Stonehenge features massive stone circles (some believe Bath’s Royal Crescent was influenced by its design). Some say it was due to burial rites, others say that as the stones align with sunrise (summer solstice) and sunset (winter solstie), it could have been an astronomical calendar, using celestial patterns to help with farming.
Often used to celebrate the summer solstice (longest day) on 21 June. It’s believed that it took hundreds of years to build Stonehence, from the simple earthwork enclosure, to the stone circles appearing around 2200BC.
The other mystery is how the stones reached Wiltshire. It’s known that the bluestones are from the Preseli Hills (over 150 miles away, in Wales). But did they float on water that is no longer there, or were they trundled over land on wooden sledges? Again, nobody knows!
Visitors are sometimes banned for leaving litter, and a few years back, over 500 500 people were arrested after an altercation with police, the biggest arrest of civilians ever in England. Recently others were arrested for throwing orange powder paint on the stones for a Just Stop Oil protest?
Nearby land is used for live firing for the British Army, and gun salutes to celebrate royal events. This spooks horses, birds and wildlife (some countries have banned them due to passers-by being killed). In December 2024, a few civilians were reported killed, by gunfire being used to celebrate the downfall of the former President.
The Stone Circles of Cumbria
Imagine walking through the lush fields of Cumbria and stumbling upon ancient stone structures. These silent sentinels, found in places like Kendal and Keswick, are known as stone circles. Crafted thousands of years ago, they hint at a mysterious past. Archaeologists believe these circles were used for ritual or astronomical purposes. The famous Castlerigg Stone Circle, near Keswick, offers a window into Neolithic life.
But it’s not all about stones. Cumbria’s landscape is dotted with burial mounds or ‘tumuli’. These ancient graves speak of the people who lived and died here. They remind us that even the earliest communities, perhaps inhabiting today’s Grasmere or Coniston, left their mark on the land. These relics are the whispers of ancestors, echoing through time.
Roman Occupation
Fast forward to the Roman era, a time when Cumbria’s hills witnessed change like never before. The Romans, known for their love of order, built forts across the region. Places like Penrith and Cockermouth became focal points in their network. The Romans didn’t just stop there; they laid down roads and bridges, shaping the communities and trade routes we see today.
The fort at Hardknott shares stories of Roman soldiers who stood guard over the land. It’s humbling to think these stone ruins once housed men far from home, adapting to life in this rugged terrain. Their influence extended far and wide, touching every corner of the county, from Windermere to beyond.
These historical threads weave together the rich tapestry of Cumbria’s origins. They are stories that connect us not only to the past but to a shared heritage that continues to shape our identity today.