3rd February 2024
Treasures can be found in the most unlikely places. Arriving at a waste recycling centre at Stanton Harcourt, west of Oxford, I parked up near a battered drum container which had been designated as a fire assembly point for nearby workers. Surveying the post-apocalyptic scene with rusting cars and the industrious sound of metal being scrapped, I wondered if I would return to find my car mistakenly ferried away, crushed and having to work out how to get home from the middle of nowhere.
A sign for The Devil’s Quoits pointed in the direction of a boggy footpath which ran alongside a landfill site and flooded quarry. Despite the recent deluge of rainfall during the winter months, a small number of stepping stones saved my shoes from the worst of the mud. The narrow path wound its way through the trees until, like something out of C S Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles, a clearing emerged to reveal a different world altogether.
As with Narnia, there is magic at play at The Devil’s Quoits, having been resurrected and restored to its former glory. Dating from c.2,900-2,600 BC, the stone circle and henge was, as with so many Neolithic sites, destroyed for agricultural purposes and building materials during medieval times. By the time of the antiquary John Aubrey (1626-1697), only three of the standing stones remained and some 300 years later, only one stone was in place, with the site significantly damaged by gravel extraction and the construction of an airfield during the Second World War.
Archaeological investigations were undertaken at the site between 1940-1988, allowing for a complete plan of how the site originally looked and an agreement was reached with the landowner to restore this to how it appeared during Roman times. The bank and ditch was restored in 2002 to half its original height and depth, with the stone circle reconstructed in 2008. A further five original standing stones found buried at the site were re-erected, with locally quarried conglomerate stones replacing the missing megaliths and positioned in the original stone-holes.
A hill north-east of the henge allows for an elevated view of the henge and circle, and from this position, it brings to mind the work of Alexander Kieller (1889-1955) in restoring Avebury in the 1930s. There, Kieller inserted stone marker posts to indicate where missing megaliths once stood. On the occasion where the sun breaks through the clouds, here the replacement conglomerates give off a rich and golden glow, further adding to the mysticism and wonder of the site.
Many hours were spent here without a single other person in sight, for despite being open to the public, it’s not as well known or visited as other nearby locations, such as The Rollright Stones. The proximity of the site to landfill and quarry works may also be a factor, with the constant background noise of industry, but this isn’t too distracting once accustomed to hearing it.
Add to this the perception by casual visitors that the site is not ‘authentic’ on account of recent restoration works; but authentic and of historical value it is. There are few sites which have not been subject to improvements in the last century, including Stonehenge. A visit on a warm summer’s day, when the stones are glowing bright is certainly on the cards.
LEGENDS & MAGIC
As with all the best sites, the devil has his name stamped on it. There are two tales involving his seemingly favourite sport of hurling objects. The most prevalent being that he played quoits with a beggar at Wytham Hill, with the hapless man offering his soul as a stake for the game. Naturally, the devil flung his stones further, and landed neatly at Stanton Harcourt.
The other tale involves the devil playing quoits alone on a Sunday, and in being told that such a pursuit was forbidden on the holy day, flung his stones in disgust on the ground, resulting in the stone circle we see today.
LEGENDARY PINTS & MAGICAL REFRESHMENT
Due to its location, it’s unlikely you’ll find anything more nourishing nearby than a chocolate bar in a recycling centre worker’s pocket. However, there are some establishments a short drive away, both north and south of the site, although I’ve not visited these to date, preferring to head back home to enjoy the comforts of my beloved local, The Castle Tap.
NORTH…
The Harcourt Arms, Stanton Harcourt, Witney OX29 5RJ
SOUTH…
The Maybush, Abingdon Road, Newbridge, Witney OX29 7QD
The Rose Revived, Abingdon Road, Newbridge, Witney OX29 7QD
Further details on The Devil’s Quoits available on The Megalithic Portal and The Modern Antiquarian.
Stone Diaries 