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The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Orchardleigh Stones - Chambered Tomb in England in Somerset

Submitted by traveller on Sunday, 14 December 2003  Page Views: 16710

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Orchardleigh Stones Alternative Name: Druid Stones at Murtry Hill
Country: England County: Somerset Type: Chambered Tomb
Nearest Town: Frome  Nearest Village: Buckland Dinham
Map Ref: ST763506  Landranger Map Number: 183
Latitude: 51.254068N  Longitude: 2.340985W
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.
3 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
3

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Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : These are lovely stones when they carch the sunlight. (Vote or comment on this photo)
This site was excavated by H St George Gray, the archaeologist fanous for his work at Avebury and Arbor Low, in 1921. It is composed of a low mound with two stones, one of which is broken, at the eastern end. The remains of other stones found during the excavation can be seen to the west.

The stones are at a slight incline so whether the used to form part of a chamber is only speculation. Access is a little restricted and permission from Murtry Hill Farm is needed to enter field for photos. Further details about the history of the site can be found on the Somerset Historic Environment Reccord website. One delightful story about the site says that a workman who dug down ten feet still failed to find the bottom of the large stone. It was said that the stone fell and crushed the workman, before returning to its original position.
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Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : The Orchard Leigh Stones at Murtry Hill Somerset. Possible remains of a Barrow. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by Bladup : The Orchardleigh Stones. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by Bladup (Vote or comment on this photo)

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by traveller : Orchardleigh Stones, Somerset. View 2. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by traveller : Orchardleigh Stones. Nr Buckland Dinham, Somerset. Sheet 183 ref 764514. We saw these on the map whilst looking around the area, so I know nothing about them other than they are enclosed within a fence near to the Orchardleigh golf course. They are a slight incline so whether the used to form part of a chamber is only speculation. Access is a little restricted and permission may be needed to ente... (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by Bladup : The Orchardleigh Stones.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by Bladup

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by Andy B : Wider view of the site. Seen on the Portal meet 15 April 2007.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by Andy B

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by JimChampion : Holes and lichen on the largest of the Orchardleigh Stones. Seen on the Portal meet 15 April 2007.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by JimChampion : Lichen on one of the larger of the Orchardleigh Stones. Seen on the Portal meet 15 April 2007, under the guidance of hamish. (1 comment)

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by JimChampion : The two impressively large stones at Orchardleigh. As seen on the Portal meet 15 April 2007.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : Portal Admin's meet. April 15th 2007 Deb having a closer look.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : Portal meet. April 15th 2007 The group checking out these great Stones.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : Portal meet. April 15th 2007 Chloe as a size contrast at the Orchard Leigh Stones.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : One of the stones around the site, left from the excavation in 1920. This excavation revealed the stones were moved in 1804.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : The stones at Murtry Hill, said to be on the Michael-Mary serpent line.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : This is what you see on the approach to The stones. You can see from here the form of the barrow. It is thought it was a portal dolmen in a round barrow which was turned into a long barrow by a westward extention. The stones, as they are now, were probably restored in this position to enhance the site.

Orchardleigh Stones
Orchardleigh Stones submitted by hamish : Orchardleigh Stones ST 763507 Explorer 142. About one and a half miles up the Radstock road A362 , just before you reach Buckland Dinham look for Murtry Hill Lane. Follow this till you reach Murtrey Hill Farm. Park by the field gate on the right,you have to walk the hedge line and at the end there are the stones. It is a good idea to ask the Farmers permission,which he readily gives. He can a... (1 comment)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.5km SW 230° Elm Barrows, Great Elm Round Barrow(s) (ST75174965)
 2.5km SE 131° Fromefield Stones* Marker Stone (ST78174898)
 2.5km E 90° Staplemead Round Barrow Round Barrow(s) (ST788506)
 2.8km WSW 257° Mells, Newbury Firs Artificial Mound (ST73605001)
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 5.9km ENE 62° The Devil's Bed and Bolster* Chambered Tomb (ST81495333)
 6.1km SW 215° Nunney Artificial Mound (ST72734564)
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 8.6km N 5° Beacon Barrow (Somerset) Round Barrow(s) (ST77095920)
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 8.7km S 187° Witham Friary 2 Round Barrow(s) (ST75264194)
 8.8km N 358° The Giants Graves Cist (ST761594)
 9.0km NNW 338° Twinhoe Stone Circle (ST730590)
 9.1km N 3° Hill Farm Barrow (Somerset) Round Barrow(s) (ST76855969)
 9.2km NW 307° Roundhill Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (ST69005616)
 9.3km NW 307° Rowberrow Field Barrow Round Barrow(s) (ST68925630)
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"Orchardleigh Stones" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Re: Orchardleigh Stones by Anonymous on Thursday, 19 April 2007
Orchardleigh has a long history of bad excavation by antiquarians before Gray's foray in 1915, he measured the mound as being 65m long and 42m wide, orientated east/west. He found forty blocks of glauconite sandstone, also blocks of ragstone which he argued were slabs of roofing slab. Lots of bones had been discovered before Gray's investigation, and he also found plenty of bones.
Jodie Lewis (Monuments, Ritual and Regionality; Neolithic of Northern Somerset) says that it stands on a plateau surrounded by streams and brooks, and the Mell river to the s/e, almost on an island. Murtry hill was originally called 'Mortuary Hill'.
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