English Neolithic stone circle

Set on Stanton Moor in the English county of Derbyshire, this delightful place is at once beautiful and inspiring. A few miles to the northwest of Matlock, Stanton Moor is a windswept place, popular with walkers because of the scenery and history of the place. The moor is dotted with many ring barrows, burial cairns and standing stone monuments, of which the Nine Ladies is the most spectacular.

The nine stones are surrounded by young tree growth, and overlook the cliff edge to the east. The stones are laid out in a slightly flattened circle about 36 feet (14 metres) across, originally surrounded by a slight bank, and which in turn contained a low cairn. Most of the stones appear to be about 3 feet (1 metre) in height.

A flat stone (about 4 feet across) lying just within the circle may have topped the original cairn, and a tenth stone, the "King's Stone", stands away about 100 feet (40 metres) to the southwest. The bank and cairn are barely visible now, worn away by generations of visitors.

History and Legend

As with so many circles, legend has it that nine local women were dancing in a circle on the moor on the Sabbath, and they and the fiddler were turned to stone as punishment for their sin. In some stories, the violinist became a piper, and the King's Stone is sometimes referred to in local histories as the "Piper's Stone".

In fact, the circle was most likely built in Neolithic times, probably between 3,500 and 4,000 years ago, as the whole area is dotted with burial mounds which have been dated to this time. It may have been used by Druids - the area is replete with trees bearing mistletoe, sacred to the religion, and there are many local legends related to Druid activity. (The Druid's Inn at the nearby village of Birchover, and legends abound of Druids worshipping at other sites.)

Thomas Bateman, a local historian and archaeologist, surveyed the site in the 1840s, and recovered some shards of pottery and left many observations and drawings behind.

The stone is local Millstone grit, probably mined at a nearby quarry (the closest of which is about 200 metres away). Indeed, there is still a great deal of quarrying in the area (as with much of the Peak District), and recent controversies over the planned expansion of a nearby commercial quarry have brought the stones into the news again.

Plans are in hand to reopen two quarries adjacent to Stanton Edge, and English Heritage and other conservation groups are very worried about the impact on the area, especially these unique monuments. The media recently reported that large numbers of protesters had gathered to raise public awareness of their concern, although only two were evident when I visited the site.

The main threat to the site is in fact not commercial interests, but the footfall of an estimated 40,000 visitors a year. At the time I was there, a project to preserve the area was already under way.

The paths leading to the stones have been built up and turfed, and the stones themselves were fenced off while the ground was being built up and grassed over. Erosion has accounted for up to six inches (15 cm) of soil loss in places around the circle, and many people have dug fire pits, which have destroyed the grass and sterilised the topsoil. In addition, several of the stones have been chipped at by souvenir hunters, and the King's Stone was recently damaged by a park ranger, who reversed his Land Rover into it.

Personal Observations

I felt at peace here, walking deosil around the circle, sitting on the grass next to them. The spiritual feeling could not be dampened by the fencing set up to protect them during the conservation process, and I was filled with a sense of well-being. The site itself is still beautiful, surrounded by young trees, and overlooking the Derwent valley to the east. I could imagine myself there thousands of years ago, before the vandalism and thoughtlessness of later generations took their toll on this wonderful place.

http://www.stonehenge.ukf.net/nineladies.htm
http://www.jwoodhouse.co.uk/derbyshire/stanton_info.htm
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/tpau/projects/nls/records.html
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/tpau/projects/nls/problems.html
Pictures here, http://www.wertperch.co.uk/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=derby_03_2003
Map here, http://tinyurl.com/69um6