IronMan
Carved into the largest stone. Don’t know when this originates from as I can’t find any further information on this site. Any ideas, anybody?
Here’s what William Wordsworth had to say about Long Meg...
The monument commonly called Long Meg and her daughters, near the river Eden:
A WEIGHT of awe, not easy to be borne,
Fell suddenly upon my Spirit – cast
From the dread bosom of the unknown past,
When first I saw that family forlorn.
Speak Thou, whose massy strength and stature scorn
The power of years – pre-eminent, and placed
Apart, to overlook the circle vast -
Speak, Giant-mother! tell it to the Morn
While she dispels the cumbrous shades of Night;
Let the Moon hear, emerging from a cloud;
At whose behest uprose on British ground
That Sisterhood, in hieroglyphic round
Forth-shadowing, some have deemed, the infinite
The inviolable God, that tames the proud!
Visited Wayland’s Smithy on my 30th birthday, and must say I didn’t feel quite so old! And what a birthday party with such esteemed company. Mrs Ironman & I enjoyed a bit of birthday cake there and managed to get a whole hour of undisturbed peace. The highlight of an otherwise hectic day spent travelling from Bristol to London and back again!
On this freezing cold January afternoon the hills above the circle were alive with people walking their dogs, out with the kids etc. Quite a few of them walked to the circle in the time we were there, and I got the feeling, as in Julian’s notes in TMA, that local people Love this site. Great view of the hills to the east and over Morecambe bay.
Scant remains, in complete ruin (the result of excavations, from what I can gather), of what must have once been a very impressive site (well according to the artist’s impression!). Still keeps a good amount of atmosphere however.
Cheetham Close stone circle is almost non-existant. One stone stands roughly 0.5m upright, the rest are fallen and barely visible above the tufts of moorland grass. Around the site are the remains of a couple more cairns.
The ruinous condition of this circle are the result of a local farmer, the tenant of Turton Tower, taking sledgehammers to the stones in 1871, the circle was said to be in a good condition until that point.
West Kennett in November. Inside looking out – with apparition! (100% undoctored!)
Giant’s Grave with Black Combe. Baldmire is slightly obliterated by the nearer stone.
View to the west. Possible sacred hill alignment? Central (small) fell is Great Mell Fell, a conical fell rising up from a flat plain between Blencathra and Penrith.
This should be one of the most beautifully located circles and still manages to retain some dignity in the face of such a monstrous neighbour. You get the feeling this place is just totally UnLoved.
On this particular day (02.01.01ce) we drove round to the Sellafield Visitor Centre car park to check the map, then drove round the other side of the Power Station, where the circle is located. Two clean-cut squaddy types in Land Rovers followed us right the way round then continued past us to the Sellafield entrance next to the circle. Next a security guy drove past as we walked down the footpath. On our return a copper drove past us as we got back in the car. Sure enough he was waiting further down the road and proceeded to follow us for a further 3 miles, presumably ‘til we were safely away from Sellafield. I presume there’s heightened security at the moment, but two clowns struggling to fold up an OS map on a deserted car park, and then trudging through fields to a stone circle, seems like quite an unlikely threat!
Sunset view from the NE circle towards the church and the cove.
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