Swinside Stone Circle
Nr Millom, Cumbria
The circle is also known as Sunkenkirk after a legend that the Devil
made the stones sink into the ground to prevent them being used to build a
church's foundation.
Click on
Image to see a larger version
A circle often said to be the finest in Britain, and having spectacular
setting and views. I have not yet visited.
A near perfect circle 29 metres in diameter, with over 50 stones, some say
55. The stones are said to be finely dressed but could be weathered smooth.
The stones are very close together, a characteristic of the earlier larger
stone circles. The modern-day gaps at the E and the SW were filled with stones
originally.
Land rising at the back makes this easier to see and photograph than most and
many get really carried away with this circle, I have yet to visit it. There is
also a trig point on a high point (10 minute climb) that gives a view of it, in
its setting.
Legends and Quotes
Often quoted as the best or one of the best circles in Britain.
Marjorie Rowling mentions in her 'Folklore of the Lake District' (1976) that
the earliest source giving the name of the site is from 1642, when it was called
'Chapel Sucken' (sucked down or sunken down?). Janet and Colin Bord (in
'Prehistoric Britain from the Air') claim that people once tried to build a
church on this site - but once they'd gone home for their teas the Devil pulled
down what they'd built during the day (into the earth, one assumes - hence
Sunken Kirk).
From The Gentlemans Magazine, by J. T. Blight 1843
"In the parish of Millum, in the same county, there did exist the remains of a Druidical temple,
which the country people called " sunken kirk," i.e., a church sunk into the
earth. It is nearly a circle of very large stones, pretty entire, only a few
fallen upon sloping ground in a swampy meadow. At the entrance there are four
large stones, two on each side, at the distance of 6 feet. Through these you
enter into a circular area, 29 yards by 30. The entrance is nearly south-east.
It seems probable that the altar stood in the middle, as there are some stones
still to be seen there, though sunk deep in the earth. The situation and aspect
of the Druidical temple near Keswick is in every respect similar to this, except
the rectangular recess, formed by ten large stones, which is peculiar to
Keswick.
And I am informed that there are other remains of stone circles in these
northern districts, where there yet exist so many popular superstitions and
customs. Indeed, we find in Camden's account of Westmoreland allusion made to
the ruins of one ancient round structure, which has always been considered to
have been a temple dedicated to Diana, but which i now known by the name of
Kirkshead. Many such instances will be found in the ancient monuments of
Scotland. Sometimes there are two circles of stones, at others three circles,
having the same common centre.
From the general arrangement of the stones, one of the largest having a cavity,
at the bottom of which there is a passage for any liquid sacrifice to run down
the side of it, nothing can be more evident than that the triple circle of
stones was intended as an heathen temple, where Pagan priests performed their
idolatrous ceremonies ; and what is most remarkable is, that most of these
singular structures are still known by the name of chapels or temple stones". |
See also
Our
section on stone circles
The discussion on the purpose of stone circles
Planning Grid
Location: |
Swinside Stone Circle, Nr
Millom, Cumbria |
Grid Reference: |
SD171882
|
Map Link: |
Multimap
Google Maps aerial photograph
|
Getting there: |
The track up to the
circle is marked as authorised access only for vehicles so if you can leave
your car at the bottom, do so. The uphill (on the way there) walk is
beautiful anyway! There's a 3 car or so parking option maybe 20 yards before
the fork at Cragg Hall, on the verge opposite a gate. - Most say a 20 minute
walk. |
Access: |
Public path |
Parking: |
Limited and maybe
difficult, 20 minute walk away. |
Facilities: |
None |
Things To Do,
See and Photograph: |
Impressive stone circle
and views. |
What to take: |
|
Nature highlights: |
|
Best Times to
Visit: |
|
Address: |
Thwaites
Nr Millom
Cumbria |
Postcode: |
LA18 5LD |
Telephone: |
|
E-mail: |
|
Website: |
|
Opening times: |
open all the time |
Charges: |
None |
Photo Restrictions: |
None |
Other Restrictions: |
None |
Special Needs Access: |
20 minute walk uphill |
Special Needs Facilities: |
|
Children Facilities: |
|
Dogs Allowed: |
|
Other useful
websites: |
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/79
|
CIN Page Ref: |
swinside_stone_circle |
Date Updated:02/09 |
Please let us know any other information that we
can add to this Planning Grid or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always
wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be
correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of
course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have
any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page
then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you
quote the CIN Page Ref at the bottom of the Planning Grid above. To print the
planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.
Please submit information on locations you discover so
that this system continues to grow.
|