Legends of the Standing Stones Quiz

Answer: The Merry Maidens

The Merry Maidens is said to represent nineteen young women who, when on their way to Sunday Service, were distracted by the music of some pipers. Instead of continuing to Church they danced in the field and for this sin were struck by a thunderbolt which turned them to stone.

The pipers were also turned to stone and can be seen as two tall standing stones approximately a quarter of a mile away.

Answer: The Rollright Stones

The legend says that a King and his knights were riding to make war on the King of England. A prophecy stated that if they came within sight of the village of Long Compton they would be successful. Just before they reached a point where they could see the village a magician appeared and turned them into stones.

It is also said that it is impossible to count these stones. A local baker is said to have tried by putting a loaf on each stone, but even this ruse did not work.

Answer: Bodmin Moor

Cornwall is rich in stone circles, monoliths and Celtic and Druidic legend. Situated on the edge of Bodmin Moor not far from Liskeard, the Hurlers are three stone circles dating from around 1500BC. They are said to be a group of local men who preferred to play hurling on a Sunday rather than attend Church. St. Cleer ordered them to stop playing and go to Church, and when they refused and carried on playing he turned them to stone with a glance.

As with most circles their original purpose is not known, but is thought to be Druidical.

Answer: The Promise of Odin

The Stones of Stenhouse are a particularly fine example of a stone circle, and are believed to be of Scandinavian origin. Local custom says that a couple who are intending to marry and wish to make it an eternally binding pledge join hands through a circle in one of the stones, known as The Stone of Odin. This joining of hands through the circle is known locally as 'The Promise of Odin'.

Answer: Stonehenge

Arthurian legend states that Merlin constructed Stonehenge in a single night.
Standing on Salisbury Plain this magnificent stone circle remains shrouded in mystery. Given World Heritage status it is the stone circle everyone knows and it remains revered by many. Ghost sightings within the circle abound and there is even a legend that Merlin himself is buried beneath the central stone.

Answer: Avebury

Only 20 miles from Stonehenge, Avebury consists of earthworks and dykes inside of which stand a massive outer stone circle, with two smaller stone circles inside that. When constructed there were some 98 sarsen stones in the outer circle, some weighing as much as 40 tons.

This magnificent site was given World Heritage status at the same time as Stonehenge. Before the circle was given protection some stones were taken for local building works and houses made from these stones are said to be haunted by angry spirits.

Answer: Derbyshire

The original legend of the Grey Ladies states that there were nine stones on the site, but only four now survive. They are said to come to life at midnight, turn into young girls, and dance on the moor. Another legend associated with the site says that at night fairies come to party and dance round the stones.

Answer: It is turned over

The Devil's Stone is said to have fallen from the Devil's pocket as he fell from Heaven to Hell. It sits outside the village church, and once a year, on the evening of November 5th, the church bell ringers first ring a peal and then come out of the Church and turn the stone over to keep the Devil away.
The turning was neglected once during World War 1 and misfortune came to the village almost immediately.

Answer: The Devil's Arrows

Known as The Devil's Arrows or The Devil's Bolts there were originally four stones and legend says that they are thunderbolts thrown by the Devil from the top of nearby Howe Hill at the Christian settlement at Fountains Abbey. They fell short of their target lodging in the ground as standing stones, and in despair the Devil hanged himself from the tallest stone.

Answer: A man, his horse and his dog

Enstone takes its name from a Neolithic burial site and these stones were probably part of this site. Local legend states they are a man, his horse and his dog, but not who they were or why they were turned to stone. They are said to walk down to the river each night to drink, and it is also said that if they are moved they will, overnight, walk back to their original place.