The Nine Stones by Steve Simmons from Getty Images
The Nine Stones
The Nine Stones is a small but significant stone circle located near Winterbourne Abbas in Dorchester, situated in the tranquil valley bottom of the South Dorset Downs but next to a busy road, close to the South Winterbourne stream. This prehistoric monument, known for its historical and archaeological value, was first documented in the 18th century by notable antiquarians such as John Aubrey, William Stukeley, and William Hutchins. Their early descriptions remarkably match the current appearance of the site, underscoring its enduring presence through the centuries.
The circle comprises stones made of sarsen or conglomerate, arranged in an irregular yet discernible circular formation. The internal diameter of the circle measures approximately 8 meters, with the stones varying in size. They range from 1.5 meters to 0.5 meters in width and 1.5 meters to 0.45 meters in height. These stones, partially buried over time, might be larger than what is visible on the surface. Notably, the two largest stones, located in the northern and western sections of the circle, each measure around 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters, suggesting their prominence or possible significance within the arrangement.
The stones are generally spaced at regular intervals of about 1 meter around the circle, except for a 3-meter gap on the northern side, which could indicate a potential entrance to the circle. This feature adds an element of intrigue, possibly hinting at the circle’s original use or symbolic meaning. While modern additions such as fence posts, gates, and an informational notice board are present, these are excluded from the site’s official scheduling to preserve its historical integrity. The ground beneath, however, remains protected, ensuring that the Nine Stones continues to be a valuable link to our prehistoric past.
Created: 26 May 2024 Edited: 10 June 2024
The Nine Stones
The Nine Stones LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around The Nine Stones
There are some historic monuments around including:
Four round barrows NW of Blagdon BarnOld Warren earthworkMedieval standing cross 11m south east of the south porch of St Mary's ChurchBowl barrow 550m north east of Pitcombe Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Black Down, 400m north west of the Hardy MonumentLynchets S of Stavordale WoodBowl barrow and disc barrow 900m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow in New Planting, forming part of the Three Barrow Clump round barrow cemeteryLong barrow 200m north west of Longlands FarmBowl barrow and disc barrow 730m south of Kingston Russell Farm, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownFrampton Roman villaBowl barrow and pond barrow 880m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down barrow cemeteryChambered long barrow N of Loscombe PlantationTwo long barrows and round barrows on Long Barrow HillBowl barrow 660m south west of ChilstockBarrow 300yds (280m) SW of Kingston FarmBowl barrow 360m south west of Clandon FarmBell barrow 125m west of Longlands Farm, forming part of the Longlands round barrow cemeteryTwo fishponds in Oddens WoodLong barrow NE of AshleyBowl barrow1050m WNW of Manor FarmLong mound and three bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery 760m NNE of Whatcombe House on the south western part of Black DownBowl barrow 450m NNW of Field BarnBowl barrow 780m north east of Hampton FarmBowl barrow on Sheep Down, 600m east of Home Farm CottagesBowl barrow 300m west of New Planting, forming part of the Three Barrow Clump round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Black Down, 80m south east of the Hardy MonumentTwo bowl barrows 283m SSE of the Grey Mare and her ColtsThree barrows N of Penn HillRound barrow in Grimstone ClumpsDuck decoy at Abbotsbury Swannery, 630m SSW of Horsepool FarmTriple barrow and bowl barrow forming part of a barrow cemetery and part of an associated field system 250m north east of Winterbourne Poor LotCross in St Mary's churchyardRound barrow on Pound HillRound barrow NW of Long Bottom PlantationTwo round barrows at crossroads N of villageBowl barrow 200m south of Winterbourne Poor Lot forming part of the Winterbourne Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryThree barrows S of Hart Hill PlantationGroup of three round barrows NE of Jackman's CrossBowl barrow 450m north east of Manor Farm, part of the Pound Hill round barrow cemeteryRound barrow in White Hill PlantationBowl barrow 800m south of Kingston Russell Farm, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownRound barrow on Rew HillThree bowl barrows 300m south west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryRound barrows on Grove HillStanding stone 700m south east of North Barn FarmMulti-period landscape including an Iron Age or Romano British settlement, part of an associated field system, six bowl barrows and an enclosure 600m south east of Langford FarmBowl barrow 700m NNW of Whitefriars Broiler HousesTwo conjoined bowl barrows 550m north east of Manor FarmBowl barrow 600m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 500m NNW of Topparts DairyRound barrows W of Blagdon BarnBowl barrow 450m NNE of West Hill FarmTwo round barrows on Wears HillRound barrow N of RidgewayRound barrow NE of Hog Hill BarnLong barrow W of Hampton BarnRound barrow 250yds (230m) S of Chapel CoppiceDisc barrow 200m north east of Winterbourne Poor Lot, forming part of the Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 700m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 605m south west of Long Barrow FarmGroup of barrows in Seven Barrow PlantationBowl barrow 810m NNE of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownGroup of three round barrows SW of Longlands BarnRound barrow on Hogcliff HillField system W of Fore HillRound barrow on Magiston HillRound barrow E of The BuildingsBowl barrow and pond barrow within Well Bottom Wood, part of the Winterbourne Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryChambered tomb called The Grey Mare and her ColtsBowl barrow 600m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 140m south east of Broadwater CottageFour bowl barrows 725m ESE of Wears FarmDyke on Long Barrow HillRound barrow N of Ballarat HouseBowl barrow 850m north west of Whitefriars Broiler HousesRound barrow NW of Jackman's CrossBowl barrow 355m north west of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryRound barrows on Four Barrow HillTwo round barrows on RidgewayBowl barrow 350m NNW of Topparts DairyFour bowl barrows 500m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryHelstone burial chamberTwo round barrows on North HillBowl barrow in Well Bottom WoodRound barrow 230yds (210m) E of White Hill PlantationWynford Wood boundary bankThe Clandon Barrow, 450m west of Clandon FarmRound barrows on Sheep DownGroup of barrows near Big WoodGroup of five round barrows on White HillRound barrow NE of Friar WaddonBowl barrow185m WSW of Higher Skippet FarmTwo bowl barrows 720m south east of Friar Waddon HouseGroup of round barrows on Shorn Hill and Bronkham HillBowl barrow 800m north east of Gorwell FarmBarrow 650yds (600m) N of North Barn FarmDisc barrow 500m south east of Winterbourne Poor LotDyke on Wears HillBowl barrow 645m south west of North Barn FarmBowl barrow on Black Down, 770m north west of the Hardy MonumentBowl barrow on Black Down, 870m north west of the Hardy MonumentGroup of round barrows on and to E of Great HillRound barrow SW of Pigeon House CottagesGroup of round barrows on RidgewayTwo bowl barrows on Black Down immediately east of the Hardy MonumentRound barrow SW of villageBowl barrow 360m south of Compton BarnBarrow on parish boundaryTwo barrows at RewBowl barrow 265m north west of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryLong barrow NW of Red BarnSt Peter's AbbeyBowl barrow180m east of Hogleaze BungalowStanding stone called The Broad StoneHampton stone circleBronze Age enclosure, associated linear earthworks and field system, and a later dewpond on Tenants HillLong barrow E of Northfield PlantationThree round barrows E of Smitten CornerTwenty-one barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery at Winterbourne Poor LotRound barrows N of Pound HillSt Catherine's Chapel, field system and quarries at Chapel HillBowl barrow 500m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryBell barrow and five bowl barrows 1000m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 1250m east of Notton Hill BarnTwo bell barrows 15m north of Well Bottom Wood, part of the Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryBarrow S of Three-Cornered PlantationBowl barrow 750m SSE of Lower Kingston Russell FarmRound barrow on Shorn HillBell barrow 100m south of Winterbourne Poor Lot, part of the Winterbourne Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryPart of a Later Iron Age or Romano-British settlement 590m north west of Compton BarnBowl barrow 680m north east of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownBowl barrow 550m WNW of Dowerfield HouseThe Nine Stones: a small concentric stone circle 750m west of Winterbourne AbbasRound barrow SW of Ashton CottagesBowl barrow 770m north of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownTwo bowl barrows 400m west of Longlands Farm, forming part of the Longlands round barrow cemeteryGroup of barrows S of Goldsmith's PlantationBowl barrow 165m NNW of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 800m NNE of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownPigeon House long barrowBowl barrow on Black Down, 450m north west of the Hardy MonumentMedieval standing cross 190m south east of St Mary's ChurchBarrow E of Red BarnBowl barrow 300m WNW of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 400m north east of Manor Farm, part of the Pound Hill round barrow cemeteryRound barrow 1/4 mile (400m) N of Ridge HillLong mound 860m NNE of Whatcombe House, associated with the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownCross dyke 600m north of Pitcombe FarmBowl barrow 220m NNW of Topparts DairyGroup of round barrows near Eweleaze BarnEnclosure on Sheep Down 930m south east of Heart ClumpThe Kingston Russell stone circle 750m north east of Gorwell FarmEarthwork N of Hampton PlantationsBowl barrow 340m north west of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryBell barrow 850m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Black Down, 50m south of the Hardy MonumentThree barrows near Town Hill BarnRound barrow E of Two GatesCross-ridge dyke on WindsbatchField system in Valley of Stones (including earthwork N of Crow Hill)Round barrow on Stratton DownFriar Waddon Hill round barrowsBowl barrow 120m east of White Hill WoodBowl barrow on Black Down, 150m north west of the Hardy MonumentSix round barrows 200m west of New Planting, forming part of the Three Barrow Clump round barrow cemeteryThree bowl barrows at Dry Wood, forming part of the Longlands round barrow cemetery.
