THE DEVIL'S NINE STONES

THE DEVIL'S NINE STONES

There is a secret place that lies almost concealed just yards to the side of the A35 that leads between Dorchester and Brigport. Well, it is not really that secret because it is listed as an Ancient Monument, although it is quite difficult to find by car; the almost oblique English Heritage sign heralding it being difficult to spot if you are looking for it from a vehicle. The traffic speeds so mercilessly along this main road that you can be forgiven for missing its marked location upon any map; really, apart from approaching it from secluded footpaths marked upon Ordinance Survey maps, the only other quick way is to trace it from the main road, the location turning out to be literally only a few yards as portrayed on a map.

This secluded place is marked by an almost hidden ring of a stone Circle known as “The Devil’s Nine Stones” and here, or nearby, the engines of several cars and trucks have mysteriously ‘cut out’ whilst driving past it.  There have been quite a few reports of cars and other heavy duty vehicles  having their engines mysteriously cutting out as these drove past the site.

This ancient stone Circle (once you can locate it) consists of nine almost ‘gigantic’ stones plus a few lesser ones) but the feeling within this Circle of stones, almost defies description .. .

I visited the site one summer’s afternoon in 1994 with other members of the British Psychic and Occult Society.  Entering it, it almost appeared cold and oblique, but once finally inside, there was a sense of ‘timelessness’, that almost defied description . . .

There was a feeling of almost total distraction from the world outside; a feeling (and this is where it is hard to describe) that the place had no normal relationship with reality; there was a ‘strange quietness‘ that seemed to be a secret part of the circle; an ‘esoteric atmosphere’ which was somehow ‘trapped’ by the stones themselves.

Certainly, when I visited the place in 1994, such an impression was overwhelming.  Luckily, being remote and almost hidden thus not being easy to track down, the site remains fairly safe from casual vandalism.  Remaining thus so secluded, there is no reason why it should not continue to remain that way for the next few centuries.

David  Farrant