Monument record MDO1264 - Kingston Russell Stone Circle

Kingston Russell Stone Circle is a large irregular circle of Late Neolithic or Bronze Age date, consisting of eighteen fallen conglomerate or sarsen stones situated on a chalk ridge 750 metres north east of Gorwell Farm. In 1815 one stone to the south was still standing. The circle appears to retain its full number of stones, although many of them may not be in their original positions. Two stones of a similar kind to those comprising the circle lie by the side of an adjoining fence. The circle has a diameter of 30 metres and has 18 visible stones. The stones vary in size from 2 metres by 0.5 metres to 1 metre by 0.3 metres, although partial burial may mean some of the stones are significantly larger. It is thought possible that the circle may have been graded in height with the tallest stones to the north. The site is in the guardianship care of English Heritage.

An account of the stone circle as it was in 1815, at which time only one stone was standing, the 'rest being thrown down'. <1>

Called Kingston Russell circle. Stones of sarsen with many flints and water worn pebbles (one at least quartize), a conglomerate - all are prone. <3>

Kingston Russell Stone Circle consists of eighteen fallen conglomerate <5> or sarsen <4> stones, the largest of which is about 8 feet long forming an irregular oval 80 feet by 91 feet <5> or 80 feet by 60 feet <4>.

In 1815 one stone to the south was still standing. The circle appears to retain its full number of stones although many of them may not be in their true positions. Listed as especially worthy of preservation. <5>

Two stones of a similar kind to those comprising the circle lie by the side of an adjoining fence. <4-5>

A newly erected notice at the site consists of a Ministry of Works plate with the name Kingston Russell Stone Circle. There are eighteen stones, one small one in addition to those on the OS 1:2500 and all are as depicted on Authority 5's plan. All the stones, of conglomerate and sarsen, are prone. The circle is situated upon downland. <6>

At Kingston Russell Circle there were originally between fourteen and eighteen stones around the circumference of a ring 91 feet in diameter but it is now impossible to decide which of the fragments are bases and which are broken upper parts. Although it cannot be certain it seems that this ring was graded in height with the tallest stones at the north. A stone is supposed to have been added to the ring in recent years. Kingston Russell Stone Circle scheduled and under Guardianship. <7>

Large irregular stone circle of Late Neolithic or Bronze Age date, consisting of eighteen fallen conglomerate or sarsen stones situated on a chalk ridge 750 metres north east of Gorwell Farm. The circle appears to retain its full number of stones, although many of them may not be in their original positions. Two stones of a similar kind to those comprising the circle lie by the side of an adjoining fence. The circle has a diameter of 30 metres and has 18 visible stones. The stones vary in size from 2 metres by 0.5 metres to 1 metre by 0.3 metres, although partial burial may mean some of the stones are significantly larger <8>

Includes a brief accessible overview of Kingson Russell Stone Circle for visitors. <9>

Large irregular stone circle of Late Neolithic or Bronze Age date, consisting of eighteen fallen conglomerate or sarsen stones situated on a chalk ridge 750 metres north east of Gorwell Farm. The circle which is 30m across appears to retain its full number of stones, although many of them may not be in their original positions. The site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project. <16>

<1> Warne, C, 1872, Ancient Dorset, 116 (Monograph). SDO10094.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1902 (Map). SWX1197.

(SY 57788782) Stone Circle (NR)

<3> Crawford, O G S, Annotated record map 6 inch (Map). SWX7265.

<4> 1939, Antiquity Vol 13, 142-3 (Serial). SDO19724.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 127 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(4) STONE CIRCLE, on Tenants Hill in the extreme S. point of the parish, consists of fallen conglomerate stones forming an irregular oval 80 ft. by 91 ft. The largest stone is about 8 ft. long.’

<6> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 12-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<7> Thom, A, 1980, Megalithic Rings: Plans and Data for 229 Monuments in Britain (Monograph). SDO19723.

<8> English Heritage, 1995, EH Scheduling affirmed, 11-MAY-1995 (Scheduling record). SDO19725.

<9> Carter, Katy (ed), 2004, Heritage Unlocked: Guide to free sites in Devon, Dorset and Somerset, 48-9 (Monograph). SDO18928.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AL1209/025/01 (Index). SDO14738.

General view, looking south

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB71/05374 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW FROM NORTH-WEST SHOWING THE WESTERN ARC

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB71/05375 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW FROM NORTH-WEST

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB71/05376 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW FROM NORTH-WEST SHOWING THE WHOLE CIRCLE

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, FL00845 (Index). SDO14738.

Kingston Russell Stone Circle, Kingston Russell, Dorset

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, PF/KRS (Index). SDO14738.

Kingston Russell Stone Circle, Kingston Russell, Dorset. Two sheets from 1937, a site plan and a survey plan.

<16> 01-SEP-2004, NMR SY 5787/5-8 (23707/14-17) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11643.

<17> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450256 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 13 2024 11:58AM