East Steel Stone Circle, Northumberland
I recently took a not often traveled road back home and was astonished to come across a stone circle right next to the road. I had not traveled this road for at least 30 years but I am sure I would have noticed the circle had it been there then. Closer investigation was needed.
This applet will take a while to start - it's a big file - but once it has it's your chance to see what The view's like at East Steel on the road between Plenmeller and Bardon Mill, Northumberland
. To control the view click in it then use the spacebar, mouse and up/down cursor keys - you'll soon see how. Clicking active areas gets you more information.
Here's another view of the stone circle:
As you can see the stones for the most part are very rectangular - a little too regular to be authentic. If you look the area up on the Ordnance Survey site to get a map, you won't find it showing up as an 'antiquity' - or indeed, showing up at all! The clue to the circle is on the stone nearest the farm lane.
See that mark at the base of the stone? It's where in the past there has been a hinge set into the stone. It's an old gatepost!
Apparently the circle was constructed by the farmer over ten years ago. I believe you can get bed and breakfast there so if you go, you can ask him all about it - East Steel Farm Whitfield Hexham NE47 8JP
You are listening to Wise Men by
James Blunt.