Girdle Stanes
The Girdle Stanes are a stone circle near Eskdalemuir in Dumfriesshire. The western portion of the circle has been washed away by the White Esk, leaving 26 of an original 40 to 45 stones in a crescent.[1][2] Unlike the majority of such sites in Dumfriesshire, the Girdle Stanes form a true circle rather than an oval.[1] When complete, its diameter would have been 128 feet.[1]
Location and form
- Location map: 55°15’14"N, 3°10’33"W
- Streetmap: NY25359615
Its situation, shape and construction link this circle to the circles to the south in Cumberland.[1] In particular, it has a number of similarities with the Swinside circle in the south-west of the Lake District. Like Swinside, the tallest stones are positioned at the north of the circle, and there is an apparent entrance in the south-east.[1] Both circles have a solar alignment. However, while Swinside is aligned to the midwinter sunrise,[3] the Girdle Stanes is aligned to the sun's southernmost rising at the beginning of November.
A line of stones leads north to the Loupin Stanes; it is possible that this is the remains of an avenue linking the two circles.[1][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Burl, Aubrey: 'A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany' (Yale University Press, 2005) pages 121, 194-5}}
- ↑ Christison, David: 'The Girdlestanes,' and a Neighbouring Stone Circle, in the Parish of Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire' Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 1897, page 285
- ↑ Burl, page 49
- ↑ Hyslop, John: 'Langholm as it was: A History of Langholm and Eskdale from the Earliest Time' (Hills and Company, 1912) page 42