Wet Withens

Wet Withens is a Bronze Age henge on Eyam Moor in the Derbyshire Peak District, England. The prehistoric circle of 10 upright stones (orthostats) is a protected Scheduled Monument.[1]

Wet Withens
Chair Stone
LocationEyam Moor near Grindleford
RegionDerbyshire, England
Coordinates53°18′27″N 1°39′47″W
TypeHenge monument
Official nameEmbanked stone circle known as Wet Withens, and adjacent cairn
Designated9 October 1981
Reference no.1018480
Eyam Moor from Wet Withens Stone Circle

It is sometimes known as Wet Withers (Old English for 'the wet land where willows grew').[2]

On gritstone moorland over 300 metres above sea level, the site has clear views of the valley of the River Derwent and Higger Tor. The site is well away from public footpaths but is on "Open Access" land following the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The earthen bank of Wet Withens is over 30m in diameter, making it the largest embanked stone circle in Derbyshire. Most of the stones of the ring are quite hidden amongst the heather and reeds. 7 stones are still upright but some of those are leaning inwards. The 'Chair Stone' (70cm high) is the tallest and most prominent stone with a ledge cut out of its face, appearing as a seat. There could have been up to 18 stones originally if the stones had been spaced out evenly.[3][4][5]

About 10m north of the henge is a large stone cairn (known as Eyam Moor Barrow) about 27m long and 1m high. The cairn has been damaged from quarrying and/or excavation activity over the centuries. Near the middle of the cairn is an unusual cup-marked stone. The cairn's shape indicates that it was likely to have been a prehistoric burial barrow.[1]

Wet Withens is also known as Eyam Moor 1 because there are 2 smaller stone circles about 650m to the east, which are also Scheduled Monuments: Eyam Moor 2 and Eyam Moor 3.[6][7][8]

There are a number of other ancient henges in Derbyshire including Arbor Low, The Bull Ring, Doll Tor, Hordron Edge, Nine Stone Close and Twyford Henge.[9]

References
  1. Historic England. "Embanked stone circle known as Wet Withens, and adjacent cairn (1018480)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  2. "Wet Withens". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  3. OL24 White Peak area (Map). 1:25000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. West sheet.
  4. "CRoW and Coastal Access Maps". Natural England. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. "Wet Withens (Eyam Moor I)". Stone Circles. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  6. Burnham, Andy (2018). The Old Stones of the South, Midlands & East of England. Watkins. ISBN 9781786782441.
  7. Historic England. "Embanked stone circle on Eyam Moor, 340m south of Leam Hall Farm (1018479)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  8. Historic England. "Small stone circle and central cairn on Eyam Moor, 370m south of Fern Cottage (1018478)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  9. "Search the List - Find listed buildings | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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