Grey Wethers (S) Stone Circle
Photo taken on 20-06-2024
Plan by RHW. Two Stone Circles on Dartmoor. T.D.A. Vol.71. 1939
Database entries
PDW coverage: Dartmoor Site: Grey Wethers Double Stone Circle
OS Map: SX 63874 83121
OS Source: Google
HER: MDV6759
Megalithic Portal: 532
PMD: Grey Wethers Stone Circles
Alternate name: Grey Wethers (S)
Short Name: SC Grey Weth S
Turner: G2
DPD page: 134
Exist: Yes
Record: Unique
Record Source: PDW
Cairn Class: No
Dimensions (m): 33.0
Lidar: SX 63874 83121
Guide Map: 18
Nearest Bus Stop: Warren House Inn (5.5 km) [Route: 171]
Nearby sites: SX 63874 83121
Notes
This site is one of the most impressive on Dartmoor. The circles were restored in 1909 by Burnard. At the time only 9 stones remained standing in the north circle and 7 in the south circle. It is thought that the reconstruction is fairly accurate. The circles are separated by a few meters and are almost identical. Both circles have 30 stones and diameters very close to 33 m and they are within 2 degrees of being on an exact north to south alignment. The slight differences between the two circles could even be a result of the restoration. Apparently "wether" is an old English name for sheep and legend has it that a drunken farmer leaving the Warren House Inn was persuaded that the Grey Wethers were a desirable flock for sale! See also, Legendary Dartmoor: Grey WethersReferences
These are selected references with an emphasis on out of copyright sources linked as PDFs. For more detailed references try any linked HER or PMD record above.
- A-Z, Dartmoor Sketches, (1870)
- Baring-Gould, Sabine, Sixth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. Vol.31 pp.146-155 (1899)
- Bate, C Spence, On the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor, T.D.A. Vol.4 pp.491-516 (1871)
- Brailsford, J. W, Bronze Age Stone Monuments of Dartmoor, Antiquity Volume 12, Number 48 pp.444-63 (1938)
- Burnard, Robert, Dartmoor Pictorial Records, (1986)
- Chudleigh, J, Devonshire Antiquities, (1893)
- Evans, Rachel, Home Scenes, Or, Tavistock and Its Vicinity, (1846)
- Falcon, T.A., Dartmoor Illustrated, (1900)
- Lukis, W.C, Report on the Monuments of Dartmoor, Proceeding of the Society of Antiquaries Vol.8 (1881)
- Turner, J.R., Ring Cairns, stone circles and related monuments on Dartmoor, D.A.S.P. No.48 pp.27-86 (1990)
- Worth, R. Hansford, Two Stone Circles on Dartmoor, Swincombe Valley, and West Dart Valley, with a note on the Grey Wethers, T.D.A. Vol.71 pp.321-328 (1939)