The Rollright Stones, Oxfordshire’s answer to Stonehenge

Today’s Hidden Gem has been sent in by Jessica Friend from The Weekend Tourist as she’d like to share more about The Rollright Stones, a hidden gem in Oxfordshire and the county’s answer to Stonehenge!

 

 

The Rollright Stones are always the first place that I take anyone who might be visiting us – it’s also amazing how many locals have never visited the place either. They are Oxfordshire’s answer to Stonehenge. 

 

I pass this neolithic stone circle pretty much everyday on my way to work in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, but unless you knew they were there, you’d not necessarily even clock their existence. 

 

From the main road they are shrouded in trees, obscuring the stone circle and you only catch the odd mystical glimpse as you whizz past at the national speed limit.

 

 

 

Why should you visit the Rollright Stones?

 

The stones are actually made up of three groups which were all built at different times between the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. The largest group, known as the King’s Men were erected in 2,500BC, whilst the solitary King Stone was placed some 1000 years later and finally the three Whispering Knights, are the eldest of all, believed to be erected in 3,800BC. 

They are made of the same honey colour Jurassic oolitic limestone that you can see many Cotswold villages built from and it is believed the boulders used to create the site were probably collected within 500m. 

As with any stone circle, the Rollright Stones are steeped in local legend and folklore. The unusual names are derived from almost Arthurian Myth. The story goes like this… 

An over ambitious King attempted to conquer all of England, when he got stopped by a witch – Mother Shipton of Shipton-under-Wychwood (a character that also inspired many of the characters at Wychwood Brewery, which is also a great tour!).  

 

She challenged the King: 

“Seven long strides shalt thou take,

And if Long Compton thou canst see, 

King of England thou shalt be.”

 

Off went the cocky King, attempting to see the local village of Long Compton, shouting: 

“Stick, stock, stone, 

As King of England I shall be known.” 

 

On his seventh stride the ground rose up before him in a long mound (sometimes known as the Arch-Druid’s barrow) obscuring his view.  The witch laughed and declared: 

 

“As Long Compton thou canst not see,

King of England thou shalt not be, 

Rise up stick and stand still stone, 

For King of England thou shalt be none,

Thou and thy men hoar stones shall be,

And I myself an elder tree.”

 

And so it was that the King became the King Stone, his men the King’s Men stone circle, and his treacherous knights,  the Whispering Knights.  Although some say that the knight’s were actually at prayer.

 

It’s not a full proof story, no one is quite sure which unfortunate King got turned to stone or why his knights were plotting against them. It’s obviously been lost down the millennia. Legend has it that one day the spell will be broken and the King and his men will return to life and continue with their conquest. 

 

As you emerge from the short wooded walk into the stone circle you can’t help but feel awed by these structures. Their unusual craggy shape is actually a result of overzealous Victorian trophy hunters who would chip off a bit of the rocks as a souvenir.  

 

The first thing visitors must do is try and count the rocks.  It is said that if you walk round the Rollright Stones three times, you’ll never count the same number each time. But if you do manage it – you’re entitled to one wish.

 

Cool Rollright Stone facts! 

 

1. In 1743, local women believed the stones could help fertility and would touch the King Stone in particular with their breasts!

 

1. In 1962 a young farmer driving a tractor saw a white pillar of light hovering 15ft in the air before gradually disappearing, so frightened he sped home through 3 gates. This incident only added to the theory that the circle was a calling card for extraterrestrial beings who shared esoterica knowledge with our ancestors, which was generally forgotten over the centuries.

 

1. The stones are perfectly aligned in a North – South Ley (ancient trackways lining up historic sites) with the Uffington White Horse.

 

1. The classic 1978 Dr Who episode – ‘The Stones of Blood’ was filmed at the Rollright Stones.  Tom Baker’s Doctor faces up to blood-sucking rocks roaming the English countryside – even the Doctor couldn’t count the same number of stones.

 

1. You’ll often see people with divination rods – ancient practice of holding twigs or metal rods that are supposed to move in response to hidden objects. It is often used to look for water. 

 

How to get to the Rollright Stones

 

Address: Rollright Road, Little Rollright, Chipping Norton OX7 5QB

 

Parking for the Rollright Stones is limited – it includes two wide official laybys along the main road. The entrance to the path to reach the Stones is situated about half way along the laybys. 

 

This is a busy road which gets a lot of heavy traffic at times, so do be careful when opening doors.  The charity also asks that if the laybys are full, please do not park further down the road as this causes congestion for the villages nearby.  Having said this, I’ve never been when the laybys have been that rammed! 

 

Best time for visiting the Rollright Stones

 

I’d say that if you are able to visit on a weekday, there’s a good chance you’d have the whole complex to yourself. Do not go on the Summer or Winter Solstice days because then the Stones are a popular meeting place for local druids. 

 

Insider tips for visiting 

 

• This makes a good picnic spot as the view of the Cotswold rolling hills makes a great backdrop. Picnic benches are available by the Whispering Knights and at the main circle. 

 

• It’s an ideal place for landscape photographers – no drones though. 

 

• The Stones are looked after by an independent trust, so a donation to the charity either via the handy QR code tacked onto the entrance signpost or a handful of loose change. Suggested donations include £1 per adult and 50p per child – bargain! 

 

• I’d say an hour is a good amount of time for seeing all three parts of the complex. 

 

• There’s now also a living witch sculpture near the King’s Stone – constantly looming over.

 

• An Audio Tour can be downloaded from the website: https://www.rollrightstones.co.uk/stones/overview

 

• Dogs are allowed on a lead but not within the stone circle. 

 

• Don’t climb or sit on the stones, special stones have been placed in the copse by the King’s Men for climbing. 

 

• It is an accessible site – you’d be able to push a buggy or wheelchair across, although it is mostly a grassy site without designated footpaths. 

 

• It’s open all the time and is available at night time for stargazers! 

 

Other things to do near the Rollright Stones

 

Not only is the stone circle a great visit in its own right, but can be tagged on to a lot of other Cotswold day trips. Bourton on the Water, Bibury, Stratford upon Avon and Chipping Campden can all easily be reached within an hour of the stone circle. 

 

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About The Weekend Tourist 

 

Most of us only do touristy things on holiday, 25 days annual leave a year, I say that’s a shame, especially as we’ve 104 weekend days for exploring! The Weekend Tourist is all about discovering your local neighbourhood, attractions, historic places, local eateries and independents, which for me is in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.   

 

By Jess Friend Bartlett

 

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