Culbone Stone

The Culbone stone SS 83204735 was discovered in l939 then rediscovered in l940. It is inscribed with a wheel cross, of a kind found in Wales. A beautiful stone in a lovely woodland setting. Nearby is the smallest medieval church in England dedicated to St Culbone, a corruption of Kil Bueno meaning "the church of St Bueno," a Welsh saint. (This not the first connection between standing stones and St Bueno. There is a St Beuno's Stone, where the saint is meant to have preached, in the parish of St Berriew where the church is dedicated to him.) As there is a stone row nearby it may originally have been the head of the row, the Christianisation of a prehistoric sacred site.

Culbone Stone - copyright Celia Haddon

CULBONE STONE ROW SS 8343 4738 runs through the wood from the Culborne stone, with its Christian cross, across the drive to a farm. Some argue that the Culborne stone itself may simply have been its final stone. The row, which is on private land, is difficult to see from the Culborne stone but the end stones, the other side of the farm drive are visible from a gate.

Culbone Row - copyright Celia Haddon

Culbone Row - copyright Celia Haddon

Contributed by: Celia Haddon - more standing stones can be found on www.celiahaddon.co.uk