Stripple Stones Circle henge View all content for Stripple Stones

Details of Stones on Pastscape (SX 14377521) Stripple Stones (NAT) Henge (NR) (1) Class 1 Henge (2), being the second largest stone circle in Cornwall. It stands on the south east slope of Hawk's Tor. There were originally about 28 standing stones of granite up to 10' in height in a circle 146.5' in diameter, at an average distance of 16.5' apart. Only 4 were still standing at the time of the excavation (3) and comparison with Lukis's plan 1879 showed that there had been considerable pillage during the intervening years. The circle and platform were surrounded by a bank 224' in diameter, almost concentric with the stones. The broad and irregular inner ditch at the north east to west became indistinct at the south side. (2-4) The same number of stones remain (ie 4 standing, 10 recumbent) as shown on Tregelles' stylised plan. The gap in the west is probably the original entrance; breaks in the south bank appear to be modern. The henge is severely mutilated by cattle, particularly in the north quadrant. Surveyed at 1:2500. (5) A badly ruined circle-henge with stones of local granite. Originally a circle of 28 stones with a diameter of 147 ft stood inside a ditch and external bank measuring about 224 ft from crest to crest and broken by a single entrance at the WSW. The bank has curious semi-circular apses in it at NNE, E and WNW. The 1905 excavation showed that the stones were only poorly supported and several post holes to the north east and west of the centre stone may indicate where trial posts had stood before the position for the tall central pillar was determined. (6) Stripple Stones, at 280m above O.D. on a shelf of an otherwise very slight south east slope. Partly in open moorland and about one fifth of perimeter in enclosed pasture. Unaltered in recent years, an no obvious diggings by treasure hunters. Damage by cattle continues. Included in catalogue and distribution map of Neolithic sites in Cornwall. (8) Roughly circular enclosure defined by slight bank and ditch with single entrance and circle of standing stones on terrace on the south-east side of Hawks Tor at c 275m above OD. (9)

Posted by Chance 28th December 2014ce

Comments (0)
You must be logged in to add a comment