Grey Croft stone circle

Grey Croft stone circle is a restored stone circle near Seascale in Cumbria, England (grid reference NY03340238). It is situated near the site of the former nuclear-power stations at Sellafield.

Grey Croft stone circle

Shown within Cumbria
Location	Cumbria
Coordinates	54.4076°N 3.4908°W / 54.4076; -3.4908
Type	Stone circle
History
Periods	Neolithic / Bronze Age

Description

Grey Croft stone circle is a circle of 12 stones situated south of the Sellafield nuclear site.^[1] The circle is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the sea. Only 10 of the original 12 stones are currently standing.^[2] There is a small outlying stone 21 metres (69 ft) to the north.^[2]

History

The stones in the circle were toppled over and buried in 1820 by a tenant farmer, with the exception of one stone.^[1] In 1949 the site was excavated and nine of the stones were located, and replaced as accurately as possible.^[1]

The excavations uncovered an oval stone cairn situated in the circle centre.^[1] Trenching under the cairn revealed charcoal traces, calcined bones, a broken early Bronze Age jet or lignite ring, and flint flakes and scraper.^[1] A Great Langdale Late-Neolithic stone axe was found near to the eastern stone of the circle.^[2]

See also

• Swinside stone circle, 12 miles to the southeast