Nine Stones, Stone circle in Winterbourne Abbas, England
Nine Stones is a stone circle near Winterbourne Abbas in Dorset, forming an elliptical arrangement about 9 meters by 7.8 meters with seven smaller stones and two taller stones positioned at the northwest entrance. The circle sits close to the A35 road, protected by iron railings and surrounded by trees on three sides.
The monument dates from the Bronze Age, when circular structures replaced earlier building styles across Britain and Ireland between 3300 and 900 BCE. This shift reflects a major change in how communities designed and used sacred and ceremonial spaces.
Local names for this place include the Devil's Nine Stones, Nine Ladies, and Lady Williams and her Dog, reflecting how the community has woven regional folklore into the monument. These stories show how people connected the stones to their own tales and beliefs over generations.
The site is easy to access with parking available nearby, and you can visit any time of year. The ground is uneven in places and trees surround the stones, so wear suitable footwear and be prepared for muddy conditions after rain.
Most stones in the circle stand quite low at under 90 centimeters, but two stones at the northwest entrance rise dramatically to 2 meters and 1.8 meters tall. This striking height difference suggests the taller stones may have served a special purpose, perhaps marking the entrance to the space.
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