Featured: Ark of Secrets - Neolithic spirit alive in the Middle Ages

Ark of Secrets - Neolithic spirit alive in the Middle Ages

Random Image


Leirfall

The Significance of Monuments

The Significance of Monuments

Who's Online

There are currently, 185 guests and 4 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> The Longstone (Shovel Down) - Standing Stone (Menhir) in England in Devon

Submitted by AngieLake on Saturday, 16 October 2004  Page Views: 11301

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: The Longstone (Shovel Down)
Country: England County: Devon Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Chagford  Nearest Village: Teigncombe
Map Ref: SX66038568
Latitude: 50.655347N  Longitude: 3.8966W
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
5 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

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

Andy B would like to visit

Catrinm visited on 1st Oct 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Anne T visited on 16th May 2019 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 The Longstone: A welcoming standing stone, very prominent in the landscape, sitting between rows 5 and 6. I had fun posing the group for photographs around the stone.

jeffrep visited on 21st May 2011 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 3

graemefield visited on 1st Jan 2004 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 2

SandyG TheCaptain AngieLake NickyD have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.25 Access: 3

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by cazzyjane : The longstone at Shovel Down with Kestor Rock behind. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The lovely megalith known as The Longstone stands on the eastern slopes of Shovel Down, Dartmoor, Devon, and is part of the large Shovel Down group of ceremonial monuments

A north/south avenue leads directly to it. There are numerous stone rows in the vicinity, and Scorhill circle is not far away to the north.

According to Richard Cavendish's book 'Prehistoric England' (Artus Books, Orion Publishing 1983): "SW of Kes Tor, on Shovel Down, SX660860, are stone rows leading to burial cairns and a 10ft (3m) monolith, the Longstone. A stone avenue may originally have led from the Scorhill Circle to the Fernworthy Circle SX655841 and on to Grey Wethers SX638832." If Richard is right, it would surely have passed this stone.

Update November 2019: This standing stone is recorded as Pastscape Monument No. 443595, which tells us: "The Long Stone stands in the middle of two stone rows ('E' (row 5) and '7F' (row 6) and marks the boundary of the three parishes of Chagford, Gidleigh and Lydford. It was referred to as the Langstone in the Perambulation of the Forest of Dartmoor in 1240 AD. It stands 10 feet 5 inches high and the base measurements are N 35 1/2 inches, E 24 inches, S 33 inches and W 21 inches."

The stone is also featured on the Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks website - see their entries for Shovel Down Long Stone Standing Stone and the Shovel Down Complex. PDW also gives a link to the Devon & Dartmoor HER: MDV6149 (Longstone on Shovel Down, Chagford Common). The stone is also scheduled as part of Historic England List ID 1017874 (The North Teign coaxial field system (western part) and associated later remains at Shovel Down, Stonetor Hill and Long Ridge). More information can also be found on the Legendary Dartmoor website: The Longstone.

The Longstone also forms the ends of both Shoveldown Rows 5 and 6, and features on the Stone Rows of Great Britain: see their entry for Shoveldown 5, which includes a plan of the monuments at Shoveldown showing their relationships to each other, plus a photograph of the Longstone.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by GlavindStrachan : Visited in April 2021 and (as per usual when coming here) we weren't disappointed 😍 It was a cold start to the day, and Dartmoor's wonderfully unpredictable weather meant sunshine, sleet and finally some snow ... made for very dramatic photographs! (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by cazzyjane : The Longstone in it's stunning surroundings. March 2012. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by crannog : nice walk from many the stone rows at four fold following what seems a partial stone row that leads to this langstane.... with breath-taking views over the moor and kiss tor (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by simonsworn : The Longstone first thing in the morning, facing southeast (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Bladup : The Longstone (Shovel Down) with Kestor Rock in the background

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Anne T : The last but one stop (via the absent row 6) of our epic three day guided tour of to Dartmoor. The group around the Longstone. Left to right: Janet Daynes, Angie Lake, Andy Burnham, Sandy G, Dave P, Gordon Fisher, Andrew Tate (Anne T thankfully behind the camera!). Photograph taken 16th May 2019.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by davep : Shovel Down Long Stone Standing Stone. Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks, site 18. (1 comment)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by SandyG : The Longstone with Kestor in the background. View from the south west (28th April 2013).

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by AngieLake : A close-up of the Longstone around mid-day on July 25th. While walking to Kestor rock shortly after this, a Chinook flew over, shattering the peace but creating quite a stirring experience! I wonder what the Ancients would have made of that?

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by thecaptain : The awesome 3 metre tall Shovel Down Longstone. Seen here looking southeast towards Thornworthy Tor

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by thecaptain : The majestic 3 metre tall Shovel Down Longstone. Seen here looking northeast towards Kestor

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Bladup : The Longstone (Shovel Down)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Anne T : Looking north east across the stone, it has a curved profile. The GP for Gidleigh Parish can be seen one third up from the bottom of the stone. Photograph taken 16th May 2019.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Anne T : From this angle, the top is very tapered and sharp at its southern-most top corner. Photograph taken 16th May 2019.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Anne T : This 3.0m+ stone has very different shaped sides. Photograph taken 16th May 2019.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Postman : With the amazing Kestor rock looming.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Postman : We all know that DC really stands for Doing Catholicism (2 comments)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Postman : The Longstone

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by AngieLake : Longstone Shovel Down with Kes Tor in distance. (Replacement for Sept 2004 photo in Meg P file)

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by Bladup : The Longstone (Shovel Down).

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by caradoc68 : Great Standing stone at Shovel Down with Graywethers forest in the back ground.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by caradoc68 : The Longstone is associated with a double stone row which along with two other double rows and two single rows make up the Shoveldon complex. The menhir stands at the northern end of its 148m stone row and is positioned across the linear alignment so as to act as a blocking stone. The height above ground of the granite pillar is 3.1m which makes it the fourth tallest menhir still standing on Dartm...

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by mattimpey : The Longstone on Shovel Down. Hopefully you can just make out the parish boundary initials that are carved in the side.

The Longstone (Shovel Down)
The Longstone (Shovel Down) submitted by mattimpey : The Longstone on Shovel Down. With Kestor Rock and Thornworthy tor in the background.

These are just the first 25 photos of The Longstone (Shovel Down). If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 85m SSW 199° Shovel Down row 6* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX660856)
 130m N 354° Shovel Down row 5* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX66028581)
 200m S 179° Three Boys* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX66038548)
 212m N 350° Shovel Down Cairn Row 4* Cairn (SX66008589)
 234m SSE 159° Thornworthy Corner North Cist (SX66118546)
 274m NNW 348° Shovel Down row 4* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX65988595)
 282m S 185° Shovel Down row 7* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX660854)
 318m NW 312° Shovel Down Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX658859)
 320m NNW 344° Shovel Down* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX65958599)
 359m NNW 346° Shovel Down Fourfold Circle* Stone Circle (SX65958603)
 500m NNW 342° Shovel Down row 3* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX65898616)
 521m N 355° Shovel Down row 1* Stone Row / Alignment (SX660862)
 526m N 350° Shovel Down row 2* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX65958620)
 560m NNW 337° Shovel Down stone circle* Stone Circle (SX65828620)
 749m W 265° Stonetor Brookhead East Cist (SX65288563)
 779m NE 39° Kes Tor Cairn* Cairn (SX6653286277)
 793m NE 39° Kes Tor Rock Basin* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SX66558628)
 806m WSW 253° Stonetor Hill Cairn Circle* Cairn (SX6525085470)
 819m NE 36° Kestor Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX66538633)
 900m WSW 247° Stonetor Hill Stone Ring Cairn Circle Ring Cairn (SX65198535)
 904m SE 133° Thornworthy Down Stone Row / Alignment (SX66688505)
 1.1km NE 39° Modern Stone Circle near Kestor Rock* Modern Stone Circle etc (SX66748652)
 1.2km NNE 16° The Round Pound* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX66398685)
 1.4km SSW 199° Fernworthy stone row N* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SX6553884336)
 1.4km SSW 198° Fernworthy Cairn N* Cairn (SX65548433)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Shovel Down row 4

Shovel Down Fourfold Circle >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Prehistoric Settlements

Prehistoric Settlements

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"The Longstone (Shovel Down)" | Login/Create an Account | 2 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: The Longstone (Shovel Down) by TheCaptain on Wednesday, 12 November 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
The Shovel Down Longstone is said to revolve slowly at sunrise, so as to warm each of its faces.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Longstone (Shovel Down) by TheCaptain on Wednesday, 20 October 2004
(User Info | Send a Message)
This lovely and enormous standing stone stands over 3 metres tall, and is unusually situated in a slight dip in the landscape, and can only be seen from a distance due to its vast height.

The stone is positioned between stone rows 5 and 6 of the Shovel Down complex, and possibly once formed a blocking stone at the end of row 5,as it is set square on to the rows. Parish boundary markings have been carved into 3 of its faces.
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.