Devon - Fernworthy Stone Circle

Fernworthy Stone Circle, Devon

The view north towards the northern avenue

In stark contrast to the large open moorland circles that dominate the SW of England, Fernworthy is snugly enveloped by trees. This circle, also known as Froggymead, is just twenty metres in diameter and is slightly flattened along the E-W axis. Twenty-seven blocks of local granite form the circle and are graded in height, with the tallest stones (about 1.2m) being placed in the southern arc. Most of the Dartmoor circles consist of 30-36 stones, thus implying that not all of the Fernworthy stones have survived. Aubrey Burl suggests that the circles concentrated in this north-eastern part of the moor are of a rather late origin for such monuments, but this area was still probably the first part of Dartmoor to be inhabited. The circle was excavated in the late nineteenth century, but no finds are recorded. However, its interior did yield large quantities of charcoal in the sub-soil floor, indicating considerable fire lighting activity either inside the circle itself or in the near vicinity. The original function(s) of the stone circle will never be truly known, but there is much evidence that this area was very important throughout the Bronze Age. A number of burial cairns and cists can still be seen in the immediate surroundings. These have yielded cremated bones, a bronze knife, a flint knife, a lignite button and sherds of a decorated Necked Beaker (now in Plymouth Museum). Thus, there is evidence of a change in burial practice from inhumation to cremation, and the introduction of interment with grave goods by Bronze Age Beaker people. Wessex type flint arrowheads have also been found in the Fernworthy area, showing continued occupation of the area beyond the Beaker culture. The graduation in the height of stones is not a common occurrence amongst the circles of southern England but is seen in other areas. Fernworthy's similarity with Gors Fawr circle in Dyfed, Wales has led Burl to suggest an early communication between SW Wales and Dartmoor. It is interesting to note also that the Grey Wethers double circles, located a mile to the SW, is also aligned on a N to S axis. Just as interesting are the stone rows associated with this complex. Traces of the double row to the S of the circle can just be made out. This avenue led to a cairn near to the circumference of the circle. Another row to the SE of the circle is lost in the undergrowth of the plantation, but had a cairn at either end of the avenue, one of which was found to contain the burnt bone. But the best is a hundred metres to the N. Here a splendid double row of stones leads to another cairn - see Fernworthy Stone Row (North). This is the only known example on Dartmoor of a stone circle being associated with stone rows. The Merrivale complex contains a circle and two double stone rows but they do not seem to be related in any discernible way. Here we have a complex of sites from different cultures which appear to form a sanctuary akin to the complexes at Stanton Drew in Somerset, and Avebury and Stonehenge in Wiltshire. The evidence would suggest that Froggymead was a very important place to our Bronze Age ancestors. Personally, i find the stone circles which are surrounded by woods to be the most rewarding; it seems to be more natural, closer to how they would have been some four thousand years ago. Okay, this one is only in a modern coniferous plantation but it more closely resembles the original setting than the dramatic wind-swept moorland that Dartmoor is better known for. This, along with the evidence of a larger ritual centre, makes this a very appealing site to visit. Definately one of the most interesting sites in an area rich in megaliths.

O.S.G.R.:	SX 655 841 (191).
Location:	3½ miles SW of Chagford, 5½ miles W of Moretonhampstead.
Directions:	Not easy to find. Take one of the lanes W from Chagford and follow the signs for Fernworthy Reservoir. Once in the forest drive past the picnic site and follow the road to the end where it opens out into a car park. Leave the car and walk the uphill track to the W. Within ½ mile, a clearing can be seen in the forest to the N. The stone circle is in the clearing.

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