Mayburgh Henge

Mayburgh is a massive henge that dates to the Late Neolithic period.

The banks of Mayburgh stand nearly 10 feet (three meters) tall in some places and were constructed from pebbles taken from the nearby River Lowther. Unusually, there is no surrounding ditch. 

The structure is believed to have served as a meeting place for a prehistoric community, perhaps involving trade or astronomical observations, as well as rituals or social activities.

Mayburgh was originally part of a complex that consisted of three henges, including the semi-surviving King Arthur’s Table a short walk from this location.

The stone standing slightly northwest of the center of the henge is thought to be the only one of several remaining at the site. Old drawings of the location show the stone as one of a group of four forming a square. As late as the 18th-century, four stones were still recorded as standing at the location. 

Local rumors state that the other stones were removed to provide building material for either Penrith Castle or Eamont Bridge, although there is no real evidence to support this. It’s believed that the laborers responsible for this desecration of the site were cursed.