Record Details
| MonUID: | MST21 |
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| HER Number: | 00021 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | The Devil's Ring and Finger (Whirl Stones), Mucklestone |
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Summary
Two scheduled standing stones, which possibly formed part of a burial chamber. The finger stone is upright, with weathered grooves; the ring is flat with a circular bevelled hole. The stones are not in situ, forming part of a boundary wall. They are the only examples of this type of monument in Staffordshire.
Monument Type(s):
Associated Events:
- EST442 - A site visit by a Field Monument Warden to The Devil's Ring and Finger Monument, Mucklestone.
Protected Status:
- Scheduled Monument 1003495: The Devil's Ring and Finger
Full description
Standing Stone: Two standing stones, possibly the remains of a burial chamber no longer in situ. The finger is a grooved, upright stone 2 metres high and 1 metre wide. The ring is a flat stone with a roughly central, bevelled circular hole and is 2 metres high by 1.2 metres wide. Possibly originally part of a Megalithic tomb. Similar to features of Cornish and French example. Not in situ. Impossible to be certain of burial function. It may be significant that stone quarrying has taken place in the adjacent field. <1>
The only monument of this type in Staffordshire. Monument forms part of a boundary wall. Many scattered loose stones in the vicinity. <2>
Two standing stones, both approximately 6' by 4', which are possibly he remains of chambered tomb. One of the stones has a 20" diameter porthole cut into it. Grooves on the surface caused by water erosion suggest that the stones are not in their original position. (SB, 21-July-2004) <3>
A black and white photograph shows clearly the 'port-hole' cut through the centre of one of the stones. The vertical channels in the second stone, which are thought to be due to weathering or the channelling of water along the stone, are also visible. (SB, 21-July-2004) <4>
The stones were originally known as the 'Whirl Stones'. (SB, 21-July-2004) <5>
One the land of Arbour Farm: consists of two stones, - 'the ring' a broad stone 6'x4' with a bevelled porthole cut in it 21"x19", and the finger a stone 6' x3' leaning against it .The finger is grooved in a curious way due to rain channelling strata of unequal hardness and from the extent of the grooves it is clear the stones are not in their original positions, these stones many well have formed part of a burial chamber but in their present state it is impossible to be sure. (RH, 23-June-2016) <6>
Sources and further reading
| <1> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 73 NW - 3 (a - g). |
| <2> | SST3723 - Designation Record: Department for Culture Media and Sport / English Heritage. Ongoing-2016. Scheduled Monument Designation Documents, Scheduled Monument Consents and Section 17 Management Agreements. AM 12 by C.A.Snowdon (1981). |
| <3> | SST2068 - Serial: University of Keele. 1965. North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Volume 5 (1965). 'An Archaeological Gazetteer of Staffordshire: Part 2' by A.J.H. Gunstone, page 44. |
| <4> | SST1952 - Photographic: National Monument Record. 1958 Onwards. National Monument Record Photographic Collection. Photographic Paper. AA 58/4210 (1958) (Scanned). |
| <5> | SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 73 NW - 3 (a). |
| <6> | SST3824 - Index: Keele University. Keele University Card Index. SJ 73/14 (Multiple sources, refer to index card). |
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