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Rollright Stones is in Little Rollright, Oxfordshire, Cotswolds Stone Circles.
1607. Camden's Britannia. Rollright Stones [Map].
The Rollright Stones [Map] in 1645, with the King's Men in the middle, the Whispering Knights [Map] at the bottom right, and the King Stone [Map] at the middle right
The Natural History of Oxfordshire Chapter 10. 81 Beside the Circles of Earth cast up by the Danes there are others of Stone in many places of this Nation and particularly one here in the very Bounds of Oxfordshire near Chipping norton in the Parish of Little Rollwright the Stones [Rollright Stones [Map]] being placed in Manner and Form and now remain as exactly engraven Tab 15 Fig 2222 [marked on the image below] in a Round of twixt 30 and 40 Paces over the tallest of them all which may be a Scale for the rest being about seven Foot high North of these about a Bolts shoot off on the other side the Hedge in the County of Warwick stands one singly alone upwards of nine Foot high in Form as described Fig 1 and Eastward five others as in Fig 3 about two Furlongs off the highest of them all about nine Foot also meeting formerly at the Top (as drawn by Mr Camden) with their tapering Ends almost in Shape of a Wedge since whose time there are two of them fallen down from the rest of which ancient Monument or what ever else it be he gives us in brief this following account.
82 Not far from Burford (he should have said Chipping Norton for Burford cannot be less than 7 or 8 Miles from it) upon the very Border of Oxfordshire is an ancient Monument to wit certain huge Stones placed in a Circle the common People call them Rollrich stones and dream they were sometimes Men by a miraculous Metamorphosis turned into hard Stones. The highest of them all [King Stone [Map]] which without the Circle looketh into the Earth they call the King because he should have been King of England (forfooth) if he had once feen Long Compton a little Town lying beneath and which one may see if he go fome few Paces forward.
83 Other five standing [Whispering Knights Burial Chamber [Map]] on the other side touching as it were one another they imagine to have been Knights mounted on Horseback and the rest of the Army. These would I verily think says he to have been the Monument of some Victory and happily errected by Rollo the Dane who afterwards conquer'd Normandy; for what time he with his Danes troubled England with Depredations we read that the Danes joined Battle with the English at Hochnorton a place for no one thing more famous in old time than for the woful Slaughter of the English in that foughten Field under the Reign of King Edward the elder.
84 That this Monument might be erected by Rollo the Dane or rather Norwegian perhaps may be true but by no means about the time of Edward the elders for though it be true enough that he troubled England with Depredations yet that he made them in the Days of King Alfred I think all the ancient Historians agree, An 897 according to Florilegus but according to Abbot Bromton a much better Author in the Year 875 near 40 Years before that Slaughter of the English in King Edward's Days as will plainly appear upon Comparison of this with the 75 of the same Chapter.
Note. Whilst the image below has "Tab. XVI. in the top left corner it appears to be referred to as Tab 15. in the text.
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Letters of William Stukeley. Roger Gale, "for Dr. Stukeley, to be left at the Grecian Coffee House in Devereux Court, near Temple Barr, London."— H. C. [This MS. Letter is in the possession of the Rev. H. F. St John].
Worcester, Augt 19, 1719.
Sir,
Last Saturday morning I had the satisfaction to see the stones called Rollrick [Map], which are but a molehill to a mountain in comparison of those we saw at Stonehenge and at Abury, and seem to have been intirely of another nature and design, as I doubt not but you will agree, upon my giving you the best description that I can of them. They are pitcht upon the top of a hill about half a mile south west of a village called Long Oompton, just within a hedge that now parts n ploughed field from a heath, and no doubt when these stones were placed there it was all heath. They compose a ring, not exactly circular8, the diameter of it from north to south being 35 yards9, and that from east to west but 33. The stones are of unequall dimensions both as to highth, breadth, and thicknesse, few of them exceeding 4 foot in altitude, and some of them reaching scarce two;10 and the breadth so various that I must have measured every stone to have given it you; neither can I tell you the number, some being thrown down and broken, and others carryed away, but there are yet 22 standing11, and some of them pitcht so close together, edge by edge, that it is evident they were intended to form a close wall.12 The thicknesse of them is not above 14 or 16 inches. Where the entrance of it was is hard to say positively since there are many smooth gaps now in the ring, but as there is one directly north-east13 [King Stone [Map]] in a line to the King, as they call it, I am persuaded it was there. This King is a great stone which the countrey fancys represents a man on horseback, standing 84 yards14 N.E. of the circle, 8 foot high, 7 broad in the broadest part, and about 12 inches thick, and has, as appears by the gritt of the stone, been taken out of a quarry (as well as those atten- dants he has in the circle) within a hundred yards of his majesty, which observation of mine much displeased my landlord that came from Chipping Norton with me to show me this petrifyed court, which is the creed of the countrey, and he that contradicts it is lookt upon as most audacious free thinker.
I had like to have forgott observing that just in the north point of the circle is allso standing one stone much larger than the rest, being 7 foot high and 5i broad. I could observe no trench running round it, which, if there ever had been one, must still have shown itself upon the heath; nor any marks of an avenue leading to it, nor any barrows or tumuli within view of it, only a bank about 10 yards north of the King, in length about 20 yards, breadth 7, flatt and uneven on the top, as if made out of the rubbish of the neighbouring quarry.
The losse of your company in this journey I am every day more sensible of than the last, having many a heavy hour hang- ing upon my hands which your conversation would have made not onely to passe much easyer but profitably; 6 long days more have I to lugg through in tiiis city, where the highest antiquity I can meet with rises no higher than the dusty traditionall tombs of a Saxon bishop or two. Which way I shall steer next I can- not determine yet, but if you will favour me with a line how matters go in both Societys, or with anything else you may think worth writing, by Satturday's post, it will be here on Monday morning; if I cannot be so happy as to hear from you till after that time, be pleased to send your letter to my bouse, and it
will be forwarded thence to me. My service to all friends, and believe me, dear Sir,
Your most faithfull Friend, and humble Servant,
R. Gale.
P.S. In all probability it [the bank] is as ancient as the King himself, I mean cast up at the same time he was sett there, the countrey tradition joyning them together in a rhyme they all have.
If Long Compton thou canst see,
Then King of England thou shalt be.
You cannot see Long Compton where this King stands, but if you step a yard to the north of him it discovers itself over the top of this bank which intercepts it from his view.15
Note 8. Not far from being a true circle.
Note 9. The diameter from north to south is 101 feet, and not 105.
Note 10. The tallest stone is on the north boundary of the circle, and is 7 feet 4 inches high, and 8 feet wide at the gronnd IcTel; scTen of the standing stones exceed 4 feet, aad one only ia less than 2 feet
Note 11. In 1S40, Sir Henry Dryden and the editor of these Diaries and Letters, made a careful ground plan of the circle, with elevations of the standing stones. At that date 22 stones were standing, the same number as stated by Roger Oale. About 80 were prostrate, and several must have been removed since 1719.
Note 12. Most probably this was the intention, for where two or more stones are still erect and near each other, they are as close as their irregular outlines will allow.
Note 13. There is no trace whatever of an avenue, or of any distinctly marked entrance.
Note 14. The distance from the drde to the king stone is 76 yards. The 9 feet 2 inches high, 6 feet wide at the ground level, and IS inches thick.
Note 15. This letter is referred to in Stukeley's Hist. of Abury, p. 11.
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Avebury by William Stukeley. Of the origin of temples more particularly, the meaning of the name. The manner of them, round and open. The Mosaic tabernacle a temple square and covered, in opposition to the former desecrated into idolatry. Another reason, covered with skins, because typical of Messiah. So the patriarchal or Druid temples made in those forms, that were symbols of the deity, and the divine personalities thereof. When become idolatrous generally dedicated to the sun, by reason of their round form. The most ancient symbolic figure of the deity was the circle, snake and wings, which we see frequently on Egyptian and other Monuments. The patriarchal temples made in representations thereof; therefore of three kinds. I. A circle only. II. A circle and snake. III. A circle and wings. This Volume treats of a temple of each of these kinds in Britain. The temple of ROWLDRICH [Map] in Oxfordshire being of the first sort, described. The Evidence of its being a work of the Druids, drawn up in a kind of order, as a specimen. 1. Its high situation, on an open heath by the heads of rivers. 2. An open circle of stones set upright, taken from the surface of the ground. 3. The appearance of the weather on them. 4. From the name, the Gilgal of Joshua explained. 5. From the measure, the Druid cubit. 6. From the barrows all round it. A Druid's court. The king's tumulus. The archdruid's tumulus, the founder. 7. From old reports concerning these works. 8. Sepulchres frequently the occasion of founding temples in all ages, from a hope of the body's resurrection, and one occasion of deifying heroes, and introducing idolatry, the first species of it.
Avebury by William Stukeley. I shall begin with Rowlright [Map] or rather Rowldrich, and as a specimen of what requisites are sought for in these enquiries, I shall draw them up in a kind of order: which may be useful in all researches of this sort.
Avebury by William Stukeley. View of the Rowldrich Stones [Map] from the West Sep. 11. 1724. A. The Kistaven at a distance.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. Table V. The prospect Northward from Rowldrich Stones [Map]. A. the King Stone [Map]. B. the Archdruids barrow. C. king barrows or round barrows. D. long compton.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. View of the Temple of Rowldrich [Map] from the South. A. the King Stone [Map] as called. B. the Archdruids barrow, CC rounds barrows or King barrows.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. View of the Temple of Rowldrich [Map] from the South.
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The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. View of the Kistvaen at Rowldrich from the East. A. the Druid temple [Map] at a distance.
A New Survey of England by N Salmon Volume 2. The second Difficulty to be accounted for, is. That this Arthurs Stone [Map], if coæval with Stone-henge, Rolle-Rich [Map], and Bifcawivoune [Map], should hold it out fo bravely against Time and Weather, to which the rest have submitted: It is a Point I will not undertake for; but it is possible, this being a natural Stone, may bear Weather better than a compounded one, as I suppose the rest to be; And It is possible, the Race of Britons driven up to those Mountains, who are fond of Pedigree, and delight in Poems upon their Worthies and Heroes, may from time to time have repaired this decaying Monument, with a Zeal like that of the People of Coventry, who yearly rig out Lady Godivas Peeper to keep in Memory her Services for their City.
The History of Banbury by Alfred Beesley. The most interesting remain of this period within the territory of the Dobuni, or indeed any where in the central part of the island, is the Druidical Temple at ROLLRICH [Map]. These stones are eleven miles southwest from Banbury, on the top of the range of liills just mentioned, which murks the bomidary between the table hmd of these parts of Oxfordshire and the great Vale of Warwickshire, and formed the extreme frontier of the territory of the Dobuni towards that of the Carnabii. The principal stones form a circle, the diameter of which from north to south is 107 feet, and that from east to west 104 feet. The area is now planted with fir trees, which it has been found necessary to omit in the sketch given in Plate 1. The original number of stones in this Circle appears to have been about sixty. This very nearly corresponds with the present number, but from mutilations and the effects of time many of the stones are now almost levelled with the ground.12 There are at present only twenty-eight which rise more than one foot above the soil ; and of these only ten exceed four feet in height. The highest stone (which is marked (a) in the ground plan above) stands 23° west of the north point of the area, and is seven feet four inches in height and three feet two inches in breadth. The thickness of the stones is generally not more than fifteen inches. The best representation of them in a state less imperfect than that in which they now are, is a print in the folio edition of Camden's Britannia printed in 1607, stated by him to have been done "iam olim" (a long time, or good while, ago).
Note 12. Dr. Stukeley graphically describes the Rollrich Stones as being "corroded like worm-eaten wood, by the harsh jaws of time, and that much more than Stonehcnge." Stukeley's Abury, V. 2, p. 10.
Folklore 13 1902 Pages 288-295. The Rollright Stones [Map] and their folklore were the subject of an exhaustive paper by Mr. A. J. Evans, printed in Folk-Lore in 1894 (vi., 6-51), but the following items were collected quite independently, and may therefore have some value for purposes of comparison. It will be remembered that the stones consist of a circle, a ruined dolmen called "The Whispering Knights," and a single standing stone called "The King," which are popularly said to be an invading king, five of his knights, and his army, turned into stones by a witch. If they could have topped the hill on which they stand and looked down on Long Compton, which lies just the other side, the king would have become King of England. Mr. Evans (p. 19) quotes the traditional verses which embody this story. In my own copy of Dr. R. Plot's Natural History of Oxfordshire, 2nd ed. 1705, are some MS. notes in a contemporary hand, and among them what is probably the earliest recorded version of these rhymes:—
"Said the Danish General,
If Long Compton I cou'd see
Then King of England I shou'd be.
But reply'd the ["British" erased] Saxon General.
Then rise up Hill & stand fast Stone—
For King of England thou'lt be none."
The stones are said to go down the hill to drink at a spring Evans, l.c. p. 24. It was formerly said [writes Carter] that they went down to the brook on New Year's Eve to drink at twelve o'clock. Now the saying is, that they go down when they hear the clock at Long Compton strike twelve.
Though often moved, the stones would always have to be brought back; Evans, I.e. p. 27. The old king that stands by himself on the side of the road was drawn by eight horses to Long Com. (i.e., Compton), and the people were so miserable, they were obliged to bring him back ; but the eight horses could not move him ; they tried more, but could not succeed, till they brought a white one, and then he was brought back.
A variant of this story is as follows: The stone was taken to Long Compton to form a bridge over a stream ; but they could not rest, and were obliged to bring him back ; but when they got to where he is, they were so frightened, they ran away, and left him standing.
The following story does not relate to the "King Stone," but apparently to one of the "Knights"; Evans, I.e. p. 27: They took one large flat stone to Long Com. (i.e.., Long Compton), to put over a ditch, and had to bring it back ; but no amount of horses could do it, so they left it in the field at the bottom of the hill.
The following relates to the difficulty of counting the stones in the circle twice alike; Evans, I.e. p. 26: A Charlbury man told me about a baker, who tried to count those stones at Long Com. ; he got over the difficulty by placing a loaf on each stone, and then counted the stones, and found seventy-two.
Bad luck would come to anyone who injured the stones; Evans, I.e. p. 23: A friend of mine, some years ago, broke a piece off one of the stones, and called at Chapel House (near Chipping Norton) to have some beer ; he showed the stone, when the landlady begged him to take it back, as there would sure to be something bad happen to him. — (1894.)
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Long Barrows of the Cotswolds. The Folklore of the Rollright [Map] district has been so fully described by Sir Arthur Evans that I have decided, with his permission, to reprint verbatim that portion of his article (including footnotes) on the Rollright Stones [Map].1
Note 1. Folklore, Vol. vi, 1895, pp. 18-33.
Paraochial History of Enstone. British And Roman Period 55 BC To AD 409. The great Roman emperor general and historian Julius Cæsar invaded Britain in the year 55 before the Christian era that is before the birth of Jesus Christ from whose birth we now reckon our years so that this is the year 1857 since He was born and is therefore called the year of our Lord or in Latin Anno Domini commonly written AD It is therefore now 1912 years since Britain was thus visited Some time however before this our country was known to the Romans by the name of Britannia but it was not discovered by them to be an island until the time when Agricola was governor and when he sailed round it The Romans continued to exercise dominion here for no less than 464 years that is from the year 55 BC till the year 409 AD It was during this period at least although very probably even before it that our most ancient monument the Enne Stan that is the Giant or Great Stone was erected for notwithstanding that that name is Saxon there can be no doubt of the monument so called being British or Romano British that is either founded in the most ancient times when Britons only knew and inhabited this island or during the period when the Romans reigned over the Britons and held them in subjection We can have little difficulty in conceiving what was the state and condition of this vicinity at that time It was like the uncleared forests of the United States of America or of Canada at this day or to come home to a nearer likeness still it was in much the same state as the yet disafforested remains of Wichwood now are. But with the exception of the surface of the earth and the single monument whence the parish now derives its name of Enstone no monument or memorial survives to tell us of the past and to point out to us where our British progenitors dwelt or lived. All that we know further is that in our immediate neighbourhood similar monuments to this have been erected and remain as the Hawk stone, or Hoar stone, at Dean the stone [Hoar Stone, Steeple Barton [Map]] at Barton and the very extensive and interesting British relics at Rollright commonly called the Rollright stones [Map]. It was at this period also that the tumuli to be found at Charlford must have been formed unless indeed they are to be regarded as of older date
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King Stone, Rollright Stones, Little Rollright, Oxfordshire, South-Central England, British Isles [Map]
King Stone is also in Cotswolds Standing Stones.
Carbon Date. 1490BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Charcoal, id as Corylus sp (V Straker), from scattered deposit, assoc with burnt stones and burnt human tooth from possible cremation beside round cairn next to King Stone [Map], sealed by rubble spill from collapse of cairn at the Rollright Stones (King Stone), Oxfordshire, England. Comment (subm): May suggest Beaker or EBA date for cairn rather than earlier date. See also monograph.
ID: 1621, C14 ID: BM-2430 Date BP: 3490 +/- 70, Start Date BP: 3420, End BP: 3560
Abstract: Cairn, ploughed-out barrow and standing stone
Archaeologist Name: G Lambrick (Oxford Archaeol Unit)
Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 29, 1987, 185-6; Lambrick, G, 'The Rollright Stones' (= English Heritage Archaeol Rep, 6), 1988, 110
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
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Carbon Date. 1480BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Charcoal, id as Corylus sp (M Robinson), from cremation deposit at base of posthole in round barrow ca 40m NW of King Stone [Map] at Rollright Stones (King Stone), Oxfordshire, England. Comment (subm): Of interest in view of possible function of King Stone as cemetery marker. See also monograph.
ID: 1619, C14 ID: BM-2428 Date BP: 3480 +/- 50, Start Date BP: 3430, End BP: 3530
Abstract: Cairn, ploughed-out barrow and standing stone
Archaeologist Name: G Lambrick (Oxford Archaeol Unit)
Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 29, 1987, 185-6; Lambrick, G, 'The Rollright Stones' (= English Heritage Archaeol Rep, 6), 1988, 110
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
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Carbon Date. 1370BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Charcoal, id as mixed Quercus and Corylus spp (V Straker), from cremation secondary to construction of round cairn next to King Stone [Map], overlying first trace of collapsed cairn material and sealed by further collapse and rubble at Rollright Stones (King Stone), Oxfordshire, England. Comment (subm): May suggest Beaker or EBA date for cairn, rather than later. See also monograph.
ID: 1618, C14 ID: BM-2427 Date BP: 3370 +/- 40, Start Date BP: 3330, End BP: 3410
Abstract: Cairn, ploughed-out barrow and standing stone
Archaeologist Name: G Lambrick (Oxford Archaeol Unit)
Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 29, 1987, 185-6; Lambrick, G, 'The Rollright Stones' (= English Heritage Archaeol Rep, 6), 1988, 110
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
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Carbon Date. 1320BC. Late Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Charcoal, id as Corylus sp (M Robinson), from cremation deposit in pit in round barrow assoc with Collared Urn at the Rollright Stones (King Stone [Map]), Oxfordshire, England. Comment (subm): Deposit was adjacent to that dated by BM-2428. Result is within later end of range expected for Collared Urns. See also monograph.
ID: 1620, C14 ID: BM-2429 Date BP: 3320 +/- 90, Start Date BP: 3230, End BP: 3410
Abstract: Cairn, ploughed-out barrow and standing stone
Archaeologist Name: G Lambrick (Oxford Archaeol Unit)
Reference Name: Radiocarbon, 29, 1987, 185-6' Lambrick, G, 'The Rollright Stones' (= English Heritage Archaeol Rep, 6), 1988, 110
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
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The Rollright Stones [Map] in 1645, with the King's Men in the middle, the Whispering Knights [Map] at the bottom right, and the King Stone [Map] at the middle right
The Natural History of Oxfordshire Chapter 10. 81 Beside the Circles of Earth cast up by the Danes there are others of Stone in many places of this Nation and particularly one here in the very Bounds of Oxfordshire near Chipping norton in the Parish of Little Rollwright the Stones [Rollright Stones [Map]] being placed in Manner and Form and now remain as exactly engraven Tab 15 Fig 2222 [marked on the image below] in a Round of twixt 30 and 40 Paces over the tallest of them all which may be a Scale for the rest being about seven Foot high North of these about a Bolts shoot off on the other side the Hedge in the County of Warwick stands one singly alone upwards of nine Foot high in Form as described Fig 1 and Eastward five others as in Fig 3 about two Furlongs off the highest of them all about nine Foot also meeting formerly at the Top (as drawn by Mr Camden) with their tapering Ends almost in Shape of a Wedge since whose time there are two of them fallen down from the rest of which ancient Monument or what ever else it be he gives us in brief this following account.
82 Not far from Burford (he should have said Chipping Norton for Burford cannot be less than 7 or 8 Miles from it) upon the very Border of Oxfordshire is an ancient Monument to wit certain huge Stones placed in a Circle the common People call them Rollrich stones and dream they were sometimes Men by a miraculous Metamorphosis turned into hard Stones. The highest of them all [King Stone [Map]] which without the Circle looketh into the Earth they call the King because he should have been King of England (forfooth) if he had once feen Long Compton a little Town lying beneath and which one may see if he go fome few Paces forward.
83 Other five standing [Whispering Knights Burial Chamber [Map]] on the other side touching as it were one another they imagine to have been Knights mounted on Horseback and the rest of the Army. These would I verily think says he to have been the Monument of some Victory and happily errected by Rollo the Dane who afterwards conquer'd Normandy; for what time he with his Danes troubled England with Depredations we read that the Danes joined Battle with the English at Hochnorton a place for no one thing more famous in old time than for the woful Slaughter of the English in that foughten Field under the Reign of King Edward the elder.
84 That this Monument might be erected by Rollo the Dane or rather Norwegian perhaps may be true but by no means about the time of Edward the elders for though it be true enough that he troubled England with Depredations yet that he made them in the Days of King Alfred I think all the ancient Historians agree, An 897 according to Florilegus but according to Abbot Bromton a much better Author in the Year 875 near 40 Years before that Slaughter of the English in King Edward's Days as will plainly appear upon Comparison of this with the 75 of the same Chapter.
Note. Whilst the image below has "Tab. XVI. in the top left corner it appears to be referred to as Tab 15. in the text.
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The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Letters of William Stukeley. Roger Gale, "for Dr. Stukeley, to be left at the Grecian Coffee House in Devereux Court, near Temple Barr, London."— H. C. [This MS. Letter is in the possession of the Rev. H. F. St John].
Worcester, Augt 19, 1719.
Sir,
Last Saturday morning I had the satisfaction to see the stones called Rollrick [Map], which are but a molehill to a mountain in comparison of those we saw at Stonehenge and at Abury, and seem to have been intirely of another nature and design, as I doubt not but you will agree, upon my giving you the best description that I can of them. They are pitcht upon the top of a hill about half a mile south west of a village called Long Oompton, just within a hedge that now parts n ploughed field from a heath, and no doubt when these stones were placed there it was all heath. They compose a ring, not exactly circular8, the diameter of it from north to south being 35 yards9, and that from east to west but 33. The stones are of unequall dimensions both as to highth, breadth, and thicknesse, few of them exceeding 4 foot in altitude, and some of them reaching scarce two;10 and the breadth so various that I must have measured every stone to have given it you; neither can I tell you the number, some being thrown down and broken, and others carryed away, but there are yet 22 standing11, and some of them pitcht so close together, edge by edge, that it is evident they were intended to form a close wall.12 The thicknesse of them is not above 14 or 16 inches. Where the entrance of it was is hard to say positively since there are many smooth gaps now in the ring, but as there is one directly north-east13 [King Stone [Map]] in a line to the King, as they call it, I am persuaded it was there. This King is a great stone which the countrey fancys represents a man on horseback, standing 84 yards14 N.E. of the circle, 8 foot high, 7 broad in the broadest part, and about 12 inches thick, and has, as appears by the gritt of the stone, been taken out of a quarry (as well as those atten- dants he has in the circle) within a hundred yards of his majesty, which observation of mine much displeased my landlord that came from Chipping Norton with me to show me this petrifyed court, which is the creed of the countrey, and he that contradicts it is lookt upon as most audacious free thinker.
I had like to have forgott observing that just in the north point of the circle is allso standing one stone much larger than the rest, being 7 foot high and 5i broad. I could observe no trench running round it, which, if there ever had been one, must still have shown itself upon the heath; nor any marks of an avenue leading to it, nor any barrows or tumuli within view of it, only a bank about 10 yards north of the King, in length about 20 yards, breadth 7, flatt and uneven on the top, as if made out of the rubbish of the neighbouring quarry.
The losse of your company in this journey I am every day more sensible of than the last, having many a heavy hour hang- ing upon my hands which your conversation would have made not onely to passe much easyer but profitably; 6 long days more have I to lugg through in tiiis city, where the highest antiquity I can meet with rises no higher than the dusty traditionall tombs of a Saxon bishop or two. Which way I shall steer next I can- not determine yet, but if you will favour me with a line how matters go in both Societys, or with anything else you may think worth writing, by Satturday's post, it will be here on Monday morning; if I cannot be so happy as to hear from you till after that time, be pleased to send your letter to my bouse, and it
will be forwarded thence to me. My service to all friends, and believe me, dear Sir,
Your most faithfull Friend, and humble Servant,
R. Gale.
P.S. In all probability it [the bank] is as ancient as the King himself, I mean cast up at the same time he was sett there, the countrey tradition joyning them together in a rhyme they all have.
If Long Compton thou canst see,
Then King of England thou shalt be.
You cannot see Long Compton where this King stands, but if you step a yard to the north of him it discovers itself over the top of this bank which intercepts it from his view.15
Note 8. Not far from being a true circle.
Note 9. The diameter from north to south is 101 feet, and not 105.
Note 10. The tallest stone is on the north boundary of the circle, and is 7 feet 4 inches high, and 8 feet wide at the gronnd IcTel; scTen of the standing stones exceed 4 feet, aad one only ia less than 2 feet
Note 11. In 1S40, Sir Henry Dryden and the editor of these Diaries and Letters, made a careful ground plan of the circle, with elevations of the standing stones. At that date 22 stones were standing, the same number as stated by Roger Oale. About 80 were prostrate, and several must have been removed since 1719.
Note 12. Most probably this was the intention, for where two or more stones are still erect and near each other, they are as close as their irregular outlines will allow.
Note 13. There is no trace whatever of an avenue, or of any distinctly marked entrance.
Note 14. The distance from the drde to the king stone is 76 yards. The 9 feet 2 inches high, 6 feet wide at the ground level, and IS inches thick.
Note 15. This letter is referred to in Stukeley's Hist. of Abury, p. 11.
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Avebury by William Stukeley. Near the arch-druid's barrow, by that called the Kingstone [Map], is a square plat, oblong, formed on the turf. Hither, on a certain day of the year, the young men and maidens customarily meet, and make merry with cakes and ale. And this seems to be the remain of the very ancient festival here celebrated in memory of the interred, for whom the long barrow and temple were made. This was the sepulture of the arch-druid founder. At Enston, a little way off, between Neat Enston and Fulwell, by the side of a bank or tumulus, stands a great stone, with other smaller. 'Tis half a mile south-west of Enston church. A famous barrow at Lineham, by the banks of the Evenlode.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 7. Mr. Camden writes further concerning our antiquity, that "the country people have a fond tradition, that they were once men, turned into stones. The highest of all, which lies out of the ring, they call the king [Map]. Five larger stones [Map], which are at some distance from the circle, set close together, they pretend were knights, the ring were common soldiers." This story the country people, for some miles round, are very fond of, and take it very ill if any one doubts of it; nay, they are in danger of being stoned for their unbelief. They have likewise rhymes and sayings relating thereto. Suchlike reports are to be met with in other like works, our Druid temples. They savour of the most ancient and heroic times. Like Perseus, turning men into stones; like Cadmus, producing men from serpents' teeth; like Deucalion, by throwing stones over his head, and such like, which we shall have occasion to mention again, chap. XIV.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 6. Another argument of its being a Druid temple, is taken from the barrows all around it, according to the constant practice in these places. To the north-east is a great tumulus or barrow of a long form, which I suppose to have been of an arch-druid. Between it and our temple is a huge stone standing upright, called the kingstone [Map]; the stone is 8 foot high, 7 broad, which, together with the barrow, may be seen in Tables III, V. but the barrow has had much dug away from it. 'Tis now above 60 foot in length, 20 in breadth, flattish at top.
I know not whether there were more stones standing originally about this barrow, or that this belonged to some part of the administration of religious offices in the temple, as a single stone.
In the same plate may be seen another barrow, but circular, below the road to the left hand, on the side of the hill. Under it is a spring-head running eastward to Long Compton. This barrow has had stone-work at the east end of it. Upon this same heath eastward, in the way to Banbury, are many barrows of different shapes, within sight of Rowldrich; particularly, near a place called Chapel on the heath, is a large, flat, and circular tumulus, ditched about, with a small tump in the center: this is what I call a Druid's barrow; many such near Stonehenge, some whereof I opened; a small circular barrow a little way off it. There are on this heath too, many circular dish-like cavities, as near Stonehenge, we may call them barrows inverted.
Tables III and V.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. Table V. The prospect Northward from Rowldrich Stones [Map]. A. the King Stone [Map]. B. the Archdruids barrow. C. king barrows or round barrows. D. long compton.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. View of the Temple of Rowldrich [Map] from the South. A. the King Stone [Map] as called. B. the Archdruids barrow, CC rounds barrows or King barrows.
Long Barrows of the Cotswolds. King Stone [Map]
Warwickshire, 59 N.W. Parish of Long Compton. 70*.
Latitude 51° 58' 33". Longitude 1° 34' 07". Height above O.D. about 740 feet.
Stukeley's account of this stone and the Long Barrow adjacent to it is as follows:— "To the north-east [of the circle at Rollright] is a great tumulus or barrow of a long form, which I suppose to have been of an Arch-Druid. Between it and our temple [the circle] is a huge stone standing upright, called the 'King Stone the stone is 8 foot high, and 7 broad, which together with the barrow, may be seen in Tables III., V., but the barrow has had much dug away from it. 'Tis now above 6o foot in length, 20 in breadth, flattish at top. I know not whether there were more stones standing originally about this barrow".
Whispering Knights Burial Chamber, Rollright Stones, Little Rollright, Oxfordshire, South-Central England, British Isles [Map]
Whispering Knights Burial Chamber is also in Cotswolds Neolithic Tombs.
The Rollright Stones [Map] in 1645, with the King's Men in the middle, the Whispering Knights [Map] at the bottom right, and the King Stone [Map] at the middle right
The Natural History of Oxfordshire Chapter 10. 81 Beside the Circles of Earth cast up by the Danes there are others of Stone in many places of this Nation and particularly one here in the very Bounds of Oxfordshire near Chipping norton in the Parish of Little Rollwright the Stones [Rollright Stones [Map]] being placed in Manner and Form and now remain as exactly engraven Tab 15 Fig 2222 [marked on the image below] in a Round of twixt 30 and 40 Paces over the tallest of them all which may be a Scale for the rest being about seven Foot high North of these about a Bolts shoot off on the other side the Hedge in the County of Warwick stands one singly alone upwards of nine Foot high in Form as described Fig 1 and Eastward five others as in Fig 3 about two Furlongs off the highest of them all about nine Foot also meeting formerly at the Top (as drawn by Mr Camden) with their tapering Ends almost in Shape of a Wedge since whose time there are two of them fallen down from the rest of which ancient Monument or what ever else it be he gives us in brief this following account.
82 Not far from Burford (he should have said Chipping Norton for Burford cannot be less than 7 or 8 Miles from it) upon the very Border of Oxfordshire is an ancient Monument to wit certain huge Stones placed in a Circle the common People call them Rollrich stones and dream they were sometimes Men by a miraculous Metamorphosis turned into hard Stones. The highest of them all [King Stone [Map]] which without the Circle looketh into the Earth they call the King because he should have been King of England (forfooth) if he had once feen Long Compton a little Town lying beneath and which one may see if he go fome few Paces forward.
83 Other five standing [Whispering Knights Burial Chamber [Map]] on the other side touching as it were one another they imagine to have been Knights mounted on Horseback and the rest of the Army. These would I verily think says he to have been the Monument of some Victory and happily errected by Rollo the Dane who afterwards conquer'd Normandy; for what time he with his Danes troubled England with Depredations we read that the Danes joined Battle with the English at Hochnorton a place for no one thing more famous in old time than for the woful Slaughter of the English in that foughten Field under the Reign of King Edward the elder.
84 That this Monument might be erected by Rollo the Dane or rather Norwegian perhaps may be true but by no means about the time of Edward the elders for though it be true enough that he troubled England with Depredations yet that he made them in the Days of King Alfred I think all the ancient Historians agree, An 897 according to Florilegus but according to Abbot Bromton a much better Author in the Year 875 near 40 Years before that Slaughter of the English in King Edward's Days as will plainly appear upon Comparison of this with the 75 of the same Chapter.
Note. Whilst the image below has "Tab. XVI. in the top left corner it appears to be referred to as Tab 15. in the text.
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Avebury by William Stukeley. 7. Mr. Camden writes further concerning our antiquity, that "the country people have a fond tradition, that they were once men, turned into stones. The highest of all, which lies out of the ring, they call the king [Map]. Five larger stones [Map], which are at some distance from the circle, set close together, they pretend were knights, the ring were common soldiers." This story the country people, for some miles round, are very fond of, and take it very ill if any one doubts of it; nay, they are in danger of being stoned for their unbelief. They have likewise rhymes and sayings relating thereto. Suchlike reports are to be met with in other like works, our Druid temples. They savour of the most ancient and heroic times. Like Perseus, turning men into stones; like Cadmus, producing men from serpents' teeth; like Deucalion, by throwing stones over his head, and such like, which we shall have occasion to mention again, chap. XIV.
Avebury by William Stukeley. 1724. Not far from the Druid's barrow I saw a square work, such as I call Druids' courts or houses. Such near Stonehenge and Abury. 'Tis a place 100 cubits square, double-ditched. The earth of the ditches is thrown inward between the ditches, so as to a raise a terrace, going quite round. The ditches are too inconsiderable to be made for defence. Within are seemingly remains of stone walls. 'Tis within sight of the temple, and has a fine prospect all around, being seated on the highest part of the ridge. A little further is a small round barrow, with stone-work at the east end, like that before spoken of near Rowldrich; a dry stone wall or fence running quite over it, across the heath.
Return we nearer to the temple, and we see 300 paces directly east from it in the same field, a remarkable monument [Whispering Knights Burial Chamber [Map]?] much taken notice of; 'tis what the old Britons call a Kist vaen or stone chest; I mean the Welsh, the descendants of those invaders from the continent, Belgæ, Gauls and Cimbrians, who drove away the aboriginal inhabitants, that made the works we are treating of, still northward. Hence they gave them these names from appearances; as Rowldrich, the wheel or circle of the Druids; as Stonehenge they called choir gaur, the giants' dance; as our saxon ancestors called it Stonehenge, the hanging-stones, or stone-gallows. Every succession of inhabitants being still further removed from a true notion and knowledge of the things.
Our Kist vaen is represented in plates VI. and VII. One shews the foreside, the other the backside; so that there needs but little description of it. 'Tis composed of six stones, one broader for the back-part, two and two narrower for the sides, set square to the former; and above all, as a cover, a still larger. The opening is full west, to the temple, or Rowldrich. It stands on a round tumulus, and has a fine prospect south-westward down the valley, where the head of the river Evenlode runs. I persuade myself this was merely monumental, erected over the grave of some great person there buried; most probably the king of the country, when this temple was built. And if there was any use of the building, it might possibly be some way accommodated to some anniversary commemoration of the deceased, by feasts, games, exercises, or the like, as we read in the classic poets, who describe customs ancienter than their own times. It is akin to that Kist vaen in Cornwall, which I have drawn in plate XXXVII.
Table VI.
Table VII. View of the Kistvaen of Rowldrich from the Southwest.
Table XXXVII. Kist vaen In Cornwal, In Cornwal, In Monkton field [Map] by Abury
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The History of Banbury by Alfred Beesley. About 390 yards nearly due east of the Circle (in the direction c — c) are five large stones called the Five Whispering Knights [Map], which stand together, leaning towards each other, with an opening from the west. (See Plate I, and the Ground Plan at p. 5.) The tallest of these is now ten feet ten inches in height. They are most probably the remains of a Cromlech, or altar for the idolatrous sacrifices; but the upper or table stone has fallen or been removed.13 On the opposite side of the Circle to that occupied by the Knights, (in the direction d — d,) a large stone once stood on a bank or hill, 141 yards westward from the circle.14
Note 13. The tradition of the neighbourhood is that a farmer once carried away one of the large Rolhich stones to make a bridge, but that experiencing remorse he brought it back again. Dr. Stukeley says of Rolh-ich, more than a century ago, "Many of the Stones have been carried away within memory, to make bridges, houses, &c." — Stukeley's Abury, v. 2, p. 10.
Note 14. See a ground plan &c. among Mr. Gough's collections in the Bodleian Library, where this stone is described as having been long thrown down.
Long Barrows of the Cotswolds. Whispering Knights Burial Chamber [Map]
Oxfordshire, 14 N.W. Parish of Little Rollright. 69*.
Latitude 51° 58' 30". Longitude 1° 33' 52". Height above O.D. about 730 feet.
Stukeley in 1746 described the monument as follows:- "'Tis composed of six stones, one broader for the back part, two and two narrower for the sides, set square to the former; and above all, as a cover, a still larger. The opening is full west, to the temple or Rowldrich. It stands on a round tumulus, and has a fine prospect south-westward down the valley, where the head of the Evenlode runs."
Sir Henry Dryden in 1897-8 described it as follows:- "About 356 yards E. from the [Rollrich] circle and S. of the road, is the dolmen about to be described, called 'The Five Whispering Knights,' It is in a ruinous state. It now consists ot tour stones, upright, or nearly so, and one prostrate, all of coarse limestone. He gives the following dimensions:-
(1) Height, 8 ft. 3 ins. (4 ft. by 2 ft. 6 ins.)
(2) Height 7 ft. 3 ins. (3 ft, 6 ins, by i ft. 10 ins.)
(3) Height 6 ft. 7 ins. (3 ft. 8 ins. by i ft. 4 ins.)
(4) Height 5 ft. 4 ins. (4 ft. 9 ins. by 2 ft.) Leaning.
(5) Capstone (then fallen) 8 ft. 4 ins. by 5 ft. 9 ins., by 2 ft. 4 ins.
"The chamber appears to have been about 5 feet 6 inches W. and E., and the same N. and S. If, as usual, there was an entrance, with or without a passage, it was probably to the E.N.E, . . There is not, so far as I know, any record of remains having been found in this dolmen. In a small stone pit about 700 feet N.E. by E. from the circle it is stated that 12 skulls were found in 1835. In another stone pit near it was found in 1836 an urn and beads, now in the Museum at Warwick, and at about 3 feet off was found a skeleton with which was a ring."
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