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| The Rollright Stones, also known as The Kings Men |
Alongside a busy main road between Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Norton there's an ancient 100 foot stone circle known as the Rollright Stones. They are somewhat hidden behind a hedge in a field, so you have to get out of your car and enter the field to be able to see them, and they are well worth a look.
Archaeologists reckon that the stones date back to the Bronze Age (somewhere between 5,500 and 3,500 years ago) and are part of an ancient religious site.
Although they are not as awesome as the Avebury circles and Stonehenge, its nevertheless a privilege to be able to view something as old and as meaningful to our ancestors as a religious site dating back approximately 2,000 years BC.
In a field on the opposite side of the road is a monolith or marker stone, now known as the King Stone, which would have been seen from the stone circle before the hedges were planted. Also visible across the field from the stone circle, but some way away, is a group of 5 large stones leaning together labelled the Whispering Knights, these stones were probably part of a neolithic burial chamber used by the first farming communities to bury their dead. I'm really impressed by the antiquity of the Rollright stones however prehistoric stones like these have always been linked to witchcraft.
Archaeologists reckon that the stones date back to the Bronze Age (somewhere between 5,500 and 3,500 years ago) and are part of an ancient religious site.
Although they are not as awesome as the Avebury circles and Stonehenge, its nevertheless a privilege to be able to view something as old and as meaningful to our ancestors as a religious site dating back approximately 2,000 years BC.
In a field on the opposite side of the road is a monolith or marker stone, now known as the King Stone, which would have been seen from the stone circle before the hedges were planted. Also visible across the field from the stone circle, but some way away, is a group of 5 large stones leaning together labelled the Whispering Knights, these stones were probably part of a neolithic burial chamber used by the first farming communities to bury their dead. I'm really impressed by the antiquity of the Rollright stones however prehistoric stones like these have always been linked to witchcraft.
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| The King Stone |
As such, a variety of legends have developed over the years, one of which tells of a King who wanted to rule the whole of England. When he arrived at this spot with his army he met a witch. The witch seeing that he was an ambitious ruler thought that she would trick him. She told him to take seven long strides and, 'If Long Compton though cans't see, King of England though shalt be.'
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| The Whispering Knights |
The King, thinking that the witch was a silly old woman and that the challenge was very easy, strode out saying: "Stick, stock, stone, as King of England I shall be known." But when he took the seventh stride he still couldn't see Long Compton. The witch cackled, "As Long Compton though canst not see, King of England though shalt not be. Rise up stick, and stand still stone, for King of England though shalt be none. Thou and thy men hoar stones shall be, and myself an Elden Tree".
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| A little further on and this is the view of Long Compton today |
Instantly he and his men were turned to stone. The Whispering Knights who were some way off plotting to overthrow the king when he became ruler of all England, were also turned to stone.
There are a number of other stories but this is the best known one to explain the mystery of the stones being placed here.
There are a number of other stories but this is the best known one to explain the mystery of the stones being placed here.
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