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Stanton Drew 

Stone Circles, Avon

A close-up of one
of the stones

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These circles cover a large area so it is difficult to appreciate their grandeur.

There are two main circles, the Great Circle, diameter 113m, and the North-east Circle (30m). The former is the second largest in Britain after Avebury. There are also random blocks which were apparently once part of two avenues similar to the West Kennet Avenue at Avebury. Cattle are kept in the field with the stones, making for plenty of cow-pats! There is a third circle of eleven stones nearby on private land.

The name Stanton is derived from the Angle-Saxon "stan' (stone) 'tun' (farm). The site has not been excavated, but it is believed to be the same age as the Avebury circles. In the news in 1998 was the discovery of concentric post-hole rings inside the main circle. These showed up on a geophysical survey carried out by English Heritage with new, more sensitive magnetic instruments. They indicate that once there was a massive timber henge or building here.

 


drew2.jpg (15973 bytes)For more details:

stan27.jpg (33513 bytes)The site has two legends common to many stone circles; a 'revellers turned to stone' story and the supposed impossibility of counting the stones.

Some distance away in the same village is The Cove.

Stanton Drew:

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Thanks to Andy Summers (above) for the extra Stanton Drew photos


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