The Rollright Stones, Oxfordshire

OS Ref: SP 296 309            Type: Perfect Circle, diameter 31.7m

Access: Brilliant        Disabled: Good. Wheelchairs Yes for the circle itself

This is a magical late Neolithic circle where the stones have, over the years, weathered to form most unusual shapes. The stones are of oolitic limestone (i.e. limestone with 'ools in!) and, in addition to the circle, there is a dolmen (the Whispering Nights) and a single standing stone (the King Stone) nearby. There is a very reasonable entrance fee to the circle which allows access to the other sites. The site is owned and administered by The Friends of the Rollright Stones who publish a quarterly booklet, the Right Times

The circle has an astronomical alignment to the major rising of the southern moon at midsummer.

We visited on a rainy dull day, so the pictures reflect this. Captions are mostly above the pictures.

The entrance to the circle

Legend has it that the stones are a king and his army, turned into stone by a witch. Similarly, the Whispering Knights are traitors similarly petrified.

Umbrellas to the fore!

Legend also has it that the stones cannot be counted owing to a witches curse. (Hadn't this witch got anything better to do?)

Ancient Chariot with GT Slave-Drive.                        One of the stones showing a hole
                                                                                       weathered right through it at the top

Archaeology has not discovered any bones in the circle itself although some were found close to the King Stone and in the Whispering Knights. 

Close-ups

Views from the King Stone, and the stone itself.

The peculiar shape of the King Stone is due to drovers of old who regarded the stone as lucky and would take bits of it as a talisman.

The Whispering Knights, huddled together in a conspiracy, secretive and sinister.

               

What dark secrets do they know.....?

Finally, not a Rollright but an interesting building in a nearby village

The village is Long Compton, a witches stronghold at some point and an unfortunate miller appears to have incurred their wrath by trying to dam a stream for his mill. Every night the water drained away. (It's those darned beavers if you ask me....) 

That ends the Rollright Stones page