The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Toller Porcorum Churchyard

Christianised Site

Fieldnotes

Only 5 miles or so west of the Cerne Abbas Giant and east of Eggardun hill, this 'site' is an extraordinary place, being a rare example of a churchyard built on a stone circle outside of North Wales. The village is tiny (population less than 300) and the church is unmissably easy to find.

The church stands on a raised and almost circular piece of level ground, the site of the stone circle. In the 1980s part of the northern wall of the churchyard collapsed and two small standing stones were revealed, having had the wall built around them.

Sadly they were moved to the main gateway of the churchyard and set in concrete (and named Andrew and Peter after the saints of the church), but their presence proves the ancient provenance, and there is a tremendous sense of place here.

The church is left unlocked, and there is a small booklet available detailing its history. It makes no mention of the stones or anything to do with its ancient origins; indeed, it doesn't even put a date on when the church was first built (although the tower was added in 1300, so we are talking seriously old).

Not a great deal to actually *see* here as such, but it is certainly a captivating place to *be*.

(Visited 3 August 2000)
Posted by Merrick
6th August 2000ce

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