Image of the Month

LONG MEG DRUID CIRCLE

A mile or so to the north of the village of Little Salkeld off the A686 Penrith to Alston road stands the impressive Long Meg and her Daughters. Long Meg herself is a stone set outside the circle just under 12ft/4m high and has some concentric circular carvings. The circle (the Daughters) is made up of 69 stones.

This is the third largest stone circle in Britain, 350ft/109m at its widest point. The circle has suffered over the years and the number of stones present has shrunk dramatically. This is a common fate for stone circles. The stones are tempting for use in building and farmers want fields that are easy to plow. The desire to plow the field completely almost saw the total destruction of the site in the late 18th centuary - Colonel Lacy the land owner, of nearby Salkeld Hall decided to have the stones blasted with gun powder.

When the work began a terrible thunder storm erupted. This was taken by the labourers as a sign of the circles Supernatural power to defend herself - they fled in terror and would not carry out the work. Lacy had a change of heart and the left the Long Meg and her Daughters to them selves. Legend has it that the Daughters are a coven of witches turned to stone. (Edge Guide)