Mitchell's Fold, Bronze Age stone circle in Chirbury with Brompton, England
The stone circle measures 30 meters in diameter and contains 15 remaining dolerite stones extracted from the nearby Stapeley Hill.
The site dates back to the Bronze Age when communities constructed stone circles for gatherings and ceremonies across Britain.
Local narratives tell of a magical cow providing endless milk until a witch interfered, leading to her transformation into one of the stones.
The archaeological site sits at 305 meters altitude on Stapeley Common and connects to public footpaths through the Shropshire countryside.
In 1995, several stones were removed by farmers using mechanical equipment but were later returned to their original positions following legal action.
Location: Chirbury with Brompton
Part of: Mitchell's Fold stone circle, standing stone and cairn 280m south west of Mitchell's Fold
Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/mitchells-fold-stone-circle
GPS coordinates: 52.57870,-3.02610
Latest update: March 4, 2025 13:57
Stone circles stand among humanity's earliest architectural accomplishments, constructed by prehistoric communities across Europe and beyond over thousands of years. These circular arrangements of standing stones served multiple purposes, functioning as astronomical observatories where ancient peoples tracked celestial movements, seasonal changes, and solar events. The monuments also acted as communal gathering spaces for ceremonies, trade, and social activities. The engineering skills required to transport, raise, and position these massive stones—some weighing several tons—reveal the sophisticated organizational capabilities and technical knowledge of Neolithic and Bronze Age societies. This collection spans numerous locations throughout Europe. In England, Stonehenge features precisely arranged upright stones forming a 98-foot (30-meter) circle built between 3000 and 2000 BC, while the Avebury complex measures 1,086 feet (331 meters) across and dates to 2850 BC. Scotland hosts several significant sites, including the Callanish Stones with a central monolith standing 16 feet (4.8 meters) tall, and the Ring of Brodgar, which originally contained 60 stones encircled by a 30-foot (9-meter) wide ditch. The Castlerigg Stone Circle sits surrounded by Lake District peaks, constructed around 3000 BC. Beyond the British Isles, Germany's Goseck Circle demonstrates astronomical alignment dating to 4900 BC, making it one of the oldest known structures of its kind. Ireland's Drombeg Stone Circle uses 17 stones to mark solstice positions. Each site provides insight into how prehistoric communities observed the heavens, marked time, and organized their societies around these enduring monuments.
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