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How and why the ancients enchanted Great Britain and Brittany

Inscribed Across the Landscape: The Cursus Monuments of Great Britain

Inscribed Across the Landscape: The Cursus Monuments of Great Britain

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<< Our Photo Pages >> The Shearers - Stone Row / Alignment in Scotland in Scottish Borders

Submitted by minteddy on Monday, 18 May 2009  Page Views: 8355

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: The Shearers
Country: Scotland County: Scottish Borders Type: Stone Row / Alignment
Nearest Town: Hownam  Nearest Village: The Street
Map Ref: NT79101925  Landranger Map Number: 80
Latitude: 55.466635N  Longitude: 2.332116W
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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Anne T visited on 27th Jun 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 The Shearers, Hownam, Scottish Borders: By the time we got to the Shearers, the sun was high in the sky and beating down on us. Many horseflies, but thankfully no ticks. I was able to help with Sandy G's survey by acting as ‘the target’ for the disto (holding a piece of paper upright against the ranging pole so they could get accurate distances from the pole to each stone). It occurred to me that where the row goes down the slope and ends at what is now a bog, at NT 7907 1927, perhaps this might have been a spring in ‘the olden days’ and been the water source for the hillfort. The top end of the row seems to ‘bend’ slightly to the south east, heading towards looks like a hollowed out/partially excavated cairn. It was fascinating to watch Sandy’s process of surveying the row, the row being too long to survey in one, so it was done in two halves. First he measured the distance of the centre of each stone from a ranging pole located in one spot, then took the angle of the stone from its central point to the ranging pole, transferring the measurements onto a plan, then photographed each stone individually. Finally, he walked up and down looking for ‘sighting lines’ – seeing what was visible from each stone, in which direction, and whether or not the stones echoed the shapes of any features in the landscape. The conclusion Sandy came to (I think, as he says working out the details later will confirm or not) is that he counts this as a ‘possible’ stone row. It appears to be clearly associated with the nearby hill fort. I still dispute Canmore’s interpretation as the remains of a field boundary, as surely it would be connected to other old field boundaries nearby. None of these other boundary features had the earth removed from them. We finally got back to the car at 6.30pm - the time had just flown. A very educational afternoon, and I was really pleased to have been involved in Sandy's survey. Pleasant day in pleasant company.

SandyG visited on 27th Jun 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 3 Limited car parking is available in Hownam village at NT 77872 19153. From here follow the track uphill to the east. There is a fine standing stone at NT 78747 18908 which is worth checking out. From here follow the track to NT 79205 19048 then head north. I would like to thank Anne and Andrew Tate for helping with the survey and for sharing such an enjoyable day in another special place.

Anne T visited on 4th May 2015 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 The Shearers Stone Row, near Hownam, Scottish Borders: Continuing on from the Horseshoe Wood Standing Stone, continuing up the hill, towards the top of the hill, but not quite, the pathway divides. To the left runs a path to Belford, with The Street leading to Alwinton. Turning left towards The Shearers and Hownam Rings Hill Fort, we needed to go through two gates and track across the field rather than follow the signposted path. We noticed (more on the return journey due to the evening light) an earthwork. It was particularly evident near the two gateways by the signpost. According to the Canmore/RCAHMS record (341447) it is an earthwork of uncertain date, but very like the medieval estate boundaries we’ve been looking with the local archaeology group at Davy’s Lee in Northumberland. There is no formal track across the tussocky grass, so the walking was a little trickier, but not impossible - there are plenty of sheep tracks to avoid turning your ankles. I saw at least three pairs of boulders in the grass leading from the Street to the Shearers – could these possibly be signposts to this monument, such as at the Loupin’ Stanes and the Girdle Stanes? Standing in the middle of The Shearers it felt like being in the middle of a shallow bowl with a view only to the west. Following the row to its western end, it appeared to end in a boggy area – was this deliberate? Hownam Rings Hill Fort was only 100 metres to the north and clearly visible above the Shearers.



Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 4.33 Access: 3

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : Looking east along the row. In common with longer rows this one has a sinuous form. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The Shearers. A line of approximately 25 to 30 stones running east to west. This view is looking westwards. My friend gives some idea of the height of these stones. The tallest is barely knee high.

The area is full of ancient remains, Roman roads and camps. Five Stanes stone circle and Trestle cairn, the Roman Road of Dere Street are barely 5 km to the west.

The path way up to the Shearers follows the line of the ancient track way "The Street" through the Cheviot Hills. It is truly a magical area.

For more information see Canmore ID 58965, which records the row as running from NT 7907 1927 to NT 7918 1926.

Update October 2019: This stone row is featured on the Stone Rows of Great Britain site - see their entry for The Shearers, which includes a description, photographs of the alignment and the individual stones, a plan of the row with a possible associated cairn, plus access information.

The SRoGB also includes a section discussing 'Landscape Reveals', illustrating the different landscape features that become apparent (then disappear) as you walk along the row.

There is also ongoing debate as to the interpretation of this alignment. The SRoGB notes: "RCAHMS consider this site to be a field boundary, but photographs suggest that it may be a stone row. Furthermore it is scheduled as a stone row although the descriptive text indicates that it is considered to form part of an ancient field dyke. Burl follows this interpretation but also accepts that there is a degree of uncertainty. Barber notes that it is 'a row of stones of unknown function and is clear that it is not a dyke".
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The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : Plan of The Shearers stone row (Source: survey at 1:500 by Sandy Gerrard, Andrew and Anne Tate). (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : The western length of the row. View from the east (Scale 1m). (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : The central length of the row. View from the west (Scale 1m). (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : Looking east along the row (Scale 1m). (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : Length of row leading up the west facing slope. View from the west. (Vote or comment on this photo)

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : View from above and west showing the eastern part of the row (Scale 1m).

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : Stones forming the central length of the row. View from the east.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by SandyG : The eastern length of the row and associated cairn. View from the west.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : Standing towards the eastern end of The Shearers, looking north. Sandy G and my husband both suggested these stones echoed the shape of the hill beyond. I wasn't convinced at the time, but perhaps there's a vague echo of the shapes ….. ?

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : Standing about half way along the row, looking westwards towards Hownam and the Kale Water valley.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : Standing towards the western end of the row, where it begins to go slightly downhill towards what is now a boggy area. A blocking stone stops just before the bog. It occurred to me that in days gone by, this might have been a spring (there were pools of water even after a prolonged dry spell) and might have been the water source for the hillfort.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : The western most visible stone in the row appears to end at a boggy area. I wondered if this might be a natural spring and the natural end of the stone row.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : One of the larger of the stones towards the middle of this stone row.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : Standing at the eastern end of the Shearers Stone Row, looking down the row of stones.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : This was my first view of The Shearers, running across the centre/middle of the photograph from left to right.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : From The Street towards The Shearers there are at least three pairs of boulders sitting in the grass. Is this some sort of avenue or signpost towards either the stone row or Hownam Rings Hill Fort?

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by Anne T : This is part of the boundary feature we noticed, turning a right angle, near where the footpath divides, having turned left and passed through the two adjacent gates into the field. The Canmore/RCAHMS records say it is of uncertain date.

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by minteddy : NT79101925. The Shearers. This view is looking east. Cheviot is the snow covered hill in the background. This photo was taken at the end of October 2008. The area is full of ancient remains, Roman roads and camps. Five Stanes stone circle and Trestle cairn, the Roman Road of Dere Street are barely 5 km to the west. The path way up to the Shearers follows the line of the ancient track way "The S... (1 comment)

The Shearers
The Shearers submitted by minteddy : Grid Reference NT79101925. The Shearers. A line of approximately 25 to 30 stones running east to west. This view is looking westwards. My friend gives some idea of the height of these stones. The tallest is barely knee high. The land stepping up on the left background of the photo is the hiilfort "Hownam Rings". (Hownam is pronounced "Who num").

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 152m NNW 337° Hownam Rings Hill Fort* Hillfort (NT79041939)
 501m SW 225° Horseshoe Wood (Hownam)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT78741890)
 679m WSW 240° Horseshoe Wood Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (NT78511891)
 2.5km SSW 208° Little Heuch Law Cairn* Cairn (NT77921705)
 2.8km SSW 208° Dodlaw Burn* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT77791681)
 2.8km N 11° Hownam Law Hillfort* Hillfort (NT7964022000)
 2.9km SSW 202° Dodlaw Cairn Round Cairn (NT77991655)
 3.6km SW 222° Chatto Craig* Hillfort (NT76701662)
 3.7km E 91° Calroust Hillfort* Hillfort (NT828192)
 4.5km WSW 238° Five Stanes A* Stone Circle (NT75261686)
 4.6km SW 225° Dere Street stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT75801604)
 5.0km SW 231° Trestle Cairn* Stone Circle (NT75181612)
 5.2km SW 231° Five Stanes B Stone Circle (NT7516)
 5.4km SW 227° Black Knowe (Borders)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT75131554)
 5.5km SW 227° Dere Street Cairn* Round Cairn (NT75061552)
 5.7km E 84° Sourhope Hillfort* Hillfort (NT8475219825)
 5.9km E 79° Fasset Hill (Sourhope)* Ancient Village or Settlement (NT8492520359)
 6.3km SW 224° Falla Knowe Cairn* Cairn (NT74711475)
 6.3km S 186° Standard Knowe Cairn (NT78411300)
 6.8km ESE 109° Stoney Knowe Hillfort* Hillfort (NT855170)
 6.8km E 89° Bonnielaws Hillfort* Hillfort (NT8589319312)
 7.1km SSW 199° Woden Law* Hillfort (NT76771254)
 8.1km SW 227° Dark Wood* Cairn (NT73111377)
 8.2km SSW 194° Hindhope Hill Cairn* Cairn (NT7710811310)
 8.3km SSW 196° Hindhope Hill Hillfort* Hillfort (NT76811127)
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