles and the swinside stone circle, consisting of 55 stones at the foot of black combe and dating from the bronze age.
The drombeg stone circle is a little over an hour from cork, ireland by car. Todays short walk cannot be described as a fell walk but it is interesting nevertheless. This littlevisited stone circle is one of the finest in britain. The english lake district stone circles sky and landscape. The best known tradition of stone circle construction occurred across the british isles and brittany, france in the late neolithic and early bronze age.
Stone circle simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It is not as well known as castlerigg, for instance, as it is well off the beaten track, but at 28. Swinside stone circle, which dates from the bronze age, is one of the most impressive stone circles in the lake district or cumbria and is considered to be amongst the finest in europe. The stone circles of wales and the fascinating reasons. My first novel, circles of stone, the fist book in the mother people series, was published when i was 65, and i have been writing novels ever since. They are commonly found across northern europe and great britain, and typically date from the late neolithic and early bronze age eras, with most concentrations appearing from 3000 bce. This new edition includes a section on druidical circles, romantic creations of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. See more ideas about history, archaeology and ancient history. It is older and much bigger than its more famous cousin it is in fact the largest stone circle in the world, and is part of a much larger ritual complex that includes the long. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new.
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. Burl presents historical considerations of the stone circles, updated with his own and. Swinside, which is also known as sunkenkirk and swineshead, is a stone circle lying beside. Our great british lake district has some of the most beautiful and dramatic mountain landscapes and seascapes in britain and its ancient, mystical and historical sites are second to none. Seventy metal books found in cave in jordan could change our view of biblical history. Thousands of years ago, people in britain painstakingly arranged huge blocks of stone into careful circles. Preeminent among megalithic monuments in the british isles, it is similar to an older and larger monument at avebury, some 20 mi 30 km away. Swinside stone circle broughton in furness 2020 all.
Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and posters at. Fables, fictions, facts first edition by aubrey burl isbn. Oct 31, 2011 swinside stone circle, cumbria walk for 20 minutes up a lonely track and there, in a field, is a magical stone circle 90ft across, consisting of 55 irregular monolithic stones. They are commonly found across northern europe and great britain and typically date from the late neolithic and early bronze age eras, with most concentrations appearing from 3000 bc. The most famous of these rings is stonehenge, but elsewhere in england there are remains of other aweinspiring prehistoric stone circles as well. 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. Sunkenkirk stone circle, 230m south east of swinside, millom. First off, bear in mind that elizabeth cody kimmel writes wildly different types of books from year to year.
A stone circle is a monument of stones arranged in a circle or ellipse. I think we found the only clear sky in the whole of cumbria today after a morning of heavy rain, the late afternoon skies began to clear for a short walk to swinside stone circle. Jun 17, 2019 the independent books puzzles indy100. The value of the monument is not only held in its above ground structural form, but also in its below ground archaeological deposits contained within features such as. The neolithic swinside stone circle sunkenkirk stone circle. Swinside circle is one of the best preserved in the count yand is one of the three most important. Swinside stone circle, cumbria walk for 20 minutes up a lonely track and there, in a field, is a magical stone circle 90ft across, consisting of 55 irregular monolithic 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. Swinside stone circle, in the lake district, england. Discover nine ladies stone circle in stanton lees, england.
Swinside stone circle, england bryn cader faner, north wales. Dating from the bronze age swinside circle is one of the best preserved in the county. Nine ladies stone circle stanton lees, england atlas. Feb 19, 2015 twentyfive miles north of stonehenge lies the neolithic stone circle of avebury. List of books and articles about stonehenge online.
A stone circle is a circular alignment of standing stones. Possibly the best of all the circles in cumbria and thankfully fairly easy to get to. Sunkenkirk stone circle walking the cumbrian mountains. Legend says this littleknown stone circle is formed from people petrified as punishment for dancing on the sabbath. Oct 06, 2016 swinside stone circle, in the lake district, england.
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. A couple of years ago we got talking to a farmer near by who told us he had some. Swinside, which is also known as sunkenkirk and swineshead, is a stone circle found beside swinside fell, part of black combe in southern cumberland, dating from the neolithic age. Swinside stone circle and the archaeological survey of the duddon. Swinside stone circle is widely regarded as one of the finest in europe, if not the world. Although the circle is located on private ground, it can easily be viewed from a nearby public footpath. Sunkenkirk stone circle, 230m south east of swinside. Swinside is a spectacular cumbrian stone circle, approximately 28 metres in diameter, constructed of local slate and sitting on an artificially flattened plateau. A guide to the stone circles of britain, ireland and brittany. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is older and much bigger than its more famous cousin it is in fact the largest stone circle in the world, and is part of a much larger ritual complex that includes the long barrows and silbury hill. And yet, surely stone circles must have had another purpose. Like castlerigg, it dates from the neolithic period and its entrance seems to line up with the midwinter sunset. Outside of europe, stone circles have also been erected, such as the 63006900 bce atlit yam in israel and 30004000 bce gilgal refaim nearby, or the bronze age examples from hong kong.
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. A seven day tour of the ancient and historical sites of the great british lake district. Dating from the bronze age, it lies about 23 miles ssw of castlerigg. Swinside stone circle broughton in furness 2020 all you need. There is a welldefined entrance at the southeast, where there are two portal stones outside the circumference. Burl concludes by reconstructing the social history of swinside in the lake district, describing the builders, their way of life, and the. Such monuments have been constructed in many parts of the world throughout history for many different reasons. The large number of stone circles found in the english lake district of northern britain are among the oldest known, aubrey burl suggesting that the construction of castle rigg, its. The value of the monument is not only held in its above ground structural form, but also in its below ground archaeological deposits contained within features such as stone sockets and infilled pits. Swinside stone circle, cumbria m e g a l i t h i a. Twentyfive miles north of stonehenge lies the neolithic stone circle of avebury. This book is not only an elegant and practical guide, it is also the best single. The third part of the book focuses on the construction of swinside in cumbria. More than examples survive to this day, including such.
The neolithic swinside stone circle sunkenkirk stone. There is such a feeling of peace and history in stone circles. The circle stands up a farm track about 3 miles west of broughtoninfurness, cumbria, in the southwest corner of the lake district national park, on the slopes of black combe. Swinside stone circle, cumbria, england site guide and. The thoughts on these pages are my personal views and opinions.
Nine ladies stone circle stanton lees, england atlas obscura. Welcome to the edge guide to the stone circles of cumbria. Dec 15, 2018 the nine ladies stone circle and their king stone arent built on the scale of stonehenge coming up to knee level and a handy picnic perch which can come as a bit of a surprise to those of us more used to stone circles such as long meg and her daughters in cumbria. The neolithic swinside stone circle sunkenkirk stone circle photographic print by julian elliott. The circle of stones may be surrounded by earthwork. Swinside stone circle, hallthwaites, millon, cumbria the northern. The nine ladies stone circle and their king stone arent built on the scale of stonehenge coming up to knee level and a handy picnic perch which can come as a bit of a surprise to those of us more used to stone circles such as long meg and her daughters in cumbria.
I grew up outside, so it is no accident that most of my books take place outside. Leaving cork, take n71 southwest through bandon and clonakilty approximately 55km. 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. Country house tour of lake district and yorkshire dales 2020. Castlerigg, cockpit, swinside and burnmoor stone circles in the lake district are all free to visit. This beautiful, compact circle of 55 stones is considered by aubrey burl one of the finest stone circles of western europe.
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