<< Our Photo Pages >> Hampton Down - Stone Circle in England in Dorset

Submitted by Baz on Thursday, 04 July 2002  Page Views: 22698

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Hampton Down Alternative Name: Hampton Stone Circle
Country: England County: Dorset Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Dorchester  Nearest Village: Portesham
Map Ref: SY59618650  Landranger Map Number: 194
Latitude: 50.676750N  Longitude: 2.572991W
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
 2 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
 4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

Geojazz would like to visit

BolshieBoris visited on 1st Aug 1994 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 2 Access: 4

richsmith paulcall davidmorgan JimChampion have visited here

Hampton Down stone circle
Hampton Down stone circle submitted by baz : Hampton Down stone circle, nr Portesham (SY596865). I counted ten stones, but Burl suggests eight or nine originally. (There`s a small stone at the middle right of this photo.) (Vote or comment on this photo)
Much messed around with circle of stnes high up on Portesham Hill in Dorset

By the time of its excavation, in 1965, the number of stones had increased to 28, all in the wrong position, further to the west. The circle had been moved to make way for a banked hedge. Now back in its original site, there are 10 stones in a small ellipse of 19ft by 20ft.

Access Park on the verge of the Bishop's Road at SY587866 (where it has a sharp bend above a deep coombe) and walk the "inland" South West coast path towards the east. The tiny circle is next to a gate and stile, and you could easily miss it if its overgrown.
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Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by bec-zog : The stones of the much damaged circle @ Hampton Down. Portesham Dorset (Vote or comment on this photo)

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Baz : I was fortunate to visit the circle soon after it had been cleared of vegetation and specifically added it because it shows a view of Chesil Beach from the circle. I couldn't get a photo of all of the stone circle and Chesil Beach. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Bladup : Hampton Down, Needs a trim and a bit of loving (Vote or comment on this photo)

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Bladup : Hampton Down (Vote or comment on this photo)

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Bladup : Hampton Down, Very overgrown

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by AngieLake : A diagram of Hampton Circle, taken from a book in 2008, found on old computer disk. Unsure which book. Hope this is ok to post?

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by adrianmcgrath : Hampton Down Iron Age Drone

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by adrianmcgrath : Found this photo from 2016 when filming some of the south Dorset ridgeway. Great area. Iron Age Drone

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Hampton Down stone circle looking good in it's early spring apparel, this seasons choice of fashion is an old dogs blanket draped rakishly over one shoulder.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Looking ENE, On the left is Hardy's monument, again.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Looking south to Chesil beach

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Looking eastish. 09.45am 21st March 2020.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Looking slightly east of north (NNNNNE). The gate and track are too close to the stones.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Trees never lie, bushes occasionally bend the truth, but we can see which way the wind blows.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Zooming over the stones to Chesil beach

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Postman : Looking west through the fence which is too close to the stones.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Bladup : Hampton Down stone circle. (2 comments)

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by Bladup

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by rogerkread : Hampton Down circle as it appeared out of the thick mist and drizzle on 16th June 2013. Don't you just love a typical English summer? Actually I was more impressed than I expected to be, but it is a pity that you can barely see the stones for the rampant vegetation.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by richsmith : Hampton Stone Circle October 2010. Very neglected and overgrown

Hampton down
Hampton down submitted by caradoc68 : Hampton down SY567 565,small stone circle in the grass very easy to find on a footpath about mile from Portesham.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by paulcall : Panorama of the circle in February 2007. I met a chap here who visits regularly, and sometimes tries to clip back the bramble. If everyone did the same, maybe it wouldn't be so overgrown. It wouldn't be defacing the monument, but maybe there are laws against it. (1 comment)

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by paulcall : This is the smallest stone within the circle, about 30cm across.

Hampton Down
Hampton Down submitted by JimChampion : The stones on the left of the circle are well hidden by brambles and nettles that are slowly reclaiming the site. If it wasn't for the old "Ministry of Works" sign attached to the stile you might easily miss this small circle.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 10m W 270° Hampton Down row Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SY596865)
 796m ESE 120° Portesham Stone 7 Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY603861)
 881m N 3° Valley of Stones circle* Stone Circle (SY59668738)
 928m SW 229° Bishops Limekiln Car Park* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY589859)
 966m WNW 286° White Hill Tumulus* Round Barrow(s) (SY58688677)
 982m SE 135° Portesham Stone 8 Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY603858)
 988m ENE 78° Hellstone* Long Barrow (SY60588670)
 993m SE 143° Portesham Stone 9* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY602857)
 1.1km E 84° Portesham Stone 12 Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY607866)
 1.1km E 79° Portesham Stone 11 Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY607867)
 1.1km ENE 63° Portesham Stone 1 Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY606870)
 1.2km ENE 65° Portesham Stone 2* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY607870)
 1.2km ENE 64° Jeffrey & Joan (Portesham) Standing Stones (SY60708701)
 1.2km ENE 75° Portesham Stone 3* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY608868)
 1.3km WNW 298° Grey Mare Processional Way* Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue (SY585871)
 1.3km N 6° Valley of Stones polisher* Polissoir (SY59758778)
 1.3km E 81° Portesham Stone 5 Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY609867)
 1.3km W 266° White Hill Plantation Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SY58298642)
 1.3km ENE 76° Portesham Stone 10* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY609868)
 1.3km ENE 63° Portesham Stone Row* Stone Row / Alignment (SY608871)
 1.3km WNW 294° Grey Mare and her Colts* Long Barrow (SY58398706)
 1.3km ENE 72° Portesham Stone 4* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SY609869)
 1.4km N 349° Crow Hill Enclosure* Ancient Village or Settlement (SY59368786)
 1.4km N 3° Valley of Stones quarry* Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry (SY59708788)
 1.6km NNE 29° Black Down Barrows (Dorset)* Barrow Cemetery (SY604879)
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"Hampton Down" | Login/Create an Account | 2 News and Comments
  
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Re: Hampton Down by 4seasonbackpacking on Saturday, 17 November 2018
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Re: Hampton Down by baz on Sunday, 09 December 2001
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When I visited this circle, in the autumn of 2001, the vegetation had been cleared, affording a clear view of the stones. By the time of its excavation, in 1965, the number of stones had increased to 28, all in the wrong position, further to the west. The circle had been moved to make way for a banked hedge. Now back in its original site, there are 10 stones in a small ellipse of 19ft by 20ft. Situated on a south facing hillside, Chesil Beach can be seen in the distance.
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