Name: Kingston Russell Stone Circle
Rating: 5.0

Kingston Russell Stone Circle

Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 4JX, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Kingston Russell Stone Circle a late Neolithic or early Bronze Age circle of 18 fallen stones, on a hilltop overlooking Abbotsbury and the sea. The Kingston Russell circle is believed to date back to the later Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, some 4,000 years ago.

The building of great monuments, including stone circles, is one of the most fascinating aspects of later Neolithic Britain. The ability to construct such monuments flowed from a communications network that enabled resources from a wide area to be devoted to large scale projects: Avebury and Stonehenge are two of the best-known examples.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

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Features

History of Kingston Russell Stone Circle: The Kingston Russell circle is believed to date back to the later Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, some 4,000 years ago.
Stone Circles: The building of great monuments, including stone circles, is one of the most fascinating aspects of later Neolithic Britain. The ability to construct such monuments flowed from a communications network that enabled resources from a wide area to be devoted to large scale projects: Avebury and Stonehenge are two of the best-known examples.
Altogether there are about 900 stone circles in the British Isles: of these, between 30 and 40 are found in the South West, mostly in Devon and Cornwall. Kingston Russell is one of only four in south Dorset, although the area is rich in other monuments of Neolithic and Bronze Age date.
Stone circles were originally matched by elaborate circles of timber in parts of the country where this was the natural building material. In some places, stone circles appear to have been the permanent markers of former timber circles.
The Kingston Russell Stones: The 18 visible stones at Kingston Russell have all fallen: they lie flat, in a big irregular oval, the diameter of which varies between 27 metres (90 feet) and 18 metres (60 feet).
Some are broken, and it is impossible to tell which fragments are bases and which were originally upper parts. Ploughing has also disturbed the site. None of the stones has been shaped in any way, but they may have been set up with the tallest to the north.
While we can never expect to know exactly what went on within such circles, the study of more recent primitive societies suggests that structures like this may have been put to a great variety of uses, such as religious ceremonies and calendar setting. They may have served as the setting for community decision-making, dynastic marriages, inter-community trading agreements and the settling of frontier disputes.
Back along the footpath towards the road you pass the remains of a much earlier Neolithic chambered tomb known as the Grey Mare and Her Colts, showing that this area of chalk downland had been a focus for community ceremonies for at least one thousand years before the stone circle was erected.
Today, Kingston Russell Stone Circle lies at the junction of five footpaths, an echo of its ancient significance.

Facilities

Parking: Limited parking on road verge at access to farm. No off-road vehicle access.
Food & Drinks: Nearby Abbotsbury has shops and places to eat.
Toilets: Nearby Abbotsbury has public toilets.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Free Entry.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kingston-russell-stone-circle/opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Abbotsbury, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 4JX, UK

Post Code: DT3 4JX

Council: Dorset

County: Dorset

Road Access: Turn left off Bishop’s Road, approximately 1.5 miles / 2.4 km north-east of Abbotsbury.
Bus Access: The nearest bus stop is Ilchester Arms, Abbotsbury, 2.0 miles / 3 km from the Site. First Bus X53 runs to Abbotsbury from Weymouth Bus Station, also from Axminster Station, Lyme Regis and Bridport Bus Station. During the summer months the service is enhanced to hourly from Weymouth and Bridport on weekdays with additional journeys on Bus X52.
Train Access: The nearest station to Abbotsbury is Dorchester South / West 8 miles / 13 km. However for a bus connection to Abbotsbury you are advised to travel by train to Weymouth (9 miles / 15 km) and connect with buses X52 and X53 outside the Weymouth station.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: Limited parking on road verge at access to farm. No off-road vehicle access.