Hoarstones facts for kids
The Hoarstones, with Corndon Hill in the background
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 Location in Shropshire
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| Location | Chirbury with Brompton |
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| Coordinates | 52°35′34″N 2°59′57″W / 52.592778°N 2.999167°W |
| Type | Stone circle |
| History | |
| Periods | Bronze Age |
The Hoarstones (also called the Hoar Stone Circle) is an ancient stone circle found in the area of Chirbury with Brompton in Shropshire, an English county. This special circle is made up of 38 stones. Each stone is less than a metre (about 3 feet) tall.
What Are the Hoarstones?
This stone circle has 37 stones arranged in a circle, plus one stone in the very center. All of these stones are made of a strong rock called dolerite. The circle itself is about 22 metres (around 72 feet) wide.
The Hoarstones are located on a gentle slope that faces southeast. This area is a bit marshy, meaning it can be wet. It's also near where a large glacial lake used to be. A small pond called Marsh Pool is what's left of that ancient lake.
You might also hear the Hoarstones called the Black Marsh, Hemford and Marsh Pool Circle.
Mysteries of the Stones
In the northwest part of the circle, there are two small mounds. These might be the remains of ancient burial mounds, known as barrows. People from long ago often buried their dead in such places.
Some of the stones at Hoarstones have holes drilled into them. These holes were not made when the circle was first built. They were added much later by local miners. These miners would use the stones during wedding parties. They would fill the holes with gunpowder and set it off to create loud bangs!
Connecting the Circles
The Hoarstones might be connected to another similar stone circle nearby called Mitchell's Fold. There was also a third circle to the south, which is now gone, known as the Whetstones. These circles could have been part of a larger ancient network or had similar purposes.
