The Rose of Mercia

Tag: History

  • The Stones of Stanton Drew

    The Stones of Stanton Drew

    The village of Stanton Drew lies just over the border of Somerset. The stone circle sits just outside of the village, it is the second largest stone circle in England behind Avebury. The stone circle is estimated to have been built in the late Neolithic period, around 4500 years ago. The Stanton Drew monument is…

  • The Rollright Stones

    The Rollright Stones are located on the border of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, near the village of Little Rollright. They have stood since the Neolithic era and their history spans over 5,500 years. Their story starts with the construction of The Whispering Knights, a Neolithic Dolmen [a single chamber tomb], it is even believed that this…

  • Oh apple tree, we wassail thee

    Wassailing of the apple trees dates back to our forefathers of Anglo-Saxon times. It was originally celebrated on 17th January, although this changed to 5th January with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar. Many people still celebrate Wassail on the Julian date. The word “Wassail” comes from the Old English “wæs (þu) hæl“, roughly translating to “be…