Featured: How and why the ancients enchanted Great Britain and Brittany

How and why the ancients enchanted Great Britain and Brittany

Random Image


Knowes of Trotty

Temples of Stone: Exploring the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland

Temples of Stone: Exploring the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland

Who's Online

There are currently, 496 guests and 6 members online.

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

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Thompson's Rock - Holed Stone in England in Northumberland

Submitted by Bolddubhglas on Thursday, 18 September 2008  Page Views: 28405

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Thompson's Rock Alternative Name: Simonside Beacon Hill Solar Observatory
Country: England County: Northumberland Type: Holed Stone
Nearest Town: Rothbury  Nearest Village: Rothbury
Map Ref: NZ0475098632
Latitude: 55.281799N  Longitude: 1.926768W
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.
4 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

Anne T visited on 12th Nov 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Thompson's Rock, Simonside: This was the coldest, windiest day of the year so far,, and I thought we were going to a much more sheltered spot, so I wasn't dressed for the weather. Ashamed to say I sent husband off with the camera, as he was fully equipped for this moorland. He reported the rock was well worth going to see.

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Bolddubhglas : Thompson's Rock Simonside Beacon (Vote or comment on this photo)
Holed Stone in Northumberland. Thompson's Rock on the lower slopes of the Beacon on Simonside is surely worth a visit. Re-discovered in 1987 by David Thompson, it has a ragged two to three inch diameter hole running through it of about one and a half metres in length.

It is alleged that this hole is directly aligned with the midsummer sunset and in Paul Frodsham's excellent book "In the Valley of the Sacred Mountain" there is a picture of just this.

Whilst the hole is possibly natural, although this has not yet been proven, Crispian Oates who studied this area in great detail has suggested that a ritual centre linked with solar movements may have existed in this area. And why not?

Mr Oates states that : "The site consists of a rough circle of stones with the Central Holed Stone (CHS) in the middle. At the north side a stone appears to be missing but there is stone in the ground at the position of the gap."

And he also identified "a trial stone" with two holes that line up but do not connect, indicating how the the CHS may have been made."

Obviously a great deal of work still remains and we look forward to further investigation.

Source: Around and about Rothbury (look for the Potts chair page, which has details of other unusual rocks in the locality) and see also the Beacon Solar Observatory pages.

Note: See link below for BBC feature on Thompson's Rock from the Inside Out north east programme. UK only and only there for a few days
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Anne T : Looking back over the rock towards the Simonside Ridge Walk (photo by Andrew T) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Anne T : Looking through the larger hole in the rock, viewed in natural sunlight about 2pm on a grey, winter's day (photo by Andrew T) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Anne T : The hole on the other side of the rock (showing its position on this face of the stone). (Photo by Andrew T) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Anne T : One side of the hole in Thompson's Rock (photo by Andrew T) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Anne T : Looking north towards Whitton Burn in the valley below (photograph by Andrew T)

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Anne T : First view of Thompson's Rock, as you get level with it from Simonside Ridge Walk (photo by Andrew T)

Thompson's Rock
Thompson's Rock submitted by Bolddubhglas : Thompsons Rock near Rothbury, Northumberland. Site of disputed antiquity?

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
 233m W 260° Spy Law Beacon Cairn* Cairn (NZ04529859)
 438m NNE 17° West Lordenshaw (Birky Hill) N03 Rock Art (NZ0487999051)
 550m NNE 28° Birky Hill 1b* Rock Art (NZ0500899118)
 551m NNE 28° Birky Hill 1a* Rock Art (NZ0501099119)
 553m NNE 28° Birky Hill 1c* Rock Art (NZ0500799122)
 620m NE 47° West Lordenshaw 2a (i)* Rock Art (NZ0520299058)
 621m NE 47° West Lordenshaw 2a (ii)* Rock Art (NZ0520299059)
 650m NE 45° West Lordenshaw 2b Rock Art (NZ0521499089)
 666m NNE 32° West Lordenshaw (Birky Hill) 1f Rock Art (NZ051992)
 679m NE 42° West Lordenshaw 2c (extension 1)* Rock Art (NZ0520599137)
 681m NNE 31° Birky Hill N04 Rock Art (NZ0509899218)
 681m NNE 31° Birky Hill N02 Rock Art (NZ0510099217)
 686m NNE 31° Lordenshaw Horseshoe Rock* Rock Art (NZ0510099223)
 689m NE 42° West Lordenshaw 2c (extension 2) Rock Art (NZ0521399144)
 699m NNE 29° Birky Hill N01 Rock Art (NZ0509499241)
 699m NE 42° West Lordenshaw Main Rock* Rock Art (NZ0522399149)
 702m NNE 30° Birky Hill 1e* Rock Art (NZ0509799243)
 702m NE 42° West Lordenshaw N01 Rock Art (NZ0522499152)
 735m ENE 57° South Lordenshaw 4 & 5 Rock Art (NZ0537099030)
 739m ENE 57° South Lordenshaw 3 Rock Art (NZ0537499032)
 771m NE 54° South Lordenshaw 1* Rock Art (NZ0537799084)
 774m NE 54° South Lordenshaw 2* Rock Art (NZ0537899087)
 788m NNE 32° Birky Hill 1g Rock Art (NZ0517199300)
 800m ENE 67° South Lordenshaw 6 Rock Art (NZ0548698952)
 849m NE 44° West Lordenshaw 2e* Rock Art (NZ0534099244)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Felm Urdolmen

Moesgard Museum >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

The Mind in the Cave

The Mind in the Cave

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Thompson's Rock" | Login/Create an Account | 12 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Thompson's Rock by Anonymous on Wednesday, 04 October 2023
The 'trial stone' must be the answer to whether the CHS is holed naturally or by human hand. Nature surely wouldn't make a trial stone with blind holes from either end, then leave it lying around next to the finished article? She would also have to be pretty choosy, drilling only one hole in the rock, and that, not just anywhere, but in the very centre of it. Furthermore, are there any other instances of huge boulders with very narrow holes all the way through that have occured naturally?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thompson's Rock by Anne T on Sunday, 19 November 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
The location of this rock is marked on UK Grid Reference Finder. I've updated the grid reference from 4 figures to their 10 digit NGR.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thompson's Rock by Anonymous on Monday, 12 December 2016
The correct location for this is:

Lat: 55° 16' 55.13" N
Long: 1° 55' 37.57" W

Google map link: http://bit.ly/2gyROI1
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thompson's Rock by Anonymous on Tuesday, 13 July 2010
are these coordanates accurate as they show a sight on the other side of the coquet valley from simonside
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Thompson's Rock by Andy B on Tuesday, 13 July 2010
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hello, no they are a big guess in this case so any help appreciated
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Thompson's Rock by Modern-Neolithic on Tuesday, 12 June 2012
      (User Info | Send a Message)
      An Accurate position is given on the Beacon solar Observatory web page.

      Grid Ref:NZ046986.
      [ Reply to This ]

The stone looks really similar to objects we've found here in Germany, Saxony by Anonymous on Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Goetterhand writes:
The stone looks really similar to objects we've found here in Germany, Saxony in the area of "Oberlausitz" - http://www.goetterhand.de

If you are interested there is also a film on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kyr8A4P8uE

[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thompson's Rock BBC feature by Andy B on Thursday, 18 September 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
...20 minutes in - and it has Maggie Philbin in
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thompson's Rock BBC feature by Andy B on Thursday, 18 September 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
A BBC feature on Thompson's Rock that was shown last night! It was on the Inside Out north east programme. Here's the link (it which will only be operative for the next few days):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00dm5mc/

It's the third segment of the show (the first two are not of any relevance to the topic), it was recorded on the Summer Solstice this year. I trust it will be of some interest.

Thanks to Bill for the link
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thompson's Rock by Anonymous on Tuesday, 24 June 2008
the sunset at summer solstice eve was magnificent, BBC were there, myself Lance moore, friend Larraine and local enthusiast Gavin present. Makes one think.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Thompson's Rock by Anonymous on Wednesday, 24 September 2008
    Hello 'anonymous', the sunset was a most wonderful experience, made more pleasant by the agreeable company.
    We are still reeling from the experience, with hardly a day passing where we don't talk about it. Be nice to have e dvd of the bit of the programme regarding the stone. Lance Moore and Larraine Reay.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Thompson's Rock by bolddubhglas1 on Wednesday, 25 April 2012
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hi Lance, it's Gavin here - only taken me nearly 4 years to reply! I had forgotten about this post and since then lost my password, but ive opened a new one, with the same username, and hope that you and Larraine are well. It was a pleasant evening spent with you both - and Maggie! Hope to bump into you in the hills again soon!
    [ 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.