Hoarstones, Stone circle in Chirbury with Brompton, England
The Hoarstones form a stone circle on the moorland of Shropshire with an elliptical shape measuring roughly 23 by 21 meters across. The ring consists of 38 to 40 small dolerite stones arranged in a deliberate pattern.
This stone circle originated during the transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age around 3000 BCE, when building practices shifted from long earthen mounds to round monuments. Researchers first documented the site in the 1830s, and an excavation in the 1920s uncovered more details about how it was constructed.
The stone circle represents Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age construction practices, marking a shift from long barrows to circular monuments around 3000 BCE.
The site sits on elevated moorland at roughly 300 meters in height and lies approximately 11 kilometers north of Bishop's Castle. Visitors should check local access permissions before going, as the land is privately owned and entry may be restricted.
Some of the stones bear small drill holes made by 19th-century miners who would fill them with gunpowder and detonate them as celebrations during local weddings. These marks tell the story of how the ancient site became part of community festivities in more recent times.
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