Rollright Stones

Ordnance Survey map reference: SP 296308.

Landranger map number: 164.

Latitude: 51.58 degrees.

Longitude: -1.34 degrees.

Architecture: Outlier (The King Stone)..

Length of the major axis: 31.6 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 31.6 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 2.1 metres.

Shape: Circle.

Number of stones in the circle originally: 22.

Number of stones in the circle now: 77.

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

Burl rating of the circle: 1 (Good, worth visiting).

Thom reference for the circle: S6/1.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: Sun rise Dec -3.8 (Whispering Knights), Capella Rise 1750.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: Pre 1610.

Details of any finds at this circle: None.

This circle is in state care.

Access to the circle:

Rollright stands next to a main road and is well sign posted and marked on the Landranger maps. It lies just yards from the side of the road and its outlier, the King Stone, stands in a field on the opposite side of the road. Car parking is available and disabled access may be possible.

Rollright is a very well known circle and has more than it's fair share of legends and folklore associated with it. Not surprising with it's numerous large blocks of gnarled limestone that stand like grotesque distorted statues in a perfect ring. The stones make up an almost complete wall. On the opposite side of the road stands the King Stone, alone and surrounded by a meaningless iron fence.Some distance away from the circle and to the east stands the haunting Whispering Knights Dolmen, a ruined burial chamber.  Although the stones at Rollright are numerous, many of them are possibly the remains of larger stones that have been broken up and placed around the ring. Originally there were probably only about 22 stones.Many books contain references to the site and it is a must for any stone circle enthusiast.

Rollright in the mist of dawn.

The gnarled stones of Rollright.

One of the larger stones at the site.

The King Stone imprisoned in it's iron fence.

The Whispering Knights Dolmen near the Rollright Stones.