A lost ancient stone, once part of a Stone Age tomb, has been raised. The sarsen stone, millions of years old, will become a focal point for visitors.
A mysterious 5-foot stone, hidden for generations, has been raised once more in one of England’s most extraordinary prehistoric landscapes.
The rock, which has been named the Bride Stone, was brought back into view at the Valley of Stones National Nature Reserve (NNR), thanks to a joint effort by Natural England, community archaeology company Past Participate, and local volunteers.
The stone emerged during scrub clearance carried out as part of the management of the reserve. Standing apart from the scattered boulders that give the Valley of Stones its name, archaeological excavation by Past Participate suggests it once formed part of a Stone Age tomb.
I’m thrilled to have the Bride Stone standing over the valley. It’s a visual testament to all the similar monuments that have been lost. Its return adds another chapter to the story of a landscape where nature and human history have been intertwined for millennia.