The Spinsters’ Rock

Spinsters' Rock – 22.12.2002

I approached this from the main rd, the A382. The junction with the side road towards the Spinsters' Rock is tiny and like me you may overshoot it. It is signposted from this junction. The junction is almost a cross roads, and the road up to the Spinsters' Rock looks (at the

junction) like you are driving into someone's front garden! Half way up the road you will find a small lay-by on the South side of the road opposite the biggest farm buildings along this road, with a small wooden signpost to the burial chamber. The lay-by says that it is specifically for people visiting the burial chamber.

At the end of the lay-by is a gate that takes you into the field where the Spinster's Rock stands. A wooden plague on the gate reads "A Neolithic burial chamber erected around 3500-2500 BC. This chamber probably contained many burials and would originally have been covered by a long earthen mound. The stones fell down in 1862 and were re-erected in the same year. Traditionally this monument was erected by 3 spinsters one morning before breakfast"

Again, a great setting for a lovely burial chamber. Real peace and beauty. A small plea though, please don't leave dodgy 'gifts' around the burial chamber. Someone had left mistletoe here, which for the lovely (if slightly territorial) grey horse sharing this field is not a good meal. Please think before you do things like that. Mistletoe is a parasite, the berries have poisonous properties and should be kept away from (especially) children and animals.

comment 0 Comments