Mitchell's Fold |
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| District: Shropshire Ordnance Survey map reference: SO 304983. Landranger map number: 137. Latitude: 52.34 degrees. Longitude: -3.15 degrees. Architecture: Outlier & possible centre stone. Length of the major axis: 28.4 metres. Length of the minor axis: 25.9 metres. Height of the highest stone: 1.85 metres. Shape: Flat Type A. Number of stones in the circle originally: 30+. Number of stones in the circle now: 16. Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 5 Burl rating of the circle: 3 (Ruined but recognisable). Thom reference for the circle: D2/1 (1967). Astronomical alignments from this circle: -. Excavations undertaken at this circle: None. Details of any finds at this circle: None. This circle is in the care of English Heritage. Access to the circle: Mitchell's Fold is sign posted from nearby roads and appears on the large-scale AA maps. From the A488 road 9.5km, 6 miles north of Bishop's Castle, turn left (E) towards Priestweston. About 2km down this narrow lane there is a sharp bend to the right (N) and then to the left (W). At this second bend a signpost for Mitchell's Fold points along a rough track leading north. Follow this path for approx 450m, at the end of the path is a cattle grid and small car park. From here carry on by foot across the cattle grid and onto a heath, follow the track straight on up a slight incline for about 270m until you reach the brow of the incline. From here the circle is visible a short distance ahead. Description: At first sight Mitchell's Fold does not appear to be an impressive circle despite it's inclusion on large scale AA maps and it's English Heritage status. The stones are widely spaced and many, especially in the north western arc, are almost hidden by encroaching tall spiky grass, the exception being the tallest stone which stands much higher than the rest in the south eastern arc of the ring. This stone stands 1.85m high and was recently restored to its position after being toppled by vandals in June 1994. Aubrey Burl's guidebook to Stone Circles shows the stone toppled in an accompanying photograph. This stone, along with another fallen stone next to it may have formed part of an entrance and there is a possibility that it may have been part of an alignment on the major southern moonrise. If Mitchell's Fold itself does not seem overly impressive as far as stone circles go it's location certainly does. It's position high above a valley to the west offers magnificent views over the Shropshire countryside with the Welsh Valleys in the distance. To the NE is Stapely Hill, the source of the dolerite stones that make up the circle. The name Mitchell's Fold may derive from 'micel' or 'mycel', which is old English for 'big', a possible reference to the size of the circle rather than a person's name. Originally there would have been many more stones in the ring than the present 16, perhaps 30 or more, but many are now missing and most of the remaining stones have fallen. There have been claims that there was a central stone within the circle but no evidence for this remains, nor is there any evidence to back up an eighteenth century report that a lintel across the entrance stones like those at Stonehenge once existed. Close to Mitchell's Fold there are other prehistoric sites, the Whetstones was another stone circle that existed about half a mile to the east and to the north east about 1.5 miles away stands the Hoarstones stone circle, also close by can be found the Cwm-Mawr stone axe factory of the late Neolithic and early bronze age, giving some clue as to the age of this circle. The accessibility, location and stunning views from Mitchell's Fold certainly make it a circle worth a visit even though it's present condition and general appearance do little to make it a photogenic site. |
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| Mitchell's Fold as viewed from the south. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| A view of Mitchells' Fold from the SE shows part of the spectacular horizon to the west. In the forground can be seen the tallest stone. This was vandalised and toppled in June 1994 but has since been re-erected. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| This view shows the eastern
arc of the circle with Stapley Hill in the background; the sorce of the
stones for the circle. |
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