The Rollright Stones
Nearest Town: Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
OS Grid Reference: SP 295 039
Directions: On unclassified road north of Chipping Norton between A44 & A3400. Follow signs for the village of Little Rollright. Site is occasionally signposted, large layby, beware of fast moving traffic! A small charge is made, but is well worth it.
Site Notes: A real rarity for Oxfordshire this one, a genuine Stone Circle, together with an outlier, the Kings Stone, and the remains of a burial chamber The Whispering Knights. The main circle is known as the Kings Men, and is unique in my experience for the closeness of the stones, and their material, oolitic limestone. This stone has suffered erosion over the centuries resulting in a very ‘moth-eaten’ look. You can imagine that when new, the circle must have felt very enclosed.
The circle is in the hands of an organisation, The Friends of the Rollright Stones, and a magnificent job they have done too, an object lesson to the National Trust and English Heritage. They have expanded the layby, bought extra land to improve the aspect of the site, provide guides and running maintenance. This is doubly needed due to the vandalism occasionally inflicted by some passing inbred moron. Visit the stones and their website, and lend your support. Well worth it.
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These were my first stones and worth the visit!! These pictures don’t do them justice!! I was almost ready to give up my search when out of the corner of my eye, I caught the King’s Stone. It is in a field about halfway up a rise surrounded by a fence to protect it. Walking around to the back there are some flat stones just outside of the fence line. If you walk up the remainder of the rise there is a small flat stone circle in which some insensitive, illiterate beings had built a campfire!! Across the lane is a sign that talks about the Stones. As you enter and turn right, there is a large circle of stones. I walked the circle then saw in the distance the Whispering Knights. I walked across the field to it. It is also surrounded by a fence but is still very impressive.
“These pictures don’t do them justice” Gee, thanks Pam
They were taken back in 2004, on my old camera. We moved to Scotland a year later & I’ve not been back since. These stones are fantastic but do suffer a lot of damage from morons unfortunately.
Just saw this . . .meant no disrespect BUT the whole grouping is awesome!! I stop by at least once every couple of months for some grounding time!!! I took my dogs once and got a big surprise. The youngest is pretty active and noisybut as we walked down the path towards the large circle, he settled down and when I sat on one of the stone he lay down and put his head on his paws!!