Harold's Stones EarthCache
Hidden : 11/3/2015
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Standing stones shrouded in myths and legends

This is an earthcache therefore there is no physical container to find at the location. To claim a find, please send me the answers to the following questions through my profile. Not compulsory, but always nice is a photo of the location added to your log.

Q1:Are the structures of the three stones roughly the same? i.e Are the smaller pebbles in the stone structure about the same size on all the stones?
Q2:What do you think could have caused the smaller pebbles embedded in the stones to become rounded?
Can you think of a reason for them being different sizes?
Q3: From which geological period does pudding stone date?
Harold's Stones:
:



The village of Trellech takes its name (tri=three, llech=flat stone) from the three tall stones set in a field close to the Monmouth-to-Chepstow road, standing in a line 12m (39ft) long. They are locally known as Harold's Stones, supposedly erected by Harold, last of the Saxon kings, in commemoration of a victory over the Britons in 1063. But Harold's Stones were erected over 3,500 years ago, long before Harold’s time.

Another tradition says that the three stones mark the spot on which three chieftains fell in battle with the Roman Harold, who defeated the Welsh in Gwent.

According to yet another legend, these stones were flung or thrown from Ysgyryd Fawr (Skirrid mountain), 23km (14mi) away, by the mythical giant Jack O'Kent.

The first reference to these stones dates back to 1689, when Edward Llwyd mentioned them in Parochialia. In the same year Harold's Stones were carved on a remarkable sundial, now in Trellech's St Nicholas church. The sundial also bears some mysterious numbers: 7, 10, 14, which may be the stones' former heights in feet. Today Harold's Stones measure 2.7m (9ft), 3.7m (12ft) and 4.6m (15ft). The alignment runs NE-SW and it is one of the very few in this part of Wales.

The stones, formed of a concretion of siliceous pebbles in a calcareous bed known as pudding-stone, lean at different angles. The largest stone is also the southernmost and the central one has two large cup marks on its south side which looked towards the midwinter sunset. The purpose of Harold's Stones is still unknown;

We hope you enjoy your visit to Harold's Stones

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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