Bridestones
The Bridestones ( English the Bridestones ) are east of Timbersbrook and Congleton in Cheshire in England . The monument, which has not yet been extensively examined, can hardly be classified typologically and is unique in England. The remaining stones of the once large megalithic complex from the Neolithic (3500-2400 BC) stand and lie between the sandstone hills of Bosley Cloud and Wolfe Lowe near the border with Staffordshire .
The sources of 1764 report a massive chamber grave ( English chambered tomb ) having a crescent-shaped paved forecourt and a chamber separation by a core hole . The entire complex was supposedly 110 m long with a horned cairn ( English horned cair ) 11 m wide. A report from the 18th century states that apart from the 6.0 m long and 2.7 m wide main chamber, which is still partially standing today, there were two further chambers 55 m apart, of which, however, no traces were found. It is likely that they were to the west of the main chamber, as they were presumably covered by the same cairn as the main chamber. A number of menhirs around the forecourt have been removed along with all of the cairn material. In the 19th century the pierced soul stone was destroyed by fire, its upper half has disappeared.
The Bridestones are a Scheduled Monument .
context
Megalithic systems with crescent-shaped forecourts can be found in the Clyde region of Scotland (the Clyde Tombs , e.g. Cairnholy and Carn Ban ) and in Ireland (referred to there as Court Tombs ). The closest example to the Bridestones is Cashtal yn Ard on the Isle of Man , while no examples are known in England. With the soul hole, the Bridestones have a characteristic that is usually associated with the Cotswold Severn Tombs . In the case of the Bridestones, the perforated soul stone divided the main chamber into two chambers. The opening was big enough for one person to crawl through. A stone of roughly identical proportions is Devil's Ring and Finger in Staffordshire .
It is unclear why such an unusual monument was erected here, especially since Cheshire is not a county known for its Neolithic architecture. Apart from a few barrows and destroyed enclosures the Bridestones are the only authentic Neolithic monument.
See also
Web links
- Description Engl. and pictures
- Description Engl. and pictures
- Description Engl. and pictures
- Description Engl. and pictures
Coordinates: 53 ° 9 '24.6 " N , 2 ° 8' 31.3" W.