Almsworthy Common facts for kids
Almsworthy Common is a wild, open area of land in Exmoor, located in south-western England. It's a special place because it holds many ancient sites from long ago.
This common is about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Exford. It covers an area of about 0.5 square kilometers (0.2 square miles). The famous Macmillan Way West walking path goes right through it. The land also reaches a height of 453 meters (1,486 feet).
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Ancient Discoveries at Almsworthy Common
Almsworthy Common is like an outdoor museum, full of clues about people who lived here thousands of years ago. Archaeologists, who study the past, have found several interesting things.
Stone Settings: Mysterious Rocks
Stone settings are groups of upright stones. These stones might be scattered around or arranged in a rough pattern. They are the most common type of ancient stone monument found on Exmoor. There are 57 known examples in this area. Sadly, many more once existed but have been lost over time.
The Chetsford Bridge Stone Circle
About 560 meters (1,837 feet) southwest of Chetsford Bridge, you can find a group of stones. Some people call this a "stone alignment," which means stones lined up in a row.
However, there's a bit of a mystery about it! The famous archaeologist Aubrey Burl once said you needed an "eye of faith" to see if it was a circle or just rows of stones. The Ordnance Survey, which makes maps, calls it a "Stone Circle" on their maps. Another archaeologist, Leslie Grinsell, thought it was "probably" a stone circle in his 1970 study. So, it's a place that still makes experts wonder!
Ancient Homes: Hut Circles
Almsworthy Common is also home to one of the best-preserved hut circles on Exmoor. A hut circle is the stone foundation of an ancient round house. These were homes where people lived many centuries ago. Finding a well-preserved one helps us imagine what life was like back then.
