Rollright Stones
The Rollright Stones is a complex of three Neolithic and Bronze Age megalithic monuments near the village of Long Compton, on the borders of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Traditionally a monarch and his courtiers petrified by a witch, the Rollright Stones consist of three groups: the King's Men stone circle; the Whispering Knights burial chamber; and the single King Stone.
They span nearly 2,000 years of Neolithic and Bronze Age development.
They span nearly 2,000 years of Neolithic and Bronze Age development.
This complex of megalithic monuments lies on the boundary between Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, on the edge of the Cotswold hills. They span nearly 2000 years of Neolithic and Bronze age development and each site dates from a different period.
The oldest, the Whispering Knights dolmen, is early Neolithic, circa 3,800-3,500 BC, the King's Men stone circle is late Neolithic, circa 2,500 BC; and the King Stone is early to middle Bronze Age, circa 1,500 BC.
The Stones are made of natural boulders of Jurassic oolitic limestone which forms the bulk of the Cotswold hills. This stone has been used extensively in the region for building everything from churches and houses to stone walls. The boulders used to construct the Rollright Stones were probably collected from within 500m of the site.
The origin of the name ‘Rollright’ is somewhat uncertain. One interpretation is that it is derived from the Old English ‘Hrolla’+ ‘landriht’, the land-right or property of Hrolla. Old English is the earliest historical form of the English language brought to England by Anglo-Saxon settlers probably in the mid 5th century.
Parking
Parking is on the roadside where access to monument is made. £1 donation in box as you enter.
Toilets
Please note there are no toilet facilities on site.
Location
Latitude/Longitude: Lat 51deg 58’ 32.68” N, Long 1deg 34’ 14.11” W
- National Grid Reference: SP 2963 3089
- Post Code OX7 5QB
Ordnance Survey maps: Landranger 151 (Straford-upon-Avon 1:50,000);
Explorer 191 (Banbury, Bicester and Chipping Norton 1:25,000)
By Road
The Stones are located on an unclassified road along the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire boundary between the A44 and the A3400, north of Chipping Norton and south of Long Compton.
Parking is on the roadside where access to monument is made. £1 donation in box as you enter.
Toilets
Please note there are no toilet facilities on site.
Location
Latitude/Longitude: Lat 51deg 58’ 32.68” N, Long 1deg 34’ 14.11” W
- National Grid Reference: SP 2963 3089
- Post Code OX7 5QB
Ordnance Survey maps: Landranger 151 (Straford-upon-Avon 1:50,000);
Explorer 191 (Banbury, Bicester and Chipping Norton 1:25,000)
By Road
The Stones are located on an unclassified road along the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire boundary between the A44 and the A3400, north of Chipping Norton and south of Long Compton.
