Grey Croft

Ordnance Survey map reference: NY 034024.

Landranger map number: 89.

Latitude: 54.24 degrees.

Longitude: -3.29 degrees.

Architecture: Outlier, Internal cairn..

Length of the major axis: 27.1 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 24.4 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 2 metres.

Shape: Flat Type D.

Number of stones in the circle originally: 12.

Number of stones in the circle now: 12.

Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 8

Burl rating of the circle: 2 (Restored).

Thom reference for the circle: L1/10 Seascale.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: Deneb Setting Dec +36.3.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: 1949.

Details of any finds at this circle: Stone axe (Gp VI), Jet ring.

This circle is not in state care.

Access to the circle:

The circle is best approached from either How Farm, about 0.25 mile away, or from a bridge crossing a tributary of Newmill Beck on the Caulder works road. A vague footpath goes from the bridge to the circle. (This however is not a public right of way). The circle is clearly visible from the road.It was in 1986 that I visited this site and work at the nearby nuclear power plant may have altered the road and bridge since then.

The circle has been restored and each of the large, widely spaced stones, stands in a slight hollow dug around them during restoration. There is a low outlier to the north which was probably once buried (plough marks are visible on it's surface).A neat ring of large irregular boulders with clear views of the sea to the SW. The north however is over shadowed by the vast complex of the Windscale nuclear power plant. A strange juxtaposition of man's ancient and modern technologies. Watch out for the glowing bits! During excavation a solitary group VI stone axe was found buried beside stone 4 indicating a period of construction around the Late Neolithic; 2400BC.

Depressions around the stones at Grey Croft can clearly be seen.

The overshadowing nuclear power plant at Windscale is ominous and soul destroying on a visit to this site. (Also watch out for bulls!)

Grey Croft from the north with the outlier in the foreground.

The large boulderous stones of Grey Croft.