Nine Stones, Winterbourne Abbas
The Nine Stones are a small prehistoric stone circle just outside of the village of Winterbourne Abbas, in Dorset.
Today the stones are in the care of English Heritage.
Description
- Location map: 50°42’41"N, 2°33’11"W
- Map: SY61079043
The Nine Stones are located in small wooded enclosure next to the A35 road, around half a mile west of the village of Winterbourne Abbas in Dorset. The stones are of sarsen or conglomerate and are arranged in a rough circle with an internal diameter of about 26 feet.[1] The stones are mostly quite small and vary from 0 inch to 4.9 feet in height. The stones are irregularly spaced, and there is wide a gap on the north side.[1]
History
The circle was recorded by John Aubrey in the 17th century, and then by William Stukeley in the 18th century.[1] Stukeley's drawing of 1723 shows the circle in much the same state as it is at present.[1] John Aubrey mentions another circle about half a mile to the west but this has since been destroyed.[1]
In 2007, five of the stones were vandalised with white paint.[2] The site is in the care of English Heritage.[1]
There is a fallen six-foot standing stone known as the Broad Stone lying beside the road about a mile to the west.[3]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Nine Stones, Winterbourne Abbas) |
- The Nine Stones - English Heritage
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 National Monuments Record: No. 453624 – The Nine Stones
- ↑ Fathers group denies attack on monuments, Dorset Echo, 25 October 2007
- ↑ National Monuments Record: No. 451206 – The Broad Stone