Nine Stone Close stone circle looking north in poor evening sunlight - summer 2000
Looking northwards through the stones
In the middle of the 19th century, the antiquarian Thomas Bateman recorded 7 upright stones at the site as well as finds of pottery sherds and flints. There were further excavations in 1877 which may have disturbed the stones, and what remains today is a rectangular setting of 4 stones - the tallest around 2 metres high - that would form a circle of a about 13 metres diameter if there were indeed originally nine stones, ('nine' could be a corruption of 'noon'). It seems that at least one more of the stones has survived, and now stands as part of a drystone wall to the south of the circle. A little further south is the rock outcrop of Robin Hood's Stride which may have served as a sacred hill alter, as from the centre of the circle the major southern moon is seen to set between the 2 stone pillars on top of the hill.
There are several legends and myths attached to this circle, one claims that the stones dance at midday, another says they dance at midnight. A story recorded in the 19th century tells of a farm labourer who found a clay pipe at the stones, and when he smoked it, was able to see through the surface of the earth near one of the stones to a land inhabited by fairy folk.
Glossary Item: Bronze Age
Looking south from the circle to the natural rock outcrop of Robin Hood's Stride
