Derbyshire (England) -- Antiquities; Derbyshire (England) -- History
We may, therefore, assume that the great circle of Arbor Low was too
prominent a monument to be allowed to remain, but the lesser circles,
no longer frequented by the people, would pass unnoticed by the
Reformers; yet the circle on Harthill Moor, only four miles away, was
left standing, although some of its stones were nine or ten feet high,
and nine stones still stood a century ago, but now only four remain,
varying in height from about four feet to eight or nine feet. Perhaps
the late interment, discovered by Mr. St. George Gray during the
excavations at Arbor Low in 1902, may have dated from the time of its
destruction, for its selection as a place of sepulture would naturally
offend the tenets of a Christian people, and call attention to the
superstitions still associated with this mysterious monument. It was
not the first interment there, for built upon the vallum adjoining the
southern entrance are the remains of a large tumulus, which yielded
to Mr. Bateman, its excavator, urns of coarse clay and other evidence
of cremation, with relics of flint and bone. Again, the summit of the
great mound of its satellite, Gib Hill, had been selected for a similar
interment in the days before the shadow of mystery was cast over Arbor
Low.
The Bull Ring almost adjoins the modern church at Dove Holes, three and
a half miles north-north-west from Buxton. So far as the ground plan
of the circle is concerned, it is identical with that of Arbor Low,
save that the vallum is now, perhaps, not quite so high. No doubt it
is the work of the same architects, and originally contained a similar
arrangement of great stones. Unfortunately these were entirely removed
nearly two centuries ago for building purposes, and its very existence
is to-day threatened by approaching lime works. With the circle itself
its similarity to Arbor Low ends, for instead of lying on a northern
slope it faces south-east, hence as the natural conditions are varied,
so are its adjuncts. Instead of a high mound a thousand feet away,
its pointer is brought close to it, and, therefore, lower in height,
although a mound of about the same circumference; but its direction is
nearly the same, namely, to the south-west.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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