) 


7 


31 


A GROUP  OF  CUMBRIAN  MEGALITHS. 

BY  C.  W.  DYMOND,  ESQ. 

“ These  antiquities  are  so  exceedingly  old  that  no  bookes  doe  reach 
them,  sc.  that  there  is  no  way  to  retrive  them  but  by  comparative 
antiquitie,  which  I have  writt  upon  the  spott  from  the  monuments 
themselves.” — John  Aubrey. 

The  four  plans^  which  illustrate  this  short  paper  have  been 
selected  for  publication  as  representing  the  most  important 
megalithic  antiquities  in  the  county,  and  as  the  only  ones 
connected  with  that  part  of  England  in  my  possession  which 
have  been  accurately  surveyed.  At  the  same  time,  they  are 
remarkable  as  exhibiting  most  of  the  distinctive  peculiarities 
which  characterise  various  classes  of  these  remains  in  Britain. 
For  instance,  we  have — 1st,  a fine  specimen — taking  rank 
as  the  fourth  in  England — of  the  great  stone-circle,  with  the 
added  feature  of  a gateway  or  rudimentary  avenue,  and  an 
external  menhir  ; 2nd,  an  excellent  example  of  the  smaller 
circle,  with  stones  in  close  order,  and  with  a perfect  entrance 
gateway  ; 3rd,  an  instance  of  a circle,  partly  in  open  and 
partly  in  close  order,  with  some  sepulchral  indications,  and 
with  an  inclosed  chamber  on  the  eastern  side  ; 4th,  a typical 
specimen  of  an  irregularly  inclosed  cemetery,  with  no  marked 
peripheral  feature. 

To  the  memoranda  written  on  the  plans  I will  add  the 
following  particulars  : — • 

Long  Meg  and  her  Daughters. — The  earliest  published 
account  of  these  remains  is  that  of  Camden,  who  made  a 
survey  of  Cumberland  in  1599.  He  says  : — 

“ At  Little  Salkeld  there  is  a circle  of  stones,  seventy ^seven  in  num- 
ber, each  ten  foot  high  : and  before  these,  at  the  entrance,  is  a single 
one  by  itself,  fifteen  foot  high.  This  the  common  people  call  Long 
Megg,  and  the  rest  her  daughters  : and  within  the  circle  are  two  heaps 
of  stones,  under  which  they  say  there  are  dead  bodies  bury’d.” 

A little  later  we  find  Aubrey  writing  of  the  same  at  about 
the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  His  information, 

1 Of  Long  Meg  and  her  Daughters,  the  circles  at  Swinside  and  Keswick, and 
the  principal  circle  on  Eskdale  Moor. 


32 


A GROUP  OF  CUMBRIAN  MEGALTTHS. 


he  says,  was  derived  “from  Mr.  Hugh  Tod,  Fellow  of  Uni- 
versity College  in  Oxford,  a Westmorland  man,”  and  runs 
thus  : — 

“In  little  Salkeld  in  Westmorland  are  stones  in  an  orbicular  figure 
about  seventie  in  number  which  are  called  Long  Meg  and  her  daughters, 

Long  Meg  is  about  yards  : and  about  fifteen  yards  distant  from 

the  rest.”  And,  in  a note,  he  adds  : “ Quaere  Mr.  Robinson  the  minister 
there,  about  the  Giants  bone,  and  Body  found  there.  The  Body  is  in 
the  middle  of  the  orbicular  stones.”  ^ 

The  same  writer  has  the  following,  which  can  hardly  have 
referred  to  anything  but  the  same  object  of  antiquity,  whose 
distance  from  Kirk  Oswald  is  only  about  three  miles ; 
though,  if  it  be  a description  of  this  circle,  most  of  the  parti- 
culars are  greatly  exaggerated  : — 

“ From  S*"  Will.  Dugdale  Clarenceaux  : but  ’tis  not  entred  in  his 
Visitation  of  Cumberland ; but  was  forgot  by  his  servant.”  “ In  Cum- 
berland neer  Kirk-Oswald  is  a Circle  of  stones  of  about  two  hundred 
in  number,  of  severall  Tunnes.  The  Diameter  of  this  Circle  is  about 
the  diameter  (he  guesses)  of  the  Thames  from  the  Heralds-OflBce,  which 
by  Mr.  J.  Ogilby’s  Mappe  of  London  is  [880j  foot.  In  the  middle  are 
two  Tumuli,  or  Barrowes  of  Cobble-stones,  nine  or  ten  foot  high.”^ 

If  this  be  a description  of  the  circle  in  question,  we  must 
reduce  the  diameter  from  that  guessed  at  880  ft.  (I  have 
supplied  the  hiatus  by  measuring  on  a modern  plan  of 
London)  to  the  real,  average  one  of  332  ft.  ; and,  if  the 
alleged  number  of  stones  (200)  be  reduced  in  the  same  pro- 
portion, we  shall  have  75,  which  agrees  very  closely  with 
the  evidently  much  more  accurate  account  in  the  former 
description,  that  the  number  of  stones  was  about  70.  The 
statement  as  to  the  two  tumuli  or  barrows  seems  to  harmon- 
ize with  the  report  about  the  giant’s  bone  and  body,  and  also 
with  what  is  stated  by  Camden. 

All  traces  of  these  two  cairns  have  long  since  been  obli- 
terated by  cultivation.  The  number  of  stones  is  now  69, 
exclusive  of  several  rather  large  fragments  lying  by  the 
roadside ; so  that  it  looks  as  though  but  few,  if  any,  have 
been  entirely  removed  since  Aubrey’s  date.  At  the  same 
time,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  after  reports  which  I heard  on 
the  spot  as  to  the  depredations  of  former  occupiers  of  the 
ground,  that  the  sizes  of  many  of  the  stones  must  have  been 


1 From  Part  I,  Monumenta  Britannica,  MS.,  in  the  Bodleian,  a copy  from 
which  has  been  kindly  lent  me  by  our  associate,  Mr.  Long. 

* Ibid. 


• 


; f>  . • 

V-  'f 


.X;- 


• ✓. 


,A 


^?TI• 


/ 


/. 


.*4  . .. 


N? 


. . y . '-’ 


-A- 


/ 

r». 


" I. 


I . »-  j 

■ j('-: 


. •;£  .• 


r 


. . -.•■  , , 


>*,■>'■- 
■S  • 


'■  r. 


1 


SIZES  or  El 


NS 

HtCH 

BAOAO 

THICK 

N9 

HIGH 

• KOAO 

THIC 

' n iNt 

n iN> 

n IN* 

rz  iNf 

fZ  ItH 

n 1 

PLAN 

i 

1 4 

•h.U 

2.6 

s 

.*5  4 

,f.  / 

3. 

2 

7-^. 

a s 

6 6 

.0 

.3  /i 

rS  J 

«3.  * 

O F A 

.3 

2 /O 

4/0 

4-5 

JO 

3 .3 

■>.9 

6 : 

S 2 

3 JO 

2.9 

jj 

■'7 

■f  o 

• 

Cl  RCLE  AND  MENHIR, 

.S 

*i  to 

A, 3 

Tx.Ji 

J2 

2. JO 

6 .3 

4.  # 

fi 

h a 

.3  J 

5-'/ 

/3 

6 ff 

B 8 

s: 

CALLED 

7 

,f.5 

.> 

.3  .9 

Ji 

> .3 

So 

5 

LONG  MEG  AND  HER  DAUGHTERS,” 

NEAR 

LITTLE  SALKELD, 
CUMBERLAND. 


© 


<3 


w- 


• '9 


MEM  O HA  N DA. 

at  Snrvctf . 'I’/te  /jtap'jtr  /^rc  6fO  rt  ttp'S  tvere  fakra  tv*  H,  a 


^,8 

(9 


rr,(  m rtf  t.r  - fom jtfff.ts  ■ Thrforn/  rfe  I'lafton  of  tfn>  ytee- 


die  yyrr<f  O.S  Cf  rtrti  n cef  fo  he  23  2*’//^. 


'J'hoSf  stoite.f  ivfirc/t  t'eiiKxiii  eyrrt  et i'P /i  tlerf  - i ty  n r >/ 

ftiac/c  on  f'lt€  ^j/an  : o/t4^o'  a f'O  ctnff 

/ 1 jte  • s/ta  </€</  . 7u*cn  fio 

/oc<€fro7,  (Xii^  ^ for  ff*  (I  $*  n //*?  / r 7if/pn  s t*  7*f  c*' fe^l  io 

so  /rttcch.  c(cs7  m ft  r t'g/  rto/cncr^^/tatino'^  ttnitf  a t'otff - 

o 

jja  ra  f*  *'**  7f/  r‘e<'p**f  ^ertoo/^  /n’en  tvattfon/xf  /i/'oA'ftt  - 'r 
fortvafftn^  ctnc7  ro  ati  - $ **  €*  fe  t't  a fs  ^ — f /i  a f * / rs  S/f*  7r/oft* 
^OSStk/^f  *n  i7*c.  Crtsf  oi  atftf  t'os  f tuK'f  c Sfo  n 9 ,7o  tv*  ^ 7t 

ant/  of  as.rtt  n* /f  04»  n/r/iJt  $it*s  fite  /jtts  t,  a nJ  oJttre 

*i.%stoo*f  ’ /m  f tv/t  € /t  e *‘ o i'  /A*s  r**//  fft*  cott^ro  ( tt  red.  . tf  *s  //f- 
d*ca(ed  In/  a Sfftft//  


5^^ 


9’ 


2r 


LONG  M EG 


P7*e  ojfCtt  f'otn7  /t'/tfo/t  1 1*  fe$\seofs  f/te  crt^' fje't***  /ia/7of^/te 


/)  r a * i 

^y^o/'  t/,  and  S o n fit  , 50.>  /Vi 


pe  r^tt/fr*  fti /t  ti’ets  ft>  t'ttte  rip  Irnttf/cd  on  f/feivesfsrd/lptt 

/tcf/o'e, S r ttt'r  irrtfl/*e</  • tt/f.  tnt  'f/te  S*  fe  of  tv/t  t r/t  /*c  ftVo 
^ ' lb  / ' 

oi'f/tr/€  Innoe  f t'ftO'n*  e n f»>'  o f fit  p.  S'fo  tt  c s of  the  onertnal 

f O *b 


SCALE  : 


t%or/c.  Phes€,  Irt  X no'  € t t dc  99  tl  t/  *>  f sotn  e <l*s  fex  tt  ce  I t'on*  ^/tet  r 

'X 


ortpp  ttal  jolace^  a t'/p  ttof  s/tetrn  t/^on  flte  ^flxxtt  . 


y’A  < ntt  999  he  r 0 1 fo  9ies  f/taf  t'e  ttt  4t  t tt  . t tt  i'/t*  il  r tt  o' fotto' ^ Uev: 

* • > •'»  ./> 

h**l  99of  tttclndftto'  fltf  S 9ttrM  1/  sfon  e t tt  ft'tttti  o f 'f^or  the 

I rac  99  9 e 99  f,s  hr,-  f Itp:  mad  - st  de,  t s 00.  otie/iie/>  Hy  <r  re  ereef 


SCALE  OF  ORICINAUt 


S !4  rnet/frl  hy  ( .ft.Dy 


“OF: 


'J'i 


STONES. 


ICH 

INI 

tnoM) 
rz  INI 

TNICK 
rz  INI 

N8 

HIGH 
n INI 

BROikO 

rz  INI 

THICK 

n INI 

o’ 

JO 

^.O 

2/ 

8.0 

tS  o 

*6 

‘6 

6'  !* 

5-<y 

22 

JIf 

7^ 

J .1 

iO 

O -f 

'*•2 

23 

•>  .9 

7 -f 

-#8 

ti  O 

S.  O 

2^ 

/> 

t t 

JO 

> JO 

t JO 

^ If 

2J 

— 

a a 

oO 

s 

ri.jl 

o «> 

26 

JJ 

O' 

2 6 

.LONG 

M £ C 

J2.0 

5 ei 

J o' 

§ 


0 Q 


k' 


St'" 

A 


':  « 

';  t, 

',  't 

; » 


3 • 


3* 
' • 


■ 


// 

& » 


«> 


/•'V, 

'/.vV  €it*4^  n'est , 56Vy/Vf/. 


I I N CH  = 50  F CtT. 


’.  /;. , Ay.r r IS ys. 


y/EW  OF  LONG  MEC. 

(looking  S.W.J 

FR  OMR  SK  LTCH. 


MEMORANDA. 

A ^fF’fC'iya  If  or  t'n  rJ,  t ^e- 

ta  hthi  LiK.  the  c^xneef^ort  oJ  the  yfie’ytJtxt'.  T'/itxF  /tx^f  r,v  ct 
tno»te>ltth  of  h<xf'of  7'‘ect  Scciioh$  forte  w/ttclx,  if  is  6cftfih‘eol^ 
tYrr^f-hr-ott^’Iit  ci  f he  t’  f p'ojft  the  hceftk's  of  the  Eofe,7i , f k rr*. 
y>:  ft:,  orfr'or^r  J^eci'^orthf^  J^e7f,o~9i  the.  fott'fher*  stofe  of  the 
ri  vef,  171  the^  e cf  ir'e.rfrt?/i  . Aff  the.  other'  stones  nne  of 

n t'eft/  hetJ'A  j^or'^ftyrtfic  rtertut'C.  7*he  f'ork  of  fhe  St  fe  ts 
Of  neA  sattds  fo»ie  of  the  JPemtrotn  q'p'Oryy;  knt  Sneotif  sfo/tG! 
of,otjtjjJCLeentiif,  fhe  Snrrte.  kirtA  ots  those  ttSed  rrt'  the  Cri‘~ 
fie,  ct  t'e  foil  Ti  A,  a/ tit  os  f e If  e Ty  7V  he  r*e  ott  the  Sit  f'tctce , etnA 
fxre  6oth  hu  1 1 f.  e<xtejt  si  te  it/  into  the  tvet/fs,  ortrA  itseA.  fon 

T'eytcttrin^  the  r^OfxAs  ot-er  n fnr^e  etteot  t tt  fhe  locct/tf.t/ 

'frerees  retnettn  ofet  r't  tt^^-  e nihrt  n,k  nte  n f , ff'o  tt^  JO  to  Jf 
nrAe,  an  A rooie,  at  t/te  fnost , a fete  ttiohe.y  he^'/t  , fonrn- 
t n^*  tite.  t%ea  ( oJ  the.  orncie,  eAyiertft//f/  ofiJie  n rsfct'tt  7irr/f 
77ieA>e  Jie  ncai  ns  sianA  on  neanit/  the  h co'hesi  uart  of 
CL  yyfate<xA,t  , file.ra  teA  ahont  ffffO  feet  nhoee  thesifttrytinA- 
irxj^'  'i^a ifetfS ..  '^rjte  Site  AijrtS  tnom  ffO/f^*jy/e^',  n’/rreh  tS 
erevteA  <tt  the  hr^^'hest  Jk*rt7't,  t<rt\ar  cA  S to  e ^ J , 1%'hcf'e. 
the^nonnA  vS  ahont  ^O  J't  to%err'  


ftecr'han^^'S  ai'e  she*vn  in  ifnsJtaAeA  oir  t/r  t/e  ■ Wie  Aet- 
teA  lines  f n At  ra  te  f'ojri  m afe/r/,  f he  htt/ieA  yorttonS. 

roin  f/ic  criifi  f ot  fhi.s  I'li  r/r  i.f  a risf 
tnefostd  til  a ririfir  of/J.fforte.r,/'oi-tner/i/rf>t  '^iYif/tiririonni/. 


Photo  Lilhopuipliod& Printed  by  Jnenes  Ahernmn.6,Que<3n  Square. WC 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/b22458438 


STONE  CIRCLE  near  KESWICK,  CUMBERLAND. 


: ^ 
• > 

• ^J 

N 

*s 

t'\ 

M 

' 1 

■> 

N 

1 

1 

«0 

•N 

M 

^i 

ti 

w 

1 

1 

: :> 

K 

'A 

•N 

<i 

K 

- »o 

^4 

•V 

rj 

P4 

K1 

M 

* 

M 

t 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

K 

1 

1 

1 

t 

' 

1 

I 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

to 

X 

» N 

M 

<c 

a 

• 

0 

0 

K 

1 

M 

1 

ti 

t<l 

ti 

1 

Sc*=o 

tN 

cc 

»0 

X5 

’C 

-f- 

till 

4 


# 


• ^ 


5 4 


2-t 


«j’-'  .051, 


n,f. 

'a,?';, 


■V 


I '<  t tf  '-{(’ 

j’it’;  K ^ 


0::^' 


1 

1 

1 

■■o 

*c 

X 

'■0 

'O 

•I4 

«0 

to 

N 

/ 

1 

1 

1 

N 

tl 

OJ 

c-l 

fvj 

{“J 

rj 

N 

to 

lx 

N 

© 

rt 

VS 

/ 

•0 

M 

N 

to 

'0 

*•0 

*0 

to 

'0 

to 

to 

lA 

10 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

( 

1 

1 

1 

, 

»0 

k; 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

rj 

*c 

5 

X 

ia 

CO 

CO 

’% 

1 

' 

1 

*0 

lA 

N 

>'5 

X 

M 

Co 

' to 

■•S 

Ia 

'C 

lx 

CO 

0 

X 

n 

lO 

X 

X 

M 

fj 

M 

M 

.’  / • ^ /‘«^'^> 

1‘  , •X'^’’''''"  h 


y 


So 


>1 

«0 


<0 


(O5 

fe 

oi 


+J 


V. 


K 

'n 


'0 


.1 

4< 

a 


n: 


(i 

^5 

N> 

^ 

« 


V 

a 


PboloLilhoaraphed&Prmtedty  James  Akerman  P Oueen  Square  ,W  C. 


A GROUP  OF  CUMBRIAN  MEGALITHS.  33 

greatly  reduced  ; and,  probably,  some  have  been  overthrown 
in  comparatively  recent  times.  Among  the  largest  of  the 
prostrate  stones  there  are  two  measuring  respectively  10  ft. 
by  8 ft.  Sins.,  and  9 ft.  11  ins.  by  8 ft.  6 ins.  A sufficient 
number  remain  erect  to  show  that  this  peristalith  was  an 
irregular  oval,  the  departure  from  continuity  being  very 
manifest  on  the  northern  side,  especially  about  the  stones 
numbered  24,  25,  and  26.  It  may,  however,  be  well  to  note 
here  that  No.  25  is  so  much  inclined  as  to  make  it  difficult  to 
decide  whether  it  should  be  called  prostrate  or  erect ; and, 
thus,  it  may  possibly  not  be  in  situ ; though,  even  with  this 
angle  removed.  No.  24  is  still  considerably  out  of  the  line  of 
the  curve.  For  the  information  of  those  who  set  a high 
value  on  such  facts,  it  may  be  well  to  mention  that  the  eastern 
face  of  Long  Meg — the  only  one  that  is  distinctly  flat  — 
points  26^°  W.  of  N.  The  spacing  of  the  stones  seems  to  be 
a mean  between  the  open  order  and  the  close ; and,  if  we 
supply  seven  evident  gaps  with  one  stone  each,  we  shall 
obtain  an  average  distance,  from  centre  to  centre  of  the  suc- 
cessive stones,  of  a little  over  14  ft.  As  to  the  aspect  of  the 
gateway,  it  points  nearly  S.W.,  and  slightly  up-hill,  in  con- 
trast to  the  majority  of  examples  which  I have  examined, 
and  which  usually  look  toward  a valley  with  a stream. 

SwiNSiDE  Circle. — This  is  a very  good  example  of  a 
circle  built  in  close  order,  for  it  is  probable  that,  when 
perfect,  all  the  stones  nearly  touched  one  another.  The  gate- 
way points  slightly  down-hill.  But  few  of  the  stones  seem 
to  have  been  removed — probably  because  plenty  of  materials 
for  walling  and  road  mending  could  be  collected  from  the 
neighbouring  hill-side.  It  is  curious  that  a rowan  tree  has 
sprung  up  in  a rift  in  stone  No.  2,  which  has  been  rent 
asunder  by  its  growth.  . The  occurrence  of  such  a tree  in 
such  a place  has  been  seized  upon  by  the  advocates  of  the 
Druid-theory,  who  view  it  as  a veritable  relic  of  the  cult 
which  they  associate  with  these  structures.  The  falling  of 
all  the  stones  but  one  (and  that  a doubtful  one)  inward  is 
a rather  singular  circumstance,  for  which  I do  not  quite  know 
how  to  account. 

Keswick  Circle. — It  has  generally  been  the  fashion  to 
class  this  with  the  temples  of  the  prehistoric  ages.  The 
magnificence  of  its  site,  and  the  existence  of  a rectangular 
inclosurc  on  the  eastern  side, — which  has  been  thoimht  to 

1878 


84  A GROUP  OF  CUMBRIAN  MEGALITHS. 

be  an  adytum,  foreshadowing  the  chancel  of  the  Christian 
church, — have  lent  strength  to  the  idea.  In  the  present  crude 
state  of  our  knowledge  on  this  subject,  it  is,  however,  better 
to  refrain  from  using  any  technical  terms  which  involve 
the  advocacy  of  premature  theories,  and  to  confine  ourselves 
to  such  as  are  simply  descriptive  of  that  which  meets  the 
eye.  Nothing  now  remains  to  show  for  what  purpose  this 
chamber  was  constructed.  If  it  once  contained  a barrow, 
it  is  singular  that  all  traces  of  this  should  have  disappeared, 
while  the  shallow  trench  of  what  appears  to  have  been 
another  barrow  still  remains  within  the  circle.  Had  there 
been  no  such  indications  existing  in  the  second  case,  it  might, 
with  more  show  of  reason,  have  been  conjectured  that 
barrows  might  have  occupied  any  part  of  the  area,  and  that 
they  have  since  vanished.  The  existence,  however,  of  the 
relics  of  this  one  barrow  (if  such  they  are),  while  giving  to 
this  circle  a quasi  sepulchral  character,  affords  an  argument 
rather  against  than  in  favour  of  the  former  existence  of  others. 

I have  described  the  principal  features  of  this  peristalith 
on  the  plan  ; and  therefore  proceed  to  notice  here  one  or  two 
which  involve  the  element  of  speculation.  On  reference  to 
the  plan,  it  will  be  observed  that  the  circumscribed  area 
narrows  up  toward  the  north,  and  there,  exactly  bisected  by 
the  meridian  of  its  centre,  occurs  an  opening,  nearly  1 1 ft. 
wide,  flanked  by  two  fine  stones,  set,  with  the  smaller  ones 
which  adjoin  them,  in  a peculiarly  symmetrical  position. 
This  gives  it  the  appearance  of  having  been  intended  for  a 
gateway.  As  possibly  throwing  light  upon  this  point,  it  is 
noteworthy  that  the  very  remarkable,  but  little  known,  com- 
pound circle  at  Gunnerskeld,  near  Shap,  which  consists  of 
two  concentric  rings  of  prostrate  stones — giving  the  impres- 
sion that  they  were  never  erect — is  also,  at  the  north  point, 
distinguished  by  a pylon  formed  by  a pair  of  very  fine 
monoliths — the  only  standing  stones  of  any  consequence  in 
the  work.  This  gateway  looks  out  along  the  low  flat  ridge 
on  which  the  circle  is  found,  parallel  to  the  stream  which 
flows  north,  hard  by  on  the  eastern  side.  Eeturning  to  our 
plan,  and  noticing  the  transverse  position  of  stone  No.  26, 
the  question  arises.  May  not  this  also  have  been  one  jamb 
of  a gateway  of  which  the  other  may  have  been  stone  No.  27 
(if  that  has  fallen),  or,  more  probably,  a missing  one  between 
Nos.  26  and  25  ? Its  position,  as  to  the  points  of  the  com- 


- / 


/ 


V 


/' 


If 


:r  // 


t? 


CK  l ' ■ •'  - ■ 

-..V_.  -V  - t;i.,ir 


'• 


.■ 


■'  - i . 


1/ 1* 


f.;v; 


•Y 

r'l 


' * V 
. ' /' 


• ••  > 


^>.  ? '.i 


5f^. 


' ?<i3 

.*  I 


* 

,-v-V 


m:-;: 


- ■ * .•-'!.«• 


, - _ ■ 


. jo:i  £*. 


x: 

t 


c ^ 

. ^ V. 


»•  * ^ 
> V 

V w *>t 
. V 

s 


v.'  s. 
W 


6 « 

Ol 

« 

'o 

•« 

M 

evi 

•s 

"i 

PJ 

1 

■e  V 

S i 

1 

1 

1 

’« 

to 

1 

1 

5i 

1 

1 

1 

< 

1 

1 

5 5" 

o 

t 

1 

1 

Mi  k. 
^ •< 

ci 

evi 

^i 

1 

1 

'S 

1 

Oi 

«0 

Ol 

> 

o: 

M 

•N 

1C 

> 

•f. 

>n 

— ^ ■ 

2 ' 

15 

"S 

'c 

'0 

to 

>•1 

W 

pj 

'‘h 

5 ; 
^ ' 

1 

Cv 

1 

■N 

1 

1 

1 

ty  ^1 
>»  ^ 

I 

■* 

1 

1 

1 

1 

Ti  > 

M 

1 

Ol 

1 

•4m 

'N 

•»s 

^i 

1 

fj 

1 

Pj 

> 

Ol 

3; 

> 

CJ 

>': 

*'S 

: \ 


« ' 


T 


■ i 

‘ : C 


xl! 


? i 

a J 


<0 

<ti 

0 

K 

<1 


-4 


k 

0 


1 

>•1 

|4 


■ii 

.t 


N 


•:i  < 


E t 
§ ' 
S k 

5 IB  B 1<  Ci 

•t  k k k N 

E ' 

s: 

St 

«S  B B <C  Cs 

K 'B  4 'B  W 

* 1 
0 < 

5l  J:' 

1 1 ■c  1 K 1 <0 

1 1 « 1 kj  Ik 

»i 

j ^ 

5 k 5 k 

j ^ < 
1^ 

«C  Oj  *45  ^ ^ 

ti  ^ 

1 u ^ 

^ B « 

1 J J. 

(S  B ts  aj  « 

* ? 

■a  1 1 1 1 1 

ui  k, 

^ k 

•«  1 1 1 1 1 

,A_ 

^ n !<;  k •<?  <C  K 

't  .<5 

t'S 

e> 


y 

_i 

o 

or 


u 

I 

u 

z 

o 

h 

«A 


h 

< 


Q 

<< 

»C 

0 

M 


k. 

W 


b 5 


^ X 

^ ^ c 


•S  " 
5 "< 


. 't 


i SC 


1^*  > 
**v  W 


s ^ 

C Si* 


V t 


\i  V 


NS:: 

> >1  : 


Ss 


>: 


C : 


ft  k 

N c 

's 

V 

5 

Vv 

'•k  ^ 

V 

V. 

K 

IkO 

'v 

V - 

4 

K 

8 

^ .W 

‘■a 

<; 

5 > 

ft 

V 
ft  k 
'ft 

S ' 

^ 'a 

^ > 

y 

k 

fi 

>1 

Ni 

V 

ft  S 

5: 


;5 

k. 


S ^ S ' 


U 


V 

V 

S 


-(g  V W -w  N 


fS  N 

S C 


l'^ 


4 

I 

A 

a- 


il» 


z 

0 
h 

1 
o 

D 

o 

ct 

CQ 


ce 

< 

u 

z 


UJ 

O 


U) 

Z 


Q 

Z 

< 

j 

tt 

u 

ffl 

2 

3 

O 


'fc 

^ rj 

k 

t ■* 


s'  ^ 

»»  k SJ 

^ ; 


>,  s ^ 

\ S:  s 

, ■>“ 

I s 

j:  S ^ 


k S 
u -5  S 


v" 

^0 


R 


V 

« 


1 ? 


S 

«a 


k . C 

N < 


'•  'C 


? 


kk.  ^ 


U) 


t » 

0 k 

I4I  V 

?1 


>! 

'■v 


t'  V 

& s 
s 3 

s 

s: 


'iw 

N 


S ^ 


k 

k 


k 

5 

J 


«i 

Ss 

k 


k J 
' iS 
Sr  ^ 

s=r  ^ 

k 
'S 


k 

(J 


. V 

W 

)k 

V 

s 

s 


!- 


■s 

?) 


‘v 
k 

^ '-Q 

■|s  $ 

■§  s5 


V 

V 


S 

s; 


S 


Hi 


s: 

V 


k V c 

B « , 

s: 

V 

ft 

<>5 

<0 

V 

N 

•C 

% 

■^o<i  ^ 

.ft 

f» 

U 

V 

ft 

. ft 

W 

S .s  H 

N «o  V 

V 

B 

8 

N 

•< 

. 


'o 

5 Q 


V 


? k 

s s 

l>s  •<■ 


»- 

u 

u 

h. 


II. 

o 


u 

J 

< 

u 

M 


2^ 


J 


^ K 

N"  K 

w e^> 

£ S 

V >''' 

S 


s'fi 


<0^1 


.s' 


6 K 

s:  i 
f?''^ 

s s 


^ "(i 

^ 5 

kb 


■ij  Ns 

V \ 

l-S 


S' 


s^ 


h 

. N 

V 

k 


>s 

.k  k 


V 


>- 


'O 


K, 


t'i 

?) 


i v' 


V 


5« 

•s 


•s 


N 

s 

V 


v'  ^ 


'S 

\ 


C: 

•ki  ^ 


5 


k 

• s 


<bl 

X s 

5 


so  S s 
. ' s S 

5 ^$ 

■3  _ s 


s 


s 

'i  k 


N 

< 


•s  k 


S: 


s <5 

k s 


^ 'B 


t 

k 

■«l 


<3  V 
^ ? 
V 


■k  ; 
.k  sj 


,k.1 

> M 


sS 


f- 

i. 


r- 


f 


I 


• ■’■  •■•’u-c 


■-}r;  tf  STV 


. 4-* 


4 *• 


y. 


' -' 


A 


■^r 


: *'  'r-  ■'.' ' ■ ■ 


^Z<5  -^.'  • ' 


apr<?S“'' .. . A 

*i*'*t-  ,ot V'. 


^2  -> 


r • • ^ 


<c  ' 


’ :'  -i  Vvi' 


IW'bb  .'  * ■ ' 


•■S.  ’ ■ 


su  •, 


>: 


>j 


^52Jr.-v 


t ] 

t . 


- •rSvf . 

■ V.;v,.^-- 

**.- 


■»t  >p  _ 

'•5> 


|1 


. V •■  ■■  -,v 

• ■ 


C 


I '.** 


<,.  . 


A ■ ' *v‘  . 


-•  ■'•*'*' 

r'A' 


._  ,. . <7  ) 


.'^  1 ? 


A GROUP  OF  CUMBRIAN  MEGALITHS. 


35 


pass,  would  be  almost  identical  with  that  of  the  gateway  of 
the  Swinside  circle.  A slight  peculiarity,  common  to  both 
the  circles  at  Keswick  and  at  Long  Meg,  may  be  noticed  in 
the  breach  of  continuity  made  by  No.  4.9  (missing  stone)  of 
the  former,  and  No.  25  of  the  latter — each  at  about  the  same 
part  of  the  circumference. 

Eskdale  Circle. — This,  though  the  finest,  is  only  one  of 
several  similar  remains  on  the  same  moor.  About  one  hun- 
dred yards  W.  are  two  smaller  rings  in  an  imperfect  state, 
each  about  50  ft.  in  diameter,  and  each  inclosing  one 
barrow.  A quarter  of  a mile  W.N.W.  on  Low  Longrigg 
are  two  others ; one  apparently  perfect,  about  50  ft.  in 
diameter,  consisting  of  nine  stones,  and  inclosing  one 
barrow  ; the  other  imperfect,  with  diameters  of  about  75  ft. 
and  65  ft.,  and  inclosing  two  barrows.  A number  of 
ancient  “ dykes”,  each  consisting  of  a slight  ditch  and  em- 
bankment, intersect  the  moor  near  these  remains.  An 
imaginary  plan  of  this  circle  appears  in  Dr.  Fergusson’s 
Rude  St07ie  Structures.  In  addition  to  a conventional  re- 
presentation of  the  existing  stones,  it  shows  an  outer  con- 
centric circle  of  megaliths,  fourteen  in  number,  and  an 
inner,  nearly  rectangular  inclosure  fencing-in  the  eastern 
barrow.  There  is  no  evidence  on  the  ground  to  show  that 
such  an  outer  ring  ever  existed  ; nor  is  it  likely  that,  placed 
as  these  remains  are,  out  of  the  way  of  risks  of  molestation, 
such  evidences,  if  there  were  any,  would  have  disappeared. 
One  small  erect  stone  stands  as  an  outlier  to  the  N.W. ; 
and  three  or  four  others,  equally  small,  lie  prostrate  on 
the  surface,  or  partly  sunk  into  the  ground,  on  the  N.,  E., 
W.,  and  S.E.  sides.  That  is  all.  Not  the  slightest  trace 
of  a barrow-inclosure  can  be  found,  though  I carefully 
sought  for  it  by  probing.  The  eastern  barrow  was  being 
opened  at  the  time  of  my  first  visit  in  1866,  though  the 
exploring  party  were  not  then  on  the  spot. 

Now  I think  a comparison  of  the  four  examples  herein 
described  will  lead  to  the  conviction  that,  though  they  have 
an  outward  similarity  of  arrangement,  they  may  not  all 
have  been  devoted  to  the  same  purposes.  The  character  of 
the  last  mentioned  is,  I think,  purely  sepulchral.  There  is 
a careless  irregularity  in  the  ranging  of  the  peripheral  stones, 
which  gives  the  impression  of  being  sufficient  for  purposes 
of  separation,  while  little  congruous  with  the  dignity  of  a 


30  A GROUP  OF  CUMBRIAN  MEGALITHS. 

structure  intended  for  ceremonial  uses.  Much  of  the  area 
is  occupied  by  the  barrows  ; while,  hard  by,  we  find  four 
other  similar  inclosures,  also  devoted  to  sepulture.  Who 
can  resist  the  conviction  that,  in  this  case,  but  one  end  was 
to  be  answered — that  of  consecrated  interment '? 

There  is,  I believe,  no  record  of  any  barrow  having  been 
observed  within  or  near  the  Swinside  circle.  The  ruins  are 
those  of  a bold  and  carefully  constructed  peristalith.  The 
stones  were  ranged  nearly  on  a true  circle,  well  founded  on 
a dry  site  in  a rammed  stone  bed,  and  placed,  for  the  most 
part,  in  juxtaposition — often,  indeed,  so  close  that  it  is  pos- 
sible there  would  have  been  no  convenient  access  to  the 
interior,  except  through  the  gateway.  Hence,  in  this  case,  a 
necessity  for  this  feature,  which  evidently  was  considered  an 
important  one,  and  must  have  been  designed  to  give  cere- 
monial access  to  the  sacred  inclosure.  Perhaps  this  is  one 
of  the  best  examples  we  have  of  a structure  which,  accord- 
ing to  our  ideas,  would  be  eminently  suited  to  be  a hypae- 
thral  temple  ; and  I suggest  that,  in  the  absence  of  evidence 
to  the  contrary,  this  may  have  been  the  chief  purpose  for 
which  the  Swinside  circle  was  erected. 

The  importance  of  a gateway  is  much  enhanced  when  we 
find  it,  either  in  its  simple  form,  a characteristic  feature  of 
an  open  stone  peristalith,  as  in  the  case  of  Long  Meg,  or 
extended  into  a short  avenue,  as  at  Stanton  Drew,  or  into 
a long  one,  as  at  Callernish,  and  in  other  English  and  conti- 
nental examples.  In  all  these,  the  inference  is  irresistible, 
that  the  recognised  mode  of  enterins^  and  issuing  from  these 
inclosures — which  were  open  on  every  side — was  by  the  pre- 
scribed avenue  ; and  hence  we  arrive,  by  an  easy  step,  at 
the  conclusion  that  processional  services  were  a common 
feature  of  their  use.  Whether  these  were  connected  with 
religious,  political,  judicial,  or  sepulchral  objects,  or  with  all 
of  them,  we  know  far  too  little  of  the  customs  of  our  remote 
ancestors  to  decide.  Suffice  it  for  the  present,  then,  to  say 
that,  for  anything  we  know"  to  the  contrary,  some  of  these 
structures  may  have  been  temples,  primarily  ; courts  of  judi- 
cature, secondarily  ; sometimes  memorial  buildings,  thirdly  ; 
and,  thus  consecrated,  the  great  may  have  sought  to  take 
their  last  sleep  around,  and  even  within  their  pale,  as,  in  later 
times  the  remains  of  the  departed  came  to  be  laid  in  the 
church-yard  ; and,  in  special  instaiici's,  within  the  walls  of 
tlic  building  itself. 


