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Megaliths, Stones of Memory

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Greengraves - Portal Tomb in Ireland (Northern) in Co. Down

Submitted by Anthony_Weir on Monday, 14 October 2002  Page Views: 23880

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Greengraves Alternative Name: The Kempe Stones
Country: Ireland (Northern) County: Co. Down Type: Portal Tomb
Nearest Town: Newtownards  Nearest Village: Dundonald
Map Ref: J4454073630
Discoverer Map Number: D15
Latitude: 54.590246N  Longitude: 5.764724W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Stone Free visited on 5th Oct 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 3 base stones overgrown with nettles/thorns leaving only the capstone visible

Greengraves
Greengraves submitted by KenWilliams : 'Greengraves' portal tomb is one of the finest in the north of Ireland, its a shame that its become so overgrown since Anthony Weir's photo, the northern side is no longer accessible or visible. This photo was taken after half an hour trampling on the brambles, which were thankfully of the non-spring action type. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Across a field to the N of a by-road leading S from the dual-carriageway to Newtownards, this small dolmen is quite impressive with its oversailing roofstone at a significant angle common to many portal-tombs, supported on two orthostats and another smaller roofstone. It has a fine half-doorslab.

The name "Greengraves" is particularly interesting, since the "Green" part of it comes from the Irish for sun. "The Kempe Stone" derives from Norse "Kampesten": big stone or prehistoric tomb.

Travelling along the comber road A22 from dundonald (heading towards comber), turn left onto millmount road, then turn right onto Greengraves road. Travel along this road, (approx 3/4 of the way to the other end). On the left is a white wall & gate house with Rockfield house written on it; just past this on the left is a farm gate with a "private property do not park across this gate". There is a small stone stile into the field to the left and an old rusty sign which someone has scored an arrow into. Climb over this stile and the dolmen is at the end of the field.

NI Monument 6305.
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Greengraves
Greengraves submitted by durhamnature : 1902 photo from "Guide to Belfast, Down and Antrim" via archive.org (Vote or comment on this photo)

Greengraves
Greengraves submitted by Chris916 : Kempe Stones (Greengraves) date 24th July 2021 shame there is not much visibility due to overgrowth (Vote or comment on this photo)

Greengraves
Greengraves submitted by Anthony_Weir : Scan of colour slide from the 1970/80s (Vote or comment on this photo)

Greengraves
Greengraves submitted by durhamnature : Old drawing from Ulster Naturalists via archive.org (Vote or comment on this photo)

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.

Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
J4473 : Kempe Stones Dolmen in a field boundary, Greengraves Road by Chris Burrell
by Chris Burrell
©2008(licence)
J4473 : Greengraves Road by Kenneth  Allen
by Kenneth Allen
©2011(licence)
J4474 : New Ards and North Down boundary sign near Dundonald (May 2015) by Albert Bridge
by Albert Bridge
©2015(licence)
J4473 : Greengraves Townland by Kenneth  Allen
by Kenneth Allen
©2011(licence)
J4474 : Name sign, Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald (May 2015) by Albert Bridge
by Albert Bridge
©2015(licence)

The above images may not be of the site on this page, they are loaded from Geograph.
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 6.4km NE 51° Conlig Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (J49377783)
 7.0km SSE 159° Ballygraffan Portal Tomb* Portal Tomb
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 13.8km ENE 69° Hogstown Standing Stone (Menhir) (J57257904)
 14.3km WNW 300° Collinward Cairn* Cairn
 14.3km ENE 71° Carryreagh Standing Stone (Menhir) (J5790078820)
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 15.1km ENE 58° Portavoe* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 15.3km ENE 77° Templepatrick* Modern Stone Circle etc (J5935077610)
 16.1km W 281° Ballygomartin Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir)
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 18.5km NNW 326° West Division Stone Row / Alignment (J338887)
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 19.8km W 261° White Mountain, Lisburn and Castlereagh Standing Stone (Menhir) (J2502870021)
 20.4km WNW 303° Craigarogan* Chambered Tomb (J270842)
 21.4km ESE 116° Ballyhemlin* Standing Stone (Menhir) (J6407064750)
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"Greengraves" | Login/Create an Account | 10 News and Comments
  
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Re: Greengraves by Chris916 on Saturday, 24 July 2021
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Only living a few miles away I went to visit this site, after getting a bit lost on someones property, asked for directions... The guy was a bit surprised he said no one really visit this anymore. Anyway I walked around the field before approaching the main tomb and there is huge stones / blocks that seem to be circling around the centre that are buried and the tops poking out. Beautiful place shame it is not been researched, sign posted or maintained similar to gaints ring few miles away.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Saturday, 28 March 2020
I visited today and was disappointed because it is all overgroen and you can barely see the cap stone. Why is this beauty not maintained?
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Sunday, 05 April 2020
    It’s unfortunately been like this for a few years - half tempted to contact whoever owns the land and offer to clear the monument of the gorse and brambles which has claimed it!
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Greengraves by TheCaptain on Thursday, 02 January 2014
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Entrance to the field with the dolmen, having followed the directions recently posted to us on googlemaps streetview!

View Larger Map
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Thursday, 30 January 2014
    Yes that's the gate, with the rusty sign, go over the stile to the left and walk to the other end of the field.

    Alison
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Thursday, 02 January 2014
I have looked for this dolman for years, today I found it. Thought a more accurate description of its location might be helpful for anyone else looking for it.

Travelling along the comber road A22 from dundonald ( heading towards comber), Turn left onto millmount road, then turn right onto Greengraves road. Travel along this road, ( approx 3/4 of the way to the other end), on the left is a white wall & gate house with Rockfield house written on it, just past this on the left is a farm gate with a " private property do not park across this gate", there is a small stone stile into the field to the left and an old rusty sign which someone has scored an arrowi into. Climb over this stile and the dolman is at the end of the field.

Very impressive especially in the dimming light.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Greengraves by TheCaptain on Thursday, 02 January 2014
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    many thanks for your input. I have now added this info into the main site page.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Thursday, 30 January 2014
      Great thanks, glad to be able to help.

      Alison
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Monday, 15 November 2004
This beautiful ancient Dolmen is in danger of yet more housing development ,as the land nearby has recently been bought.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Greengraves by Anonymous on Tuesday, 19 May 2009
    Building has started ;(
    [ Reply to This ]

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