Visiting the Nine Stones Near Winterbourne Abbas, Dorset

[@zaptainkuboom5520]

Legend says anyone who counts the stones, must eat a handful of blackberries

[@brendanjackman3600]

It is told, that whoever counts the stones and then eats a handful of blackberries, is doomed, thereafter, to walk back to the car and upload a video to KZbin

[@stagiestpizza]

@@brendanjackman3600 and so on, his folly would be witnessed by the thousands! truly a horrifying curse, glad there's no one crazy enough to tempt fate like that though.

[@joebloggs4925]

id software

[@artistknownaslisa2850]

​@@stagiestpizza😂

[@CatsPajamas23]

...or ...?

[@doogledog1740]

Thanks, Mike. I enjoy these historic rambles very much. My question would be why the ancient people chose to build their gathering place so close to a main road? I guess that, too, will remain a mystery.

[@traceymoores218]

😂

[@adamprice9214]

The stone circle and nearby barrows flanked an ancient trackway that didn't follow the nearby road but was in close proximity 😂

[@leanne0811]

I grew up in Winterbourne Abbas and my farther was born in a house just outside the village. Still lives in the village 77 years later. I was always told the nine stone were a witch and her 8 cats and the stones are slowly growing over time. Also before the foot path was put in youd park by the barn cross the road and over a small bridge to acces the stones. Also worth a visit Dorset Downs Natural Burial Ground located on the Roman road they found it when the work on the over head powerlines.

[@foamcow]

Amazing to think that the old tree stump probably wasn't there when those stones were "in use". It was seeded later, grew to a big tree and was felled long after the stones lost their purpose.

[@jonathanrichards593]

I'll see your "probably" and raise "certainly"! 4,000 years ago the landscape will have been very different, especially down there in the valley. All of southern England is now man-made landscape, and I guess that tree can't have been more than 300 years old when it was felled. As Mike says, the Neolithic people had all of our needs and desires (except editing digital video, perhaps). The building of these circles (using heavy stones, for people who had no metal technology) was very widespread, and the tales attached to them are very similar - there's a circle in Cornwall called Nine Maidens because the girls were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday. They must have had a cultural function a bit more defined than just a place to sit around a fire, I think, but there's no way we'll ever be sure.

[@TimothyCollins]

What always makes me mildly sad about this type of thing - we really don't have any understanding of why they are there. Yet at some point in history this spot was probably the most important thing in someone's life. It's sad and it puts things in perspective.

[@brianartillery]

That's a valid and quite wonderful thought. It is one that, shamefully, in many years of visiting ancient sites, I had never considered. You are perfectly correct. All those hours of love, toil and sheer effort... And all we can say today, is 'probably', and 'might have been'. Yes, that's sad. Thank you for making me think. 👍👍👍

[@tonkysue207]

Perfect observation... our mother used to make stuff up...and it was always important to us.we all still do it...a whisper from.the past .

[@johnlittle8975]

You just know that was somebodies favorite place as a kid.

[@brianartillery]

@@johnlittle8975 - I can guarantee that, had I lived near there, I'd have been there, probably with a book, a bottle of pop, and a packet of sandwiches, whenever I could. As it is, I'll have to make do with a beautiful abandoned church about three miles from home. Silent and friendly. I go there if I'm feeling a bit 'down', or just want a bit of a recharge. A bit of ancient solitude always does the trick, I find.

[@Nyctophora]

But you can think of it another way: the people may have gone, but the stones endure!

[@silva7493]

This is really marvelous, I love it. That blue butterfly is so pretty. I love that the larvae can fool ants, and eat their babies. It's always been odd being a Yank from California, yet feeling weirdly connected with the ancestors there, but then in more recent years I found out most of my genetics stewed and brewed in the British Isles. Thanks for the beautiful video. Now I'm off to see Babatunde's!

[@whitedwarf4986]

I've missed you this past week Shrimp so it's good to see you back! Thanks taking us round The Shire. Gorgeous Dorset, was half expecting Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin to jump out on you.

[@Wario-The-Legend]

"Hey dude, look at my stone ring." "What's it for?" "I thought it'd be cool." "I don't care and no one ever will. Not in a million years."

[@robertmitchell7792]

Thank you for the entertaining stroll. Its difficult for me to walk at the moment. The world needs more channels like this

[@evancoutts9658]

Great video, thanks. I'm just in the middle of re-reading Terry Pratchett Lords and Ladies. The stones guard a weak spot in the fabric of reality and prevent the Elves coming through. 🙂

[@mbryson2899]

Thank you for taking us along. Such a beautiful landscape.

[@purplemoonpagan]

This reminds me of Time Team and Francis Pryor always saying ' It's ritual ' 😅 Thank you for taking us here!

[@hamishspencer]

I look forward to your videos all week. Thanks, Mike.

[@brianartillery]

Lovely video, Mike. Any chance that you might make visits to prehistoric sites in Dorset an occasional series? I've been fascinated by ancient sites like this, since I was a small boy. There is a large standing stone, a way further along the A35 called 'The Broad Stone', and another, some way further, in a field, which I have been told is known as 'The Warm Stone', as it is, well, warm to the touch all year round. It's not far from a Barrow Cemetery on the other side of the A35, which contains a very nice long barrow. I'm envious, frankly - so much good stuff virtually on your doorstep! 👍👍👍

[@mysonner4913]

Hi , there is also the Hampton down stone circle at the top of Portesham hill . Also there is the hell stone not to far away too

[@isladurrant2015]

Also take Jenny to Ireland... plenty of these easily accessible all over.

[@brianartillery]

@@isladurrant2015 - And look at the occasional publication, 'Weird Walk'. (#notspon) - that should press all the right buttons. 👍👍👍

[@sarahstrong7174]

That Warm Stone sounds fascinating.

[@caturdaynite7217]

The warm stone might need a quick going over with a Geiger counter.

[@Fraxxxi]

I nod along sagely, and make appropriately attentive sounds every so often, but inside my head all that's happening is the planning of my next DnD campaign based on the hook of "the Nine Stones of Winterbourne Abbyss"

[@raraavis7782]

Make history come alive 😉👍

[@efu707]

mike defo gives me druid vibes. what subclass tho?

[@technoman9000]

I feel a great sadness when I see that huge tree stump next to stone #5. It must have been a glorious tree. Rest in peace.

[@jimbutler6925]

I've driven past that spot hundreds of times (travelling from Devon to Portsmouth, and back) and never knew they were there. Thanks for highlighting them. There are some lovely plump blackberries around us at the moment, we'll be going foraging for them this weekend.

[@Cooldudewhotellsamazingjokes]

Britian has such an incredible history. It is cool to learn about history from a place where there is ancient history.

[@katrijndekeersmaecker1904]

The thing is, there is ancient history anywhere! It just hasn't always left a mark.

[@MatthewBrannigan]

Looking at the way you superimposed the numbers on the stones I immediately got taken back to my childhood watching Sesame Street in the 70's. I'm disappointed that you didn't fall downstairs carrying nine cream cakes at the end of the video.

[@Styphon]

The Count says "Count along with me" 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 9 🌩️ 9 Thumbs Up 🌩️ Hahahaha 🌩️

[@ApoplecticDialectics]

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO: What shall we do today, Trev? "I don't know, gather berries." Our lives are fairly routine, aren't they? "Well yes except for the occasional marauding." I do love a good maraud. "You know, Colin, I was thinking..." Yes, Trev? "What if we built a kind of circle, like, rolled some really heavy, large stones, and put them in a circle, just to mess with people in the future?" What do you mean? "Well, they'll wonder what they were for." You're saying you want to put rocks in a circle just to mess with the heads of people in the future? "Yes." That seems like a lot of work for a joke we won't be around for, really. "Well it's that or gather berries...again." Fine. You get the wheelbarrow.

[@TurningoffyourGaslights]

That was a really enjoyable video. It is nice to see a place explained by someone who actually lives or goes there. Thank You.

[@UncleTimTheHermit]

I love finding those little back roads treasures. The best ones are when you pass by frequently and have no idea they are there.

[@martinspencer1618]

In my local woods, which have spent the last 78 years spreading into what was a WW2 airfield and still has a flying club on part of it, there are 6 low mounds in 2 groups of 3, all near still-existing concrete paths. I had assumed that they were remnants of the airfield, but recently discovered that they are Bronze Age burial mounds!

[@Nyctophora]

It was good to see this place again. There used to be a big beech tree over everything in the mid 80s, and in the 90s it had been bobbed for safety reasons - now it has gone except for the stump. Totally understandable, and the stones endure!

[@hellothere2808]

Lets go! I remember visiting the nine stones when i was a kid! The memories!

[@bethenecampbell6463]

One of my favorite places in Scotland is Skara Brea in Orkney. It was fascinating to see. That form follows function was most evident when viewing the stone dresser in one of the houses. It was immediately recognizable as the place where plates and cups were stored. Apparently people have been trying to find storage solutions for small spaces for millenia!

[@paddysmyth90]

Hey Shrimp, would be cool to see your take on the different traditional full breakfasts of the UK. As a Scot, I'd love to know what you think of square sausage and potato scone!

[@theslayermon]

I wish I could just follow you around and do what you do for a month as a sort of holiday. Sounds a little more stalkery in text than it feels in my head.

[@tonkysue207]

Love this channel...never boring .

[@buffys3477]

I like to think it was a meeting place, a sort of prehistoric Wetherspoon’s where you build a fire, have a chat and a meal and a drink. Sounds cheerier than a religious place with sacrifices or whatever our ancestors got up to.

[@billweaver6092]

The concept of a prehistoric Wetherspoons is quite intriguing 🧐!

[@amandamoore8516]

If you are close enough - maybe you'd be interested to visit Black Down Circle just near Hardy's Monument, very close to this location. I designed it and it was built by a master dry stone waller, aligns with solstices. Uses locally quarried Forest Marble.

[@regularfern]

Those types of Blackberries never stop growing here in Washington state. They’re extremely invasive, but I grew up picking blackberries in late autumn and… I just love them. They’re so tasty and give me a good feeling. Super annoying when they’re always in my backyard though. Spent hours pulling up every single root otherwise-they take over completely.

[@allpanic23]

I have lived in Dorset all my life. i have passed this almost every day and I have always wondered what it was? now I know. I think you get around more then me then i have in 39 years. your videos inspire me to go out more and explore. Just one question. where do you get all the time and energy to do this? is it all of the nice meals you make ?? Keep up the good work 😊

[@TCTurner81]

I took my daughter to the Hurlers stone circles today on Bodmin Moor near Stowes Hill. Then, I came home to your video. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@Sally4th_]

You said it's a shame the road is right next to the stones but I can't help wondering if that's looking at it the wrong way round. A lot of modern roads follow the line of much, much older trackways and it's possible the circle was made to mark a stopping point on that ancient track.

[@AtomicShrimp]

Very likely. Some of the roads here are ancient

[@jonathanrichards593]

The really ancient major trackways tend to keep to the higher ground, because the going was easier up there than down in the boggy valleys. Having said that, there was clearly a way to get there, and to bring nine substantial stones and arrange them in a circle. It's possible that all were much the same size when they were placed, or that the different sizes were significant to their builders. We are talking about people for whom rocks and their properties were the height of technology. That is a good thing, of course, I'm not trying to cast shade!

[@davedamngood1076]

thank you for the content i really enjoy your videos. keep up the great work.

[@yungpm]

this is absolutely the best channel on KZbin.

[@KarenBowers4]

Thank you for taking us along on your journey today. The Nine Stones are wonderful. I love the story of a woman and her dog I could just imagine her standing there with the dog laying beside her. I would also think the old tree came up after the stones were place.

[@agricolaterrae]

I did a lithic analysis class while I was an undergrad. It was a lot of fun, though I also managed to thoroughly freak out my roommate. We mostly worked with black argillite while we were practicing in class, and I brought a few flakes I made back to my room. I also frequently brought pomegranates back from the dining hall. Poor Sarah was extremely chill about coming back to the room to find me tearing apart a fruit with a black stone blade, dripping with red juice.

[@HFC786]

Please bring back weird stuff in a can

[@thefirstmanwho]

Definitely needed

[@pixie706]

It's been ages since we had a wierd experience

[@volodyadykun6490]

After that bring weird stuff out of its can too

[@foamige]

Great video. Look into how Flynt was formed. Its older than the dinosaurs. I was fascinated when I found out. Could be worth including as a ditty in another video sometime.

[@DrDaveW]

There's a big stone circle near me in Cornwall - "The Merry Maidens". Similarly, the story is nineteen maidens were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. A short distance away there are two 3m high stones that are said to be the pipers who played the music. Problem is they are just a bit too far away, so the story has been fudged to say they were running away at the time!

[@tenthousanddaysofgratitude]

Very cool. I went to a circle and burial mound near the big circle (Stonehenge). I very much enjoyed it, as well as your video.

[@SheyD78]

One small request, for videos like this a quick clip of a map to show where in the UK a place like this is would be good for everyone who doesn't know the country. Glad the footpath wasn't too impassable. Cheers.

[@JuniperBoy]

It's the Large Blue caterpillar that feeds on ant larvae/is fed by ants, although the Common Blue can be taken into ant nests while pupating.

[@UristMcPerson]

I have access to old ordnance surveys from the 1880s in that area! Around those burial mounds (called Tumulus on the OS maps), in that overview on your google maps shot at 4:40 shows the rounded burial mound, but the rougher, more elongate ones are chalk pits! There's chalk pits dotting the A35 all the way up to around Askerwell where it changes to more traditional quarrying for limestones and small pockets of aggregates. The amount of burial mounds also seems to drop off around Askerwell as well. The burial mound (and hillfort) near Nine Stones is the Chilcombe Hillfort. It's absolutely massive by comparison.

[@1234j]

Thank you for this. Very interesting. The stone looks intriguing, too, re its geology. Lumpy and bumpy.

[@lucylewis8173]

Hey Shrimpy, the husband and I love your videos and regularly watch them whilst eating our dinner and relaxing in the evening. We love the eclectic mix of topics and projects. I was wondering if you might one day do a video where you visit 'Hells Lane' near Symondsbury, Dorset - I've never been myself but have seen lots of photos and it looks like the sort of place which would prickle your interest... All the best and keep up the awesome content! 🙂❤👍

[@Tom_older_than_dirt]

I just watched a video of a guy who walked through a farmer's fields and looked at stones. And I enjoyed it.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

On the uncountable thing, apparently there's a theory that, in Norse culture, they would sometimes use the number 9 to represent a generic "a bunch of something", the same way we might use the word several. Maybe that theory has something to do with that?

[@stschubs]

oh that's so interesting, I just found that nightshade on my property, awful stuff, potato bugs galore too

[@cynthiajohnson6747]

Very fun walk about! I’ve always want to bust these stones.

[@Fluttermoth]

Wow.. I live near a complex of three stone circles called The Hurlers in Cornwall, and the EXACT same legends are told about them; that they're uncountable (or, if you do count them, you'll go mad), that they're people turned to stone, and that they're people turned to stone by the Devil for playing on the Sabbath (playing 'hurling' in this case, hence the name). The same legends are told about the Merry Maidens stone circle, also in Cornwall, so they must be very common, how fascinating! I wonder what it means, if anything?

[@cphilips502]

Lovely stuff. I always like thinking about unlikely, anachronistic and overly practical uses these circles could have served as back in the day. Perhaps a camp site, with the rocks acting as a lean to, a children's play are for clambering, a picnic area for weary wayfarers on the side of the pathway (which now became the road). It may have been struts for putting over some animal skins to make a marquee lol. As you insightfully say, humans haven't changed very much over the years, just the tools have!

[@mikebeatstsb7030]

I jus got a right funny feeling soon as u went in to that circle ! ! 😳

[@samlikely3201]

Nice visit monge tour however you overlooked the proximity to the motorway Wich was probably as old as the store circle a path at one point The circle was possibly a rest area for travelers in the ancient past and was there so different sects religious groups could keep with like mided others while conducting business in that area a good way to limmit confrontation

[@paulacnote]

Yay new vid needed this today😊

[@christinenightingale2528]

Lovely. I've been to Castlerigg stone circle and Stonehenge and woodhenge etc. Talking of can't count the stones- have you ever been to St Govans head and St Govans Chapel in Pembrokeshire? You can't count the steps. They are different going down and back up to and from the Chapel! 😊😜🤯

[@danm.9045]

9:25 - 10:29 a point very well made, quoteworthy

[@summerlaverdure]

thats cool how you can walk up to them and be there and they arent vandalized, in the US it would be spraypainted and under glass etc... anyway this is a cool neolithic artifact, thank you for making this video!

[@samhenwood5746]

Most enjoyable & thanks Mike 🤗

[@marylynne9104]

Always interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@gedreillyhomestead6926]

I can just imagine a group of people within the circle under the overhanging branches of that tree (now stump) enjoying an evening meal and some ale around a fire after a day's hard work in the nearby fields. More likely than some religious tosh! 😎👍

[@AtomicShrimp]

The tree is a comparative newcomer to the circle, but yeah, I definitely got a sort of 'social' vibe from this place

[@Pooky-Cat]

I can't imagine that they would have gathered in a place so close to a busy A road 🤔😏

[@hildevandingenen-md4jy]

Nice video, Mike. Have you considered to cook another recipe from the book “It’s fun to entertain “? I stumbled on the video where you made those pizza scones. There must be some other nice recipes in there to try.

[@BaggieReg63]

I grew up in a village not far from the Rollright stones. Been dozens, if not hundreds of times and never managed to count the same number twice. There are around 80 of them from memory though - would probably manage to get 9 fairly consistently....

[@eblackbrook]

One! One standing stone! Ah ah ah ah! Two! Two standing stones! Ah ah ah ah...

[@simonday9013]

There's a stone circle in Penrith called long Meg and her daughters that your not supposed to be able to count twice and get the same number twice. Also has some rather lovely symbols carved into one of them.

[@deejayk5939]

Thank you!

[@simonhopkins3867]

We are lucky down here in the south west. There's so much prehistoric evidence to see.

[@Brainspoil]

Yesterday I was reading about tomatillios and apparently they are part of the Nightshade family, so when you mentioned those berries looking like tomatos the whole thing makes sense.

[@niskaa78]

There is also tomacco

[@ramblingrambles]

For a brief moment, after quickly looking at the title, I mistakenly thought you were visiting near my old local haunt (Milton Abbas). Thoroughly enjoyable video nonetheless!

[@AtomicShrimp]

We went for a long circular walk starting and ending at Milton Abbas. It reminded me a bit of Bucklers Hard in Hampshire - regimented rows of identical cottages for workers in both cases I suppose

[@traceymoores218]

Have you ever tried counting the countless stones in Aylesford (Kent)? We tried many times when were kids. Took my own kids there to ‘give it a go’ back in 2002 (been living in Oz since 1988 but did a family trip back at that time to visit other family) Around 20 stones or so? Around the base of a tree… And Kits Coty (bigger stones/burial site?) just up the hill a bit… Worth a look if you’re ever in the area (if it’s still there..)

[@pennelopewade8404]

Thanks. Very enjoyable

[@VanityWasted]

Another amazimg video from my part of the country. Not sure if you've ever visited but I live near-ish Rufus Stone in the New Forest. It's a lovely, if small, site to visit. Particularly fond of the ironic graffiti (ill let you find it lol) and to top it off, a nice pub around the corner. Brilliant video as always. Will have to check this out.

[@Sololop]

A beautiful space, I would have packed a picnic. Is it a park owned by a government entity or is it private land?

[@AtomicShrimp]

The Monument and grounds are maintained by English Heritage. www.english-heritage.org.uk

[@GolosinasArgentinas]

Thanks!

[@susanfarley1332]

Beautiful place!

[@Warlonging]

This is amazing. I can't wait to visit England. I'm an American and after doing genealogical research I've discovered my ancestors came over with the initial wave of settlers to the southern colonies in the 17th century and have been here since. One of my (many) English ancestors is buried in a church cemetery not far from this town in Weymouth. Love your hiking vids, especially this one. Any chance you could do some videos on the various bell beaker bronze age long barrows scattered about the UK?

[@EC18FEA30B]

I know the stump is more recent history, but I really love trees. Any history about that tree? I Liked that a chunk of the tree is still laying there outside the fence.

[@mattwuk]

Fantastic video Mike, interesting we call these stones and Babatunde is visiting a local famous rock. Apparently stones are easy to move compared to rocks, tell that to the folk who put those there after carting them about 😂

[@absolutely-not_]

I'm trying to imagine being the guy who has to mow around the neolithic artifacts

[@Deipnosophist_the_Gastronomer]

Great rock video.

[@c1gar5]

I love your video's, thank you for the work you put into them. Do you have any cut footage from this trip? I can see some bracket fungus on the side the the felled tree and was wondering what it was.

[@AtomicShrimp]

I don't have any close views. I noticed the fungus, but sort of ignored it because it wasn't one of the obvious choice edibles. Possibly Coriolus versicolor

[@Muttey2024]

As a Druid into paganism, this site is very important, it has children petrified into rock. regarded as a sacred site by my people and we perform religious ceremonies there several times a year.

[@nowirehangers2815]

😂

[@zach3424]

Some sick gnome meetings have definitely happened here

[@hektik2074]

It’s not that they can’t be counted, they simply requested that arithmetic be left out of any conversation about them, and I personally intend to honor their wishes

[@Renfield286]

Endorse it? Ruddy love the place

[@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt]

Fabulous that you can freely walk the fields in the UK with RoW and permissive access Here in Australia you'll get shot at on farmland and need permits on much government land

[@PSUK]

My village! ❤

[@fosterb247]

Thanks for sharing 🤓

[@CheshireTomcat68]

I get a feeling the big old tree that used to be there is significant.

[@AtomicShrimp]

The tree will have been quite a recent thing compared to the stones though

[@riddimchef1]

Interestingly there are stone circles in the Gambia at Wassou. My son visited recently. 😊

[@user-or8di2yw6b]

Now I want to read Riddley Walker again.

[@davang828]

Would you ever do a video about or at the balmoral cairns? Bit of a trek for you but im sure its something that would interest you.

[@TealCheetah]

You've cursed us all by counting the stones!

[@owllymannstein7113]

They're right next to the road, it's probably an ancient gas station.

[@oliverg6864]

It might be cool if you collected some flint pieces, to try making stone tools!

[@ohkaymo]

I've so enjoyed Africa Everyday thanks to your collab/recommendation. Any other suggestions for us?

[@Sleepless_Sam]

Nine guys made a bet who could get the biggest stone to the same location. The winner would be the next chief of the village.

[@twelvesmylimit]

You always Inspire me to get back to hiking and then life happens. 🙄

[@SharonLewis-ij8vc]

Gotta love a stone!