More information : (SJ 40708780) Calder Stones (NR) (1)
The story of the construction and dismantling of the Calder
Stones site may be summarised as follows:
a. A neolithic dolmen or passage grave ? of Boyne type ("several
cartloads" of cremated remains suggest collective burial) inside
a tumulus of sand. Cup and ring markings on the stones.
b. Some secondary interments in the tumulus indicated by the
urns dug out about 1765 which are probably of Bronze Age date.
c. About 1789 the mound was disturbed and the dolmen ruined.
d. About 1805 the rest of the tumulus was carted away and in
1845 Mr J Walker of Calderstones erected some of the stones in a
circle at the present position. (2-8)
Calderstones. There are six upright stones (the two highest each
1.8m high) which now form a stone circle 6.0m in diameter. The
stones have cup and ring markings on them and one has the outline
of a few shoes inscribed on it. In the centre is a small tree set
in a slight circular mound.
It would appear from all the material relating to the
Calderstones that they are the remains of a chambered tumulus
with secondary Bronze Age interments and that in 1845 the stones
were placed in their present position to represent a stone
circle. Regarding their original position a comparison of the
1768 map in Enfield's History of Liverpool (1774) with the OS 6"
edition of 1845 shows that they are nearly in the position they
occupy today.
The whole is enclosed by a modern stone wall.
A0/F/51/222 looking SE. (9)
The Calder Stones have been removed to the Liverpool City
Engineer's Yard for cleaning. It is not intended to replace them
at the same site but they will probably be erected in the
Public Park immediately south of the road. (10)
SJ 406877 Calderstones, Little Woolton, Scheduled. (11)
SJ 4040 8761. The Calderstones group of six decorated sandstone monoliths thought originally to have formed part of a Neolithic chambered tomb. The stones have been removed from their original context and are now arranged in a circle and located in the vestibule of Harthill Greenhouses in Calderstones Park. They display an abundance of prehistoric rock carvings and were closely examined by Forde-Johnston in 1954 after their removal from an earlier location close to the entrance to Calderstones Park where they had been erected for display in 1845. They were erected in their present location in 1964 and placed in a random order.
Upon entering the greenhouse vestibule the nearest stone is Forde-Johnston's stone B. It mesaures about 2m long by 1.5m wide with a maximum thickness of about 0.5m. There are markings on the front face and both edges which include spirals, concentric circles, arcs, cup marks, footprints, a Bronze Age axe, and a cross considered to have been carved at a much later date than the prehistoric artwork. Moving clockwise the next stone is Forde-Johnston's stone E which measures 1.5m long by 1m wide and about 0.6m thick. On the front face are spirals and concentric circles, while on the rear face are concentric circles and footprints, plus a maltese cross generally attributed to the medieval period. Stone C is the largest and measures nearly 3m long by 2m wide and 0.27m thick. On the front face are spirals, cup marks and a circle; on the rear face there is a group of four concentric circles and numerous cup marks. Stone D measures about 5m long and 1m wide. It displays cup and ring marks and a triangle on the front face, and seven 19th century carvings of the outlines of boots on the rear face. Stone A measures approximately 2.5m in height and about 1m in width. On the front face are concentric circles, parallel lines and two footmarks, while on the rear face there are concentric circles and spirals. The final stone, stone F, measures about 1m long and 0.75m wide and is decorated on its rear face only with a sun and wheel motif. After examining the prehistoric artwork Forde-Johnston concluded that the spirals, concentric circles, cup and ring marks, arcs and parallel lines identified on the Calderstones are also found at chambered tombs in Ireland, Anglesey and west Wales, while the footmarks have connections with tombs in Brittany. Present location of the stones scheduled RSM No. 23692. (12)
The previous location of the stones, SJ 4070 8779, (SAM No. MR 3, RSM No. 90903) now descheduled. (13) |