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:
Barrow 300yds (280m) SW of Kingston FarmBowl barrow 220m NNW of Topparts DairyBowl barrow in New Planting, forming part of the Three Barrow Clump round barrow cemeteryThree round barrows E of Smitten CornerRound barrow in Grimstone ClumpsLong mound and three bowl barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery 760m NNE of Whatcombe House on the south western part of Black DownChambered tomb called The Grey Mare and her ColtsBell barrow and five bowl barrows 1000m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryHampton stone circleTwo fishponds in Oddens WoodDisc barrow 200m north east of Winterbourne Poor Lot, forming part of the Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryRound barrow SW of Ashton CottagesBowl barrow185m WSW of Higher Skippet FarmOld Warren earthworkRound barrows on Sheep DownGroup of barrows near Big WoodRound barrows on Grove HillHelstone burial chamberBowl barrow 680m north east of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownBowl barrow 350m NNW of Topparts DairyPart of a Later Iron Age or Romano-British settlement 590m north west of Compton BarnRound barrow on Magiston HillRound barrow on Rew HillBowl barrow 450m NNW of Field BarnRound barrow on Stratton DownTwo bell barrows 15m north of Well Bottom Wood, part of the Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Sheep Down, 600m east of Home Farm CottagesBowl barrow180m east of Hogleaze BungalowBowl barrow 140m south east of Broadwater CottageRound barrow on Shorn HillLynchets S of Stavordale WoodRound barrow E of Two GatesChambered long barrow N of Loscombe PlantationBowl barrow 550m WNW of Dowerfield HouseFour bowl barrows 500m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 800m north east of Gorwell FarmTriple barrow and bowl barrow forming part of a barrow cemetery and part of an associated field system 250m north east of Winterbourne Poor LotLong barrow 200m north west of Longlands FarmThree bowl barrows 300m south west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryBarrow on parish boundaryThree barrows S of Hart Hill PlantationEnclosure on Sheep Down 930m south east of Heart ClumpThree barrows near Town Hill BarnBarrow E of Red BarnBowl barrow 700m NNW of Whitefriars Broiler HousesBowl barrow 450m NNE of West Hill FarmRound barrow on Hogcliff HillTwo round barrows on North HillBowl barrow in Well Bottom WoodBowl barrow 800m south of Kingston Russell Farm, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownRound barrows W of Blagdon BarnRound barrows on Four Barrow HillBowl barrow on Black Down, 770m north west of the Hardy MonumentCross dyke 600m north of Pitcombe FarmBowl barrow and pond barrow 880m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 400m west of Longlands Farm, forming part of the Longlands round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 550m north east of Pitcombe Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryBell barrow 125m west of Longlands Farm, forming part of the Longlands round barrow cemeteryFriar Waddon Hill round barrowsBell barrow 850m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryMulti-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 FarmFour bowl barrows 725m ESE of Wears FarmBowl barrow 780m north east of Hampton FarmBowl barrow on Black Down, 400m north west of the Hardy MonumentBowl barrow 770m north of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownTwo round barrows at crossroads N of villageDyke on Wears HillEarthwork N of Hampton PlantationsBowl barrow 660m south west of ChilstockBowl barrow 360m south of Compton BarnDyke on Long Barrow HillRound barrow 1/4 mile (400m) N of Ridge HillLong barrow E of Northfield PlantationLong barrow W of Hampton BarnBowl barrow on Black Down, 870m north west of the Hardy MonumentFrampton Roman villaTwo bowl barrows on Black Down immediately east of the Hardy MonumentGroup of round barrows on and to E of Great HillBowl barrow on Black Down, 150m north west of the Hardy MonumentBowl barrow 400m north east of Manor Farm, part of the Pound Hill round barrow cemeteryThe Nine Stones: a small concentric stone circle 750m west of Winterbourne AbbasField system W of Fore HillBowl barrow on Black Down, 450m north west of the Hardy MonumentBowl barrow 355m north west of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryRound barrow NW of Long Bottom PlantationDisc barrow 500m south east of Winterbourne Poor LotBowl barrow 450m north east of Manor Farm, part of the Pound Hill round barrow cemeteryThree barrows N of Penn HillBowl barrow 645m south west of North Barn FarmLong barrow NW of Red BarnWynford Wood boundary bankRound barrow NE of Hog Hill BarnGroup of round barrows on Shorn Hill and Bronkham HillTwenty-one barrows forming part of a round barrow cemetery at Winterbourne Poor LotBowl barrow 165m NNW of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryBell barrow 100m south of Winterbourne Poor Lot, part of the Winterbourne Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 605m south west of Long Barrow FarmTwo bowl barrows 700m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryRound barrow on Pound HillBowl barrow 750m SSE of Lower Kingston Russell FarmBowl barrow 850m north west of Whitefriars Broiler HousesTwo round barrows on RidgewayRound barrow N of Ballarat HouseRound barrow 230yds (210m) E of White Hill PlantationThree bowl barrows at Dry Wood, forming part of the Longlands round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow 800m NNE of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownTwo bowl barrows 720m south east of Friar Waddon HouseBowl barrow 360m south west of Clandon FarmBowl barrow 300m west of New Planting, forming part of the Three Barrow Clump round barrow cemeteryBarrow S of Three-Cornered PlantationBowl barrow 500m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryTwo bowl barrows 283m SSE of the Grey Mare and her ColtsBowl barrow 500m NNW of Topparts DairySt Peter's AbbeyRound barrow 250yds (230m) S of Chapel CoppiceBowl barrow 340m north west of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryGroup of three round barrows SW of Longlands BarnRound barrow in White Hill PlantationBowl barrow 810m NNE of Whatcombe House, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownLong mound 860m NNE of Whatcombe House, associated with the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownBowl barrow 300m WNW of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeterySix round barrows 200m west of New Planting, forming part of the Three Barrow Clump round barrow cemeteryDuck decoy at Abbotsbury Swannery, 630m SSW of Horsepool FarmSt Catherine's Chapel, field system and quarries at Chapel HillStanding stone called The Broad StoneThe Clandon Barrow, 450m west of Clandon FarmRound barrow SW of Pigeon House CottagesBowl barrow and disc barrow 730m south of Kingston Russell Farm, forming part of the round barrow cemetery on the south western part of Black DownTwo barrows at RewBowl barrow on Black Down, 50m south of the Hardy MonumentGroup of barrows S of Goldsmith's PlantationCross-ridge dyke on WindsbatchGroup of three round barrows NE of Jackman's CrossStanding stone 700m south east of North Barn FarmRound barrow NW of Jackman's CrossBarrow 650yds (600m) N of North Barn FarmTwo long barrows and round barrows on Long Barrow HillThe Kingston Russell stone circle 750m north east of Gorwell FarmRound barrow NE of Friar WaddonCross in St Mary's churchyardGroup of barrows in Seven Barrow PlantationMedieval standing cross 11m south east of the south porch of St Mary's ChurchRound barrow N of RidgewayLong barrow NE of AshleyBowl barrow 200m south of Winterbourne Poor Lot forming part of the Winterbourne Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow on Black Down, 80m south east of the Hardy MonumentBowl barrow and disc barrow 900m south east of Kingston Russell Farm, part of the Black Down round barrow cemeteryBowl barrow1050m WNW of Manor FarmRound barrows N of Pound HillBowl barrow 265m north west of White Hill Barn, forming part of the White Hill round barrow cemeteryTwo round barrows on Wears HillBowl barrow 600m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryGroup of round barrows on RidgewayTwo conjoined bowl barrows 550m north east of Manor FarmBowl barrow 600m west of Well Bottom Wood, forming part of the Pitcombe Down round barrow cemeteryFour round barrows NW of Blagdon BarnTwo bowl barrows 1250m east of Notton Hill BarnGroup of round barrows near Eweleaze BarnPigeon House long barrowRound barrow E of The BuildingsField system in Valley of Stones (including earthwork N of Crow Hill)Medieval standing cross 190m south east of St Mary's ChurchBowl barrow 120m east of White Hill WoodGroup of five round barrows on White HillBowl barrow and pond barrow within Well Bottom Wood, part of the Winterbourne Poor Lot round barrow cemeteryBronze Age enclosure, associated linear earthworks and field system, and a later dewpond on Tenants HillRound barrow SW of village.
