Cumbria and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. 1599. LONG MEG AND HER DAUGHTERS [Map].—The earliest published account of these remains is that of Camden, who made a survey of Cumberland in 1599. He says:-¹

At Little Salkeld there is a circle of stones, 77 in number, each ten foot high; and before these, at the entrance, is a single one by itself, fifteen foot high. This the common people call Long-Megg, and the rest her daughters; and within the circle are two eaps of stones, under which they say there are dead bodies bury'd. And indeed 'tis probable enough that this has been a monument erected in memory of some victory."

In a note, the editor adds:-²

"The heaps of stones in the middle of this monument, are no part of it; but have been gather'd off the plough'd-lands adjoyning, and (as in many other parts of the County) have been thrown up here together in a waste corner of the field. Both this and Rolrich-stones in Oxfordshire, may seem to be monuments erected at the solemn Investiture of some Danish Kings; and of the same kind as the Kongstolen in Denmark, and Moresteen in Sweeden."

The latest edition of the same work supplies the following supplementary matter,—the quotation from Stukeley, given in extenso below, being omitted:-³

"Long Meg and her daughters [Map], in Addingham parish, q.d. Ald Hengham, a town at the old hanging stones, is a druidical circle, 300 feet diameter, of 100 stones of which 67 are now standing. At the south side 15 paces south-west at the distance of 70 feet or 40 yards is an upright squarish stone near 15 feet in girth, and 12 high, and near two yards square at bottom and hollow at top like a Roman altar, one of its angles turned to the circle, and each angle answering to a cardinal point, and near it next the circle four large stones, or as Stukeley three, forming an altar or sacellum, and two towards the east, west, and north."⁴

Note 1. Britannia, Gibson's ed., p. 831.

Note 2. Ibid., p. 831.

Note 3. Camden's Britannia, Gough's 2nd ed., 1806, Vol. III., p. 444.

Note 4. The authorities referred-to in this quotation are, Dr. Todd, Hutchinson, Gentleman's Magazine, 1752, p. 311, Stukeley, I, p. 47, Burn's History of Cumberland, II, p. 448.

Cumbria and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. 1725. The next observer in order of date is Stukeley (age 37), who in 1725 says:- ¹

"Mr. Patten and I went to view that fameous monument of antiquity called Long Meg and her Daughters [Map], in the parish of Aldingham, between Little Salkeld and Glassenby. It stands upon a barren elevated plain of high ground, under the vast hill called Crossfell to the east. This plain declines to the east gently, or rather north-east, for that I find to be the principal line observed by the founders. It is a great Celtic temple, being a circle of 300 feet in diameter, consisting of 100 stones: they are of unequal bulk: some are of very large dimensions: many are standing, but more fallen, and several carried away: but lately they have destroyed some by blasting, as they call it, i.e. blowing them in pieces with gunpowder; others they have sawed for mill stones: but the major part remaining, gives one a great idea of the whole; and it is a most noble work. The stones are not all of the same kind: some made of square crystallisations, (of the same sort as those at Shap) and I saw many of that sort of stone scattered about the country: others of the blue hard flaky sort, like those of the temple at Mayborough. The intervals are not exactly equal, but judiciously adapted to the bulks of the stones, to preserve as much as possible a regular appearance. This large ring thus declining north-east is now parted through by a ditch, so that the larger half lies in an inclosure, the other in a common; and the road lies by the side of it, that goes from Little Salkeld to Glassenby. South-west from it seventy foot, stands a very great and high stone, called Long Meg [Map], of a reddish grit, seeming to have been from the side of some quarry of the country: I think it leans a little north-east; it is about fifteen foot high. In the middle of the circle, are two roundish plots of ground, of a different colour from the rest apparently, and more stoney and barren, which probably were the immediate places of burning the sacrifices or the like. Not far from hence toward Glassenby is a very fine spring: whence no doubt, they had the element of water, used at their religious solemnities: and higher up the field is a large spring, intrenched about with a vallum and foss, of a pretty great circumference, but no depth. Full south-west from this work, in the next enclosure and higher ground, is another circle of lesser stones in number twenty: the circle is 50 foot diameter: and at some distance above it is another stone placed regarding it, as Meg does the larger circle. In that part of the greater circle next the single stone, called Meg, are two stones standing beyond the circle a little, and another fallen: which I believe were a sort of sacellum, perhaps for the pontifex to officiate in: and westward is another stone or two, perhaps of a like work: but the ruinous condition of the work would not admit of any certainty about it."

Note 1. Iter curiosum, ed. of 1776, Vol. II, P. 47.

Cumbria and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. 1773. Hutchinson, who visited Long Meg [Map] in 1773, gives a plan and a view of the circle, both drawn conventionally —the latter quite worthless. The plan represents 64 stones (2 less than the number still remaining) undistinguished as to attitude, all nearly of the same size and shape, and ranged on a true circle. Two additional stones outside the ring form the cheeks of an entrance, opposite to the centre of which, and in close proximity, Long Meg is placed. The author describes these remains in the following terms:- ¹

"Near to Little Salkeld, on the summit of a large hill, inclining a little towards the north, we had the pleasure of seeing a large and perfect druidical monument, called by the country people Meg and her Daughters. A circle of three hundred and fifty paces circumference is formed by massy stones, most of which remain standing upright; —these are sixty-seven in number, of various qualities, unhewn or touched with any tool, and seem by their form to have been gathered from the suface of the earth;—some are of blue and grey limestone, some of granite, and some flints;•--many of such of them as were standing, measured from twelve to fifteen feet in girt, and ten feet in height; others of an inferior size.—At the southern side of this circle, at the distance of seventeen paces from its nearest member, is placed an upright stone naturally of a square form, being a red free stone, with which the country about Penrith abounds.—This stone is placed with one of its angles towards the circle, is near fifteen feet in girt, and eighteen feet high; each angle of its square answering to a cardinal point.—In that part of the circle most contiguous to the column, four large stones are placed in a square form, as if they had constructed or supported the altar: and towards the east, west, and north, two large stones are placed, at greater distances from each other than any of the rest, as if they had formed the entrances into this mystic round.—What creates great astonishment to the spectator is, that no such stones, or any quarry or bed of stones are to be found within a great distance of this place; and how such massy bodies could be moved, in an age when the mechanical powers were little known, is not to be conceived. * * In Camden's description of this place, we find him mistaken, both as to the number of stones in the circle, and in his assertion, that within the circle were heaps of stones, which he was told covered those slain in fight.—There is not the least appearance of any such tumuli or heaps of stones.—He took many of his northern remarks from hearsay only, from whence he was liable to the errors discovered in his works."

Note 1. Excursion to the Lakes, pp. 108—111.

The Monument Commonly Called Long Meg And Her Daughters, Near The River Eden. The Monument Commonly Called Long Meg and Her Daughters [Map], Near The River Eden

A weight of awe, not easy to be borne,

Fell suddenly upon my Spirit cast

From the dread bosom of the unknown past,

When first I saw that family forlorn.

Speak Thou, whose massy strength and stature scorn

The power of years pre-eminent, and placed

Apart, to overlook the circle vast

Speak, Giant-mother! tell it to the Morn

While she dispels the cumbrous shades of Night;

Let the Moon hear, emerging from a cloud;

At whose behest uprose on British ground

That Sisterhood, in hieroglyphic round

Forth-shadowing, some have deemed, the infinite

The inviolable God, that tames the proud!