Standing Stones and Circles on Exmoor

The Longstone (705431) is an impressive standing stone, 9 feet (nearly 3 metres) tall and made of slate, so that it is very thin if looked at from the side. It is said by some to he a fertility menhir and is on an important ley line or earth energy route. It is often visited for healing purposes

From the Dark Ages, between 450 and 750 AD, there are several inscribed stones.

The Caratacus Stone (Grid Ref: SS889336)

The Caratacus Stone (890335) dates from about the sixth century AD, inscribed 'Cara(t)aci nepos'. 'Carataci' means 'of Caractacus', but 'nepos' can be translated as grandchild, nephew or descendant. Probably a local chief was boosting his prestige by claiming to be a descendant of the great British warrior. This Sone is on Withypool Common. The Caratacus Stone is probably a Bronze Age stream-head stone erected by Caratacus's clansman in the 5th or 6th century BC. It has a Latin inscription "Carataci Nepus" means clansman of Caratacus who was the Chief of the Silures defeated by the Romans in BC46. The stone stood near the mediaeval "Greatway". It was first documented in 1219 as a Forest boundary and called the "Langeston". A shelter was built to protect it in 1906. It was moved in 1936 by someone searching for treasure reputed to be beneath it but never found.

The Challacombe Long Stone (Grid Ref: SS705431)

This is the best known of Exmoor's sacred places. It is situated at the source of the River Bray just above Challacombe. The stone was quarried from Swincombe Rocks to the South. It is a 9 feet high, thin, wide slab of slate. It is placed just below the ridge pointing down the stream. In ancient times the climate was warmer and drier and there was less peat but now it is surrounded by a shallow bog. Near to the Challacombe Longstone is Longstone Barrow. There is a line of 3 stones, a rectangle with 2 upright stones with two lying down and a Quincunx (see below). The number of barrows and stone setting suggest this was a very important site.

The Quincunx

Near to Challacombe Long Stone this is a stone setting of five stones. Four are set on the compass points north, south, east and west and the fifth is exactly in the middle. Folklore suggests that setting a chalked tile at each corner and one in the middle was a way of keeping down weedsin the fields. Its true purpose is unknown.

Pixie Rocks (Grid Ref: SS695425)

These lie in a quiet coombe between Chapman Barrows and Challacombe Longstone. Pixies are said to live among the crags.

Woolhanger Henge (Grid Ref: SS692449)

This is situated at Woolhanger Farm near Parracombe and 1 mile north of Chapman Barrows. It is the only Neolithic monument on Exmoor. Woodhanger Henge is an earthen ring 120 feet in diameter with a ditch on the inside. It is now divided by a hedge and the south western side has been ploughed up. It was once an important ritual site similar to the circles at Withypool and Porlock. These are located close to an ancient ridgeway and so readily accessable as seasonal meeting places for feasts,rituals, and fairs.

Withypool Circle (Grid Ref: SS838343)

This is to be found on Withypool Common. It is one of only two complete stone circles on Exmoor and there is a Barrow nearby. There are only 30 to 40 left. Originally there were 100 stones.

Standing stones on Exmoor include:

• Buttery stone
• Dunstone
• Culbone Stone Row

Barrows beeen around since before Roma Culture came to England

See also:

• Monuments Overview
• Prehistoric Barrows
• castles
• Medieval Villages
• Clapper Bridges
• Standing Stones

See Celia Haddon

Contributed by: Original text and pictures supplied by Celia Haddon and sent in by John Evans