Monument record 154 - The Bridestones Neolithic chambered long cairn

<1> Watson J, 1733, Druidical Remains in or near the Parish of Halifax in Yorkshire, p.358 (Article in Journal). SCH5141.

<2> Rowlands, Henry, 1776, Mona Antiqua Restaurata, Malbon T, p.319-20 (Book). SCH5140.

Bridestones described by Rev Thomas Malbon, the Rector of Congleton Church in an article in Rowland's 'Mona Antiqua Restauranta' 2nd edition 1766, together with a plan. He describes 6 upright free stones 3-6 feet wide and of various heights and shapes and spaced at intervals of 6 feet to form a semi circle. He considers this to have once been a complete circle 27 feet in diameter citing signs of holes where stones once were and two single stones, one standing east of the circle, as his evidence. The earth was described as being very black, mixed with ash and charcoal. To the west of these stones were two rough, square tapering stones 4ft. 3in. Broad and 2ft. Thick, standing at the north and south angles of what Malbon describes as an artificial stone cave or chest. This is paved with broken pieces of stones about 2 ½ inches thick, overlaying some pounded whitestone about six inches deep with charcoal inclusions, supposedly from ashes falling through the pavement which was covered with oak-charcoal about two inches thick. In this layer several pieces of burnt bone were recovered, but not identified. The sides of the cave comprised two unhewn stones about 18 feet in length, six in height and fourteen inches thick which had been broken in two. Malbon describes a stone in the middle of the cave standing eight feet across it, about 5 ½ feet high and six inches thick with a 19 ½ inch diameter circular hole is cut through it. He thought that the chamber would have once been covered with large unhewn slabs. The entrance had filled up with stones and earth, which Malbon supposed to be dust blown by the wind from year to year in dry weather. Malbon also described two other chambers of a similar construction c.55 yards away. One was 2½ yards long, 2½ feet broad and 3ft 2inches high. There was only partial remains of the other. Malbon states that a large heap of stones that covered the whole, 120 yards long and 12 yards broad. These stones had been taken away from time to time by masons and other people for various purposes. Further more, in the year 1764 several hundred loads were carried away for making Dial Lane, the Congleton-Leek turnpike located to the immediate south.

<3> Pitt, William, 1817, A Topographical History of Staffordshire, p.351 (Book). SCH5142.

The Bridestones consist of 8 upright freestones, 2 of which stand in a semi circle formed by the other 6. Westward of the Bridestones there is a kind of artificial cave.

<4> Hamper W, 1834, Observations on certain ancient pillars of memorial, called hoar stones (Article in Journal). SCH5143.

There are Bride Stones in several parts of the kingdom. Those at Biddulph consist of 8 upright stones, 2 of which stand within a semi circle formed by the other 6. These stones appear to have become connected with the agreement of bridal dowers and the division of property.

<5> Ward J, 1843, History of Stoke on Trent, p.2-6 (Book). SCH5144.

The Bridestones were formerly claimed by Staffordshire people as within Biddulph; latterly by Cheshire people as within Buglawton “and as such were enclosed from the open common. Described as a Kistvaen. Chamber: several large stones placed upright on their edges, and forming the sides and edges of a parallelogram, occupying an area 18 ft x 11 ft; at present no roofing slabs, but because of upper surfaces of wall slabs being equal height, undoubtedly originally covered; fragment which divides the area into two equal parts, probably part of another ‘prop’ to lid or cover. Large erect ‘pillar’ close to the head of the structure, but standing out from the square, measures 9-5 feet high (above the surface). Another pillar stone, 6 ft high and nearly erect, stands 5 yards from the north east corner. The general height of the side stones of the chamber is c.5 ft. the whole of the south side was originally one stone, c.18 ft long and weighing at least 10 tons, but a large fracture in the middle of it was caused by a bonfire made in the cavity c.1823, causing a fragment from the centre to fall outside the chamber. Ward was informed that ‘there were, formerly, tumuli of loose stones near the spot, of which many thousands of loads were taken away when the neighbouring turn pike road was formed”. It has been suggested (reference given as Archaeologia vol. II) that monuments called ‘Bride Stones’ were connected with ancient British marriage sites, however Ward prefers the view that they were altars of sacrifice and probably the tombs of their chief Druids.

<6> Sainter J D, 1878, Scientific Rambles Round Macclesfield, p.25-32 (Book). SCH2964.

Provides a summary of (presumably) Mabon’s account of the monument in 1766 (see 2). Sainter refers to another account published in 1820. "The Bridestones consist of eight upright free stones, two of which stand within a semicircle formed by the other six. The outside stones are six feet from each other. Near them is the pavement of an old artificial cave composed of fragments of stone about 2 ½ inches thick. Two large unhewn freestones about 10ft long and six high formed the sides of the cave.’ Sainter refers to further account in 1854 "The present appearance of the monument shows the cave, cell or chest open at the top and the lower portion of the division or holed stone standing only a few inches above ground. The number of stones composing the chest is five, two at one end, one at the other, and one to each side. The side stones have been fractured, the one into two pieces the other with three, the centre piece having fallen down upon the ground. This cell is a perfect parallelogram inside, and is 14ft. 6in in length, 4ft. 10in broad, and 4ft 8in in height. The length of the side stone that has been fractured into three pieces was originally about 18ft. And the opposite stone 12ft 5in. The floor is grown over with turf. At the south cast angle of the cell, an upright stone stands with a sloping top, whose height is 8ft 10in, greatest breadth 4ft., greatest width 1 ½ ft. A smaller and broken stone stands within a yard or two of this; and there is another unbroken stone about 5ft. High, standing six or eight yards distant in the young fir plantation in which the monument is found; and six yards apart from and parallel with this another similar stone thrown down." In Sainter's opinion the monument remained in about the same condition as described in 1854. The two sidestones of the cist, had been split into five parts, (making two on one side and three on the other) before the year 1766; and that the holed stone which had been placed across the centre of the cist, seems to have been intact at that time. The 1854 article reported that this had been destroyed, but, according to Sainter, the broken off part was found and replaced in 1877; and the split side slab, restored to its original position. Sainter believes that in Anglo-Saxon and Norse society holed stones had a ritual function. Weakly children and young people were drawn through them as an antidote for the rickets and other disorders or as a penance. Persons joining hands through the ring-stone, was considered to be a binding oath or contract.

<7> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.3 p.43 (Book). SCH1389.

The Bridestones were formerly claimed as being within the adjoining township of Biddulph, “but some years ago they were enclosed from the open common belonging to Buglawton”. Comprises a number of upright stones arranged in a semicircle and two cistavens. May be of Celtic or Scandinavian origin.

<8> Shone W, 1911, Prehistoric Man in Cheshire, p.49 (Book). SCH2710.

When Shone visited the site in 1907, he mentions no second chamber, but indicates that the private garden of the house to the immediate east passes over the site of the circle.

<9> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, vol.50, p.72, 1934-5 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

Holed stone across the centre of the chamber, with the stumps of the upright stones arranged in a semi circular form in front of the tomb chamber. No authentic record of the burial.

<10> Fleure HJ & Nealy GJH, 1936, Cashtal yn Ard, Isle of Man, p.392-5 (Article in Journal). SCH5146.

Comparison of the site with Cashtal yn Ard, Isle of Man.

<11> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, Dunlop M, 1938, vol.53, p.14-31 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

The site was ‘restored’ by a ‘small party’ from the Department of Geography of Manchester University in 1936-7. Stones, which had been removed to Victoria Park, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, were returned. Surface debris was cleared. A fallen stone lying across the mouth of the chamber was removed. Examination of the stones base suggested that it was the upper part of the standing stone which continues the southern wall of the chamber. When subsequently joined to the base by dowels and cement, a stone about 10 ft above ground level was formed. The removal of earth in the forecourt revealed a grit stone on the threshold at right angles to the boundary walls of the chamber, which showed rough working in the form of a central rectangular projection. The forecourt was roughly cobbled. A bank of debris located at the eastern end of the monument revealed a large broken gritstone 5ft x 5ft x 5ft. The stone has been raised above ground level and its position slightly altered. The fallen portion of the southern wall of the chambers has been re-erected. No evidence for the remaining 4 stones of the semi circle was discovered. North of the forecourt was a charcoal layer c. 9 inches below ground level, from which a flint blade and scraper were recovered. The surviving megaliths are described as a ‘forecourt monument’. Notes the following events in the recent history of the monument: i) A fire had been lit within the chamber (W Beresford in Reliquary vol. 4 p.27-8). Ii) In 1877 the broken half of the port hole and the southern slab were replaced, but were back to their previous state by 1935. There had been excavations in the chamber which had bee partly filled with debris from an old cottage (replaced by Bridestones House).

<12> Colgrave B, 1938, The Bride Stones and Sir Gwayne’s and the Green Chapel in Antiquity, p.351-2 (Article in Journal). SCH5150.

Colgrave suggested that the Bridestones was referred to in the 14th century poem ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’.

<13> Varley, W. J. & Jackson, J. W., 1940, Prehistoric Cheshire, p.34-5 (Book). SCH2692.

Influences spread by trade in the Irish Sea as the source of the design of the Bridestones. Described as a segmented cist; a long chamber divided by a transverse slab in which there is a port hole opening. In front of the chamber is a roughly cobbled forecourt set within a curved façade of large uprights. The latter feature suggests the Bridestones belong to a group of horned cairns which are found in north east Ireland, the Isle of Man, south west Scotland and Anglesey. The combination of the port hole and the horned cairn is the peculiar feature of the monument. Port hole slabs have a much wider distribution than horned cairns, but the combination occurs elsewhere along the Atlantic route from Mediterranean. A modified version of the forecourt tomb is located at Five Wells (Derbyshire), whilst a nearby port hole is the Devil’s Ring and Finger (Muckleston, Shropshire/Staffordshire).

<14> Daniel, GE, 1950, The prehistoric chamber tombs of England and Wales, p.83-5, 181 (Book). SCH5149.

Gallery Grave 18 ft 6 inches long and aligned east-west., with the remains of a semi circular forecourt at it’s eastern end. Early accounts describe a long barrow variously given as 60 and 120 yards in length and 12 and 14 yards wide extending from east to west with the gallery grave at it’s eastern end and two other chambers in the barrow placed 55 yards away from the gallery. The other two chambers are described as 6ft x 2 ft 6 inches x 3ft 2 inches in size. In 1950 there was no trace of the two smaller chambers and only scant traces of the long barrow survived. A low septal slab with a cresentic hollow on its upper edge dividing the chamber into two is all that remains of a transverse slab with a hole cut into it, which formerly existed at the site. Daniel’s placed the Bridestones in his Peak Group of gallery graves along with Five Wells and Minninglow.

<15> Piggott S, 1954, Neolithic Cultures of the British Isles, p.18 (Book). SCH2240.

An outlying member of the Clyde-Carlingford group. A segmented gallery grave with forecourt. In 1954 much ruined, comprising a large gallery divided into two compartments by a slab now broken and bearing the lower half of a ‘porthole’ opening; another massive septal slab across the entrance and 3 stones still standing of the crescentic forecourt setting.

<16> Varley W J, 1964, Cheshire Before the Romans, p.30-2 (Book). SCH784.

The Bridestones is a Court Cairn – collective name for a group of cairns found on both sides of the north Irish Sea. The tomb at Taddington Wells, in the Peak District probably also belongs to this group. The Bridestones comprise a chamber made up of large stones and divided into two parts by a slab, which once had a circular port hole. The chamber is set on the western side of a paved semi circular courtyard defined by large stone uprights. The chambers were once covered by a cairn. There were traces of charcoal discovered in the cambers and in the forecourt, hinting at funerary rituals, but all burials and tomb furnishings have been removed. The port hole slab belongs to the basic traditions of the collective tomb and the two chambered form is considered to be early. Similar tombs were being built in Antrim in the middle Neolithic from 2750bc.

<17> Stephens W B, 1970, History of Congleton, Thompson FH, p.3-5 (Book). SCH1414.

The distinguishing feature of the Clyde-Carlingford group of megalithic monuments is the segmented gallery forming the actual chamber and the fore court which probably served as the scene of pre-burial ritual. The Bridestones is an outlier of the North Irish Sea group. Gives a resume of Malbon’s account (see 2).

<18> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol. II, p.291 (Book). SCH3228.

There are local legends associated with the site, but the name is typical, occurring elsewhere in the country as a name for megalithic groups.

<19> Varley, W. J. & Jackson, J. W., 1940, Prehistoric Cheshire (Book). SCH2692.

The Bridestones: a Neolithic chambered tomb, the remains of which were once much more extensive. In the eighteenth century the monument was described as comprised a large cairn 120 yds (110m) long by 12 yds (11m) wide, with (up to) three chambers. A bipartite chamber at the eastern entrance to the monument survives (6m by 2.7m) made of large slabs on edge and divided by a porthole stone. Only half survives but though the upper portion was replaced in 1877 it is now lost. A second chamber in the centre of the mound was 2.1/2 yds square and 3 ft 2 ins high. Traces of a third chamber were noticed in 1766. The eastern end of the mound has a forecourt surrounded by a complete or partial circle of standing stones, of which three survive. These enclosed a cobbled area covered by ashes.

<20> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, Wagstaff P (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

Notes compiled from sources 1-6, 8-9, 11-12, 14-15, 17, 25 and notes from site visit in 1977. The two upright stones restored by Fleure (see 11) to their nineteenth century position are the same size as the (broken) sidestones to the chamber, therefore they may have originaly been horizontal. The extent of the cain is dependent on the interpretation of the forecourt and the 'artificial caves' located in the rockery to the east. These 'artificial caves' could be the two additional cists mentioned in Malbon's article See 1 & 25). 'Artificial cave I' is now covered up with rocks or has been dismantled since it was sealed in 1944 (see 25 photograph 1321/69). 'Artificial cave II' is '…almost certanly a modern structure…' except for the western entrance which could be megalithic. Iis located c.60 yards from the Bridestones surviving chamber. There are large slabs incorporated in the walls and as capstones. Internal height is c.6ft with a width of 2ft 6in. The cave/passage follows a zig-zaging course between the two entrances. The rockery may be made of stones taken from the Bridestones' destroyed chambers. Presents the following hypothesises regarding the second and third chambers reported by Malbon (see 1) and the 'artifical caves'; i) The chambers were sited where Bridestones House (built c.1846) is and the 'artifical caves' were constructed further south as a reminder; ii) the second and third chambers were located 55 yards to the west of the first chamber (i.e. within the cairn).

<21> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Longley, vol. I, p.43-6 (Book). SCH3556.

An important though dilapidated example of a chambered long cairn: however in its present condition any (potential) stages of development cannot be isolated. The site is at c. 275m OD with extensive views to the west. The cairn entrance faces rising ground. The monument comprises the following elements:

1)an elaborate crescent forecourt defined by orthostats with two free-standing stones set within the forecourt and two further stones beyond the eastern open end aligned on the chamber.
2)a rectangular chamber 4.9 m. by 1.8 m. by approximately 1.5 m. high internally, immediately west of the forecourt, divided into two segments by a septal slab pierced by a small porthole, and capped by long flat stones;
3)a small chamber 2 ½ yd. by 2 ½ yd. by 3 ft. 2 in. high, 55 yd. distant from the main chamber;
4)a possible third chamber;
5)a very long cairn 120 yd. long and 12 yd. broad covering the chambers and almost certainly on an east-west alignment from the forecourt.

Elements 1 & 5 no longer survive.

The earliest description is an account based on observations following the removal in 1764 of several hundred tons of stone from the cairn during the construction of Dial Lane turnpike road. If the measurements in this account are correct then the Bridestones had one of the longest cairns in Britain. It provided important information on the contents of the main chamber. A layer of broken stones 2 ½ in. thick overlay a 6 in. deep deposit of pounded white stones, the upper portion black-tinged. The floor was covered with a 2 in. thickness of ashes, oak charcoal and very small and unidentifiable bone fragments. A further area of ash and oak charcoal were observed near the central monoliths. The northern and southern walls of the chamber were originally constructed of single large orthostats now fractured in two. The rear orthostats may well have been concealed by the material making up the cairn. No mention is made of any deliberate blocking of the entrance. The capstones of the main chamber had been removed before 1766, and by 1843 further damage had made it impossible to plot more than four or possibly five stones of the façade and the portal or to record the position of the cairn. The southern orthostat of the chamber was further split by fire in 1823, and by 1854 the porthole stone had been reduced to a height of a few inches. In 1936-7 limited excavation was carried out in the area of the main chamber and forecourt, attended by some reconstruction of the monument. The chamber had become filled with debris from a nearby cottage, possibly infilling an earlier excavation. Rough cobbling was identified in the forecourt along with a flat triangular stone centrally placed with charcoal immediately adjacent. A large fallen stone across the entrance to the chamber appeared to correspond to one described in the 19th century. On this basis the stone was re-erected on the stump of the southern portal stone. Another fallen stone was uncovered and repositioned to correspond to its southern counterpart and a fallen fragment of the chamber's southern orthostat was re-erected. Longley comments that there was ‘little apparent justification’ and that the ‘reconstruction appears over-elaborate in view of the strong possibility that the two fallen stones represent the original partners, on the north side, of the existing southern pair’, and thus ‘hinder close analysis’. Details of construction and the arrangement of forecourt and chamber have affinities with northern Irish Sea traditions of megalithic architecture and ritual. A crescent forecourt of orthostats fronting a trapezoidal cairn is a feature of the elaborate 'Clyde cairns' of western Scotland and of the ‘court cairns' of northern Ireland (an influence of the former). Monoliths have been recognized within the forecourts of similar tombs in Northern Ireland. It has been suggested that semi circle of free standing stones was once a complete circle. Stone settings at the Bridestones have been thought to have originally completed a circle, a similar situation to Cam Ban, Arran. The Bridestones chamber, entered from the forecourt between portal stones and across a low sill, is in the tradition of the Clyde cairns. The septal slab was unusually tall (5 ft. 6 in. as recorded) and probably reached the capstones. Access between the segments of the chamber was via by a small porthole (c.530mm dia) in the slab, a feature common in megalithic sepulchral architecture. Cashtal-yn-Ard on the Isle of Man has many similarities to the Bridestones. The burial evidence compares with Irish practice, where token cremations in a fragmentary state are mixed with charcoal and what seems to be domestic refuse. In the Clyde area multiple inhumations are more common. Paving or cobbling on the floor of the chamber has parallels in Ireland and Scotland.

<22> Nevell M, 1990, The Bridestones: A Neolithic Tomb in Cheshire, Cheshire History, Vol 25, 1990, p.10-3 (Article in Journal). SCH5151.

The Bridestones is the only Neolithic tomb in Cheshire to have survived in a recognisable form. Eighteenth and nineteenth century antiquarian accounts indicate that the Bridestones themselves were far more complex in form than the present remains suggest and that there were two other prehistoric tombs close by that may be ascribed to the same megalithic building tradition. The Bridestones comprise a chamber made up of large stones (megaliths) divided into two parts by a slab which once had a circular port hole in it, the entrance being flanked by two large (c.2m) upright free- standing stones. This chamber is set on the western side of a semi-circular courtyard, partly paved and defined by large upright stones and was once covered by large unhewn slabs of stone. The whole seems to have been covered by a cairn, most of which was removed in the mid-eighteenth century. The earliest description: a letter by a Mr. T. Mallen dated 1766 and published in Henry Rowland's' Mona Antique Restaurata (see 1). This letter is the only reference to two other such tombs in the area and suggests that they were quarried away to supply stone for the turnpike. In 1820 Beresford (W Beresford in Reliquary vol. 4 p.27-8) records that the monument had a similar appearance to its condition in 1766. The southern orthostat of the chamber was split by fire in 1823 and by 1843 further damage had made it impossible to plot more than four or possibly five stones of the façade and portal. By 1854 the upper half of the porthole slab had been removed and the central portion of the southern side of the stone had fallen out. The floor was overgrown with turf and of the eastern flanking stones of the chamber, only the larger one at the south-eastern end was standing. Three stones of the circle survived, one on the north-eastern side, one on the southern as well as one of the internal megaliths, though now fallen. In 1877 the monument was sketched again and this shows it to be in the same state as it is today. Margaret Dunlop was asked to help restore the site by the Ancient Monuments Board. She and took the opportunity of confirming by excavation in 1936 and 1937 many of the antiquarian reports. A paved forecourt was uncovered and by the central stone of the circle the charcoal layer, first recorded in 1766. On this was found the only artefacts from the site, a small blade and a rudimentary scraper. The rest of the 1766 account was harder to confirm. The length of the cairn at 120 yards ‘sounds too fantastic to be believed’. According to Hart (see 23) the Bridestones, along with Pikestones on Anglezarke Moor (Lancashire) and the Calderstones in Liverpool, form outliers to a group of similar monuments he calls the Peakland long cairns.

<23> Hart CR, 1986, Searches for the Early Neolithic: a study of Peaklands long Cairns, p.127-36 (Monograph). SCH5152.

<24> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 13500, 23/09/1993 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument is the Bridestones Neolithic chambered long cairn located on the western flank of Cloud Hill, a ridge forming a prominent northern extension of Biddulph Moor, with extensive views across the Cheshire plain to the west. The monument includes a chambered tomb measuring 6m x 2.7m made of large stone slabs set on edge and divided into two by a now broken cross slab. South of the chamber's entrance is a portal stone standing 3m high while north of the entrance is a re-positioned portal stone 1.2m high. To the east of the chamber is a forecourt originally surrounded by a complete or partial circle of stones of which 3 survive. Limited excavation of the forecourt during the 1930's revealed cobbling which included a charcoal layer containing flint blades and a flint scraper. The long cairn covering the chamber was recorded in 1764 as being c.110m long x 11m wide. It was largely carted away for road making that year. A second chamber in the centre of the mound was recorded as measuring c.2.2m square x 1m high and a third chamber was noticed in 1766. A plan of the monument in 1766 shows four portal stones - two north and two south of the chamber's entrance. The forecourt was surrounded by six stones in semi-circular form with two conjectural stones completing the circle. Two stones stood within the circle and two stood outside the circle to the east.

<25> Chronicle Group, 1893-2009, Congleton Chronicle, 21/11/69 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH972.

A 1969 article in the Congleton Chronicle (referring to an earlier 1947 article) suggested that the large rockeries, '…comprising hundreds of large stones…' located in the gardens of Bridestones House are derived from the stones which originally formed part of the Long Barrow. Puts forward three hypothesises i) the caves are the original second and third cists referred to by Malbon (see 1); ii) the caves were built on and around these cists; iii) the caves are an attempt to mark the positions of the cists and incorporate some of their stones.

<26> 1881-1900s, Cheshire Notes and Queries, The Bridestones of Cheshire, Cooper T, Vol. 1, 1881, p.66-7 (Journal/Periodical). SCH558.

Lists the following unlocated sources: Archaeology volume XXV p.55 (possibly 4), Dr Garners 'Staffordshire', 'The Introduction of the Apocalipse' by O. and the 'Reliquary' for 1863 and 1864. One of the latter may be W Beresford in Reliquary vol. 4 p.27-8 (see 11).

<27> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Waggott T, 1964, SJ96SW6 (Index). SCH2487.

<28> Jillian Bagnall, 1993, The Bridestones Neolthic Tomb, Cheshire (Unpublished Document). SCH5153.

Site is overgrown and in poor condition in 1993. May be suffering from visitor erosion.

<29> Morgan VB & Morgan PE, 2004, Prehistoric Cheshire, p.41-50 (Book). SCH5154.

Summary of folklore and place name evidence associated with the site, in particular that Bride may be a derivation of St Bridged, or from the old English for bird. Suggests that the'myth' that the cairn extended beyond the forecourt into the grounds of Bridestones House was first presented in an article in the Congleton Chronicle in 1936 which reinterpreted early references and suggested that the forecourt was enclosed and covered to form a '…chamber, hall or chapel, approximatley 30ft x 45ft, where fire ritual ceremonies were performed to sever the spirit of the dead chief from earthly things…'. Morgan & Morgan note that the portal stone cemented back together in the 1930s do not seem to fit together correctly.

<30> Stoke on Trent Museum Archaeology Society (SOTMAS), 2014, SOTMAS geophysical survey at the Bridestones Neolithic Chambered long cairn (Report). SCH7719.

Magnetometry and resistivity survey undertaken on the field to the south of the monuments and to the north of Dial Lane. The survey revealed anomalies consistent with pit or pit like features, which were interpreted as possible evidence for a stone circle to the south of the monument. Subsequent excavations undertaken to investigate a sample of the geophysical anomalies revealed a relativeley modern wall and a pit like feature of natural origin.

<31> Gunstone, A.J.H, 1965, An Archaeological Gazetteer of Staffordshire: Part 2, p.32 (Article in Journal). SCH7727.

Chambered Tomb: A gallery grave, only the gallery of which survives. The gallery measures 5.5 metres in length, lying east-west, and divided in half by the broken remains of a porthole stone. In the mid 18th century the mound and two lateral chambers were destroyed to provide road material.

<32> Slatcher, D, 1994, A Survey of Bronze Age Barrows of the Staffordshire Moorlands (Report). SCH7728.