PHOTOS: Neolithic site, Norman Church ruins & Leylines
Mysterious Dorset (Part 1) - Knowlton Earthworks
Over the summer my camera and I plan to visit some of the mysterious sites around my county of Dorset, UK. I enjoy the trip out, I like taking photographs, I like doing research on the places I visit, I like learning more about the area I live in and sharing it all here gives me a focus and purpose which brings all the likes together. I hope you enjoy exploring with me.
Knowlton Earthworks is a site less than 20 minutes drive from my house. Good place to start.
The earthwork itself is probably 4,000 years old, a neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial complex with a ruined Norman Church in the centre. This type is known as a henge which probably had wooden pillars erected in a large circle, they were ceremonial sites but their purpose may have changed over time. This one is known as Church Henge for obvious reasons. It has been protected from plough damage although the surrounding landscape has suffered but look at the ariel photograph below which shows clear visible signs of other earthworks.
“An aerial photograph of Knowlton earthworks seen from the north-east. The photograph was taken in 1995, when the dry weather revealed more earthworks.” source
Surrounding this group of henges is a large concentration of round barrows which would have been burial mounds, including the largest individual barrow in the county.
The reason for the high number of prehistoric and archaelogical remains may be due to the fact that this area, Cranborne Chase was a royal hunting grounds from Norman times which meant the land was controlled.
The church is Norman, built in the 12th century and in use until the 17th century, serving a hamlet by the river that is no longer there. The tower is 15th Century and built of flint. I wonder if the building of the church in the middle of a pagan site was a deliberate act of dominance by the Christian worshippers?
The shadow is the reason I took this photo!
This part is the 15th Century part - old flint. (I stand here for some time, just touching the stone).
and now the yew trees…. Yew trees have been associated with death and the soul’s journey for thousands of years. The ancient Greek Goddess of Death, Witchcraft and Necromancy, Hecate, purified souls with yew as they entered the afterlife. Celtic druids also planted yew trees close to their temples to use in death rituals. The yew came to represent eternity and is sometimes linked to The Tree of Life. As you can see from the pictures below, this site still brings special meaning to people as they connect to the energies all around them, four thousand years of rituals and worship.
What about the leylines? The Dorset Cursus is a six mile ancient processional route along two parallel tracks on Cranborne Chase. A Ley line is a straight line across the landscape that connects landmarks. Trees, ponds, church spires, cathedrals, castle mottes, and standing stones are examples of features on these lines. There would have been quite a community surrounding Knowlton in medieval times but the village was decimated by plague in the 15th century and abandoned. Several Leys run through and cross in this henge and it is believed to be one of the most atmospheric as well as haunted places in Dorset. Druids and other spiritual beliefs see leylines as powerful energy lines, without a doubt there is something here that I find quite exciting as I cannot explain it.
There are plenty of mysterious old tales and stories about this site. Here is one of my favourites:
A story, from the 19th century, tells how the ruination of the church happened after its bell had been stolen by the Devil and flung into a nearby river, from which it could not be pulled out. An alternative story involves theft by humans that was foiled by witchcraft. The bell is said to have supernatural power that prevents it’s recovery from the river bed. The old rhyme says
Knowlton bell is stole And thrown into White Mill Hole Where all the devils in hell Could never pull up Knowlton bell
other stories say that it was recovered and used into another church nearby.
I hope you have enjoyed Part One of ‘Mysterious Dorset’. I look forward to hearing from you in comments.
If you would like to see a Norman church that is still complete, take a look at the post below
Interesting that poem /song Knowlton Bell is stole/and thrown into White Mill Hole has the same rhyme of Jack and Jill went up the hill…
April: ley lines (dragon lines) seen by ancients as energy lines. Theory earth energies flow in lines around the world. Sacred spiritual areas were selected to utilize these energies. Standing stones, temples, burial mounds, springs were all connected by ley lines all over the world. Pyramids, Delphi,to England are on Dragon sun ley line. Pyramids and other structures all placed in alignment with stars.
Dreaming tracks, primordial paths all along ley lines. Spiritual guardians are thought to travel these routes. Feng-,shui evolved from these shamanic lines. Invisible spirits, fairy-folk of Europe are linked to earthworks. Sacred areas were built over by conquerors Vikings, Romans and churches are fondue to be built on these areas to tap into energy.
See: http://www.megalithic.co.uk