<< Our Photo Pages >> Cheetham Close - Stone Circle in England in Greater Manchester

Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 09 February 2015  Page Views: 50148

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Cheetham Close Alternative Name: Chapeltown, Turton Heights
Country: England County: Greater Manchester Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Bolton  Nearest Village: Chapeltown
Map Ref: SD71631586  Landranger Map Number: 109
Latitude: 53.638481N  Longitude: 2.430556W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 2 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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emma616 would like to visit

SolarMegalith visited on 1st Jul 2008 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Beautifuly located on a plateau of the hill, difficult to find though. I have recognized the site by finding Mire Stone - the most significant preserved stone of a circle.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by vicky : The Mire Stone, an outlier to Cheetham Close Stone Circle. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The West Pennine Moors of Lancashire and Greater Manchester contain a large variety of prehistoric monuments, notably of the earlier Bronze Age (see our nearby sites list). Perhaps the best known of these is the stone circle on' Cheetham Close, 7 km north of Bolton.

Although now in a ruinous condition, the circle still elicits a great deal of interest locally due to ease of public access and to the fact that it is the only extant stone circle in the area.

Lancashire Access: Take the footpath from the A666 to the Cheetham Close hill and a short ascent to the trig point. Ruins visible from here.

We visited the site in July and it was quite overgrown. The site is not currently on a footpath (July 2002) but they were in the process of erecting a stile while we were there, suggesting it may soon be formalised.

We found the trig point at SD716158 quite easily and from here walked north to one of the outlying stones of the circle (known locally as the Mire Stone and later reused as a boundary stone).

A short distance (within 20m or so) to the north we discovered the ruins of the circle (a couple of the stones had been marked with blue paint as if to identify them SD71651589). From the circle there are excellent views to the north, east and south-east, but the view to the west is completely blocked by the rise of the slope.

A second site, sometimes marked on the map as an enclosure or second stone circle, but actually a ringcairn lies close by to the south (SD71661586). Having looked as if we were wandering aimlessly some friendly locals who were in the process of constructing a stile came over a told us a bit about this cairn. It apparently had an entrance to the east, either side of which two skulls had been found.

The whole area is littered with cairns, another of which can be found at SD71571582

Text by Vicky Morgan

Note: Possible sunset relationships in the remnant outlier and the western horizon, see the most recent images
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Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by vicky : The Mire Stone, one of the outlying stones at Cheetham Close Stone circle, now surrounded by a modern ring of mini stones. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by SolarMegalith : Cheetham Close Stone Circle - the Mire Stone, the most significant preserved stone. View from the south. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by LivingRocks : Spotted very close to the Cheetham Close Circle. Are these cup marks? I can find no references to rock art on this site. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by LivingRocks : Looking over Cheetham Close Circle towards Winter Hill. The circle was apparently in good condition until the stones were sledgehammered by a Turton Farmer in the 19th Century. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by vicky : The remains of a cairn close to Cheetham Close stone circle at GR: SD71571582 (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : New info about the Ring Bank Cairn site/earthwork on Cheetham Close

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : Cheetham Close Stone Oval,as has been since 1871.Updated May 2017.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : A NEW PLAN OF CHEETHAM CLOSE STONE CIRCLE AND 2 OUTLIER SITES MADE IN 2015.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by Bladup : Cheetham Close, The mire stone.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : The remenant Outlier and the Western Horizon.Possible Sunset relationships.2015

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : Cheetham Close Stone Circle RECONSTRUCTED Using az data collected in July 014 along with drydens stones 1,2,3,6,7,8 and M Fletchers Stone 9 put in vertically,with Outliers h and g the attached sketch was made. ref m.fletchers A new Survey the Bronze Age Complex on Cheetham Close. gmau.com

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : View stood within the stone circle looking nnw to the longridge fell far horizon july 014

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNX : Photo taken a few metres nnw of the site of Outlier g,on a nice,clear day July 2014.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by 6A44NNx : Two photos of the sw Outlier on Cheetham Close Lancs. The inscribed Cross is focused upon. Photos taken on a nice sunny day in July 2014.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by SolarMegalith : Eastern stones of the circle - view from the west. (July 2008)

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by LivingRocks : View of the circle from the Mire Stone, an outlier to the south of the circle.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by LivingRocks : The south eastern arc of the circle is the best preserved.

Cheetham Close
Cheetham Close submitted by vicky : The remaining stones of the Cheetham Close stone circle near Chapeltown in Lancashire at GR: SD71651589 (1 comment)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
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"Cheetham Close" | Login/Create an Account | 19 News and Comments
  
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Re: Cheetham Close by 6A44NNx on Friday, 14 April 2023
(User Info | Send a Message)
See
https://alancashirestonecircle.wordpress.com
read the 2023 SURVEY IMPLICATIONS post.
For the latest research findings on the Stone Oval.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cheetham Close by Anonymous on Sunday, 07 June 2020
I’ve visited Cheetham close today and found two symbols I’d love to know meanings can anyone help?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cheetham Close by Anonymous on Wednesday, 04 April 2018
I am in discussion with darwen heritage center to help investigate more.



Curly
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cheetham Close by 6A44NNx on Friday, 03 March 2017
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NEW INFO MARCH 2017

Cheetham Close stone circle remenants,[not the Ring Bank Cairn]has a SW PORTAL ENTRANCE.This Entrance was not recorded by Mr Greenhalgh in the 1870s,or Mr Fletcher in the 1980s.
The error stems from Mr Greenhalghs Plan,particularly the location of "circle Stone 9".Mr Greenhalghs drawing of Stone 9 is an accurate likeness,but is not and never has been in the Ring.
STONE 9 LIES AROUND 10m SW of CIRCLE STONE 8
THE REMAINING "OUTLIER" LIES AROUND 25m SW OF CIRCLE STONE 7.THESE 4 STONES FORM THE PORTAL ENTRANCE AT THE SW.
What caused me to see this arrangement covered in the long Marsh grass ? I tripped over the embedded stump of stone 9..I have Photographs, calculations etc.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by Andy B on Friday, 03 March 2017
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    Thanks, very interesting - is this the write-up here?
    https://alancashirestonecircle.wordpress.com/
    I think we're going to need a forum thread for all this - I've started one here
    http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=7268&forum=4
    Please feel free to submit any more information you need to.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Cheetham Close by 6A44NNx on Monday, 29 May 2017
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      29th May 017,
      Hi Andy, all the background,citeable information I have collected is indeed at the address above,youve quoted.Thanks for your organisation of the info I have sent.
      I have 1 png to put with this note,which makes an easy to understand record of of the layout of the ring,as the ring has been since 1871.
      M.Butler
      [ Reply to This ]
        Re: Cheetham Close by Andy B on Monday, 23 October 2017
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        Hello 6A44NNx,
        Yes please, post the link to the PDF here and we'll include it - in other words can you upload the PDF to your web site first.
        Thanks
        Andy
        [ Reply to This ]
          Re: Cheetham Close by 6A44NNx on Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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          OK Andy,
          the free pdf is on the alancashirestonecircle pg,you mention above.
          The free pdfs title is CHEETHAM CLOSE STONE OVAL SW ENTRANCE,Hommage- Mr Greenhalgh,017.
          Cheers 6A44NNx.
          [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by 6A44NNx on Sunday, 22 October 2017
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    OCTOBER 2017
    Hi Andy,
    A CORRECTION FOR THE NEW INFO MARCH 2017 entry -
    Mr Greenhalgh DID NOT DRAW STONE 9 on his 1871 plan.
    [I have poor eyesight,and misread some number figs for being stone 9,as these figures are where stone 9 is located.[Sorry about that].
    I have just finished making a PDF,that presents all my findings,up to today,in a more condensed form. Can I put the PDF on this pg please Andy ?
    Thanks alot
    [ Reply to This ]

The Bronze Age complex on Cheetham Close, Turton by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 May 2012
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From The Greater Manchester Archaeological Journal Volume 1 1985

The Bronze Age complex on Cheetham Close, Turton - a new survey, by M. Fletcher

The West Pennine Moors of Lancashire and Greater Manchester contain a large variety of prehistoric monuments, notably of the Earlier Bronze Age. Perhaps the best known of these is the stone circle on' Cheetham Close, 7 km north of Bolton.

Although now in a ruinous condition, the circle still elicits a great deal of interest locally due to ease of public access and to the fact that.it is
the only exlant stone circle in the area.

In fact, the circle is only part of a complex of ritual/burial monuments, which also includes two ring-bank cairns, two small cairns of unknown structure, and at least two outliers, believed to date from the Earlier Bronze Age. It is situated at 329 m OD, on the bleak moorland plateau of Cheetham Close, above Turton, Lancashire (SD 717 158). The lack of a modern, definitive survey of the site prompted the author to record the remnants, thus allowing a re-assessment in,the light of.recent research on megalithic 'ringworks' in Britain.

http://www.gmau.manchester.ac.uk/publications/gmaj.htm

http://www.gmau.manchester.ac.uk/pdfs/gmac1.pdf (PDF File)
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: The Bronze Age complex on Cheetham Close, Turton by 6A44NNx on Monday, 07 December 2015
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    NEW INFORMATION 2015
    Cheetham Close Stone Circle has interested me for many years.
    Me being an amateur,disabled astronomer fro Blackburn,lancs.
    I have managed to make two visits to Cheetham Close over the past few yearsand have collected positional information from the Stone Circle and Outlier Site.The bearings of The Stones and the heights from Sea level of the surrounding horizons,plus the distances between the Stones.
    I have studied in detail the available Plans of Cheetham Close except for Prof A THOMS Plans held at Bolton Archive and research Centre.
    In a nutshellMr Fletchers very enlightening Report/Survey has one important flaw.The Site Plan for the Stone Circle is Mr Greenhalghs
    1871 perspective Sketch twisted around and enlarged.[The circle
    being twisted around so that Mr Greehalghs correct MgN position
    becomes separated from the Stones of the Circle.[around 150 degrees]The inter-Circle Stone bearings are not correct.[the stones
    are still in the same positions as 1871 at least I reckon.
    The Long Axis of the Stone Circle is not correct,Mr Greenhalgh gives us only the Easterly/Westerly length ,which Mr Fletcher uses as the Long Axis Length.THE LONG CENTRAL AXIS is 27-33M .
    THe overall shape in Plan is a slim OVAL with the long central Axis
    orientated N/S.
    Cheetham Close Stone Circle therefore is of comparable size to
    1 Swinside in Cumbria
    2 The BLUESTONE CIRCLE at STONEHENGE.
    copyright 6A44NNx
    [ Reply to This ]

Oak and Feather Grove Druids celebrate summer solstice at Turton Heights stone circle by Andy B on Wednesday, 16 May 2012
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According to the BBC, the Oak and Feather Grove Druids celebrate summer solstice at what is reported as "Turton Heights stone circle" - I'm guessing this must be what Burl calls Cheetham Close?

From BBC Religion: Local Summer Solstice celebrations

In addition to the large events at major sites such as Stonehenge, many more Pagans hold small ceremonies in open spaces, everywhere from gardens to woodlands.

In this clip the Sunday Programme follows the Oak and Feather Grove, a Druid group whose members come from across Lancashire, as they visit a stone circle at Turton Heights near Bolton to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtml

The Oak and Feather Grove Druids
http://druidnetwork.org/affiliatedgroups/groves/oakandfeather.html
[ Reply to This ]

Profile of Cheetham Close Stone Circle by Anonymous on Sunday, 05 July 2009
Detailed profile and old article of the Cheetham Close site, on TNA, here:

http://megalithix.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/chethams-close-lancashire/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Cheetham Close by Anonymous on Thursday, 19 May 2005
I live in the US. In tracking my ancestory I found references to my Surname being named after a place. The only places that I found in Lancashire were Cheetham Close and Cheetham Hill. Other than photos of Cheetham Close and reference to it being in part used as a crematory cemetery I know nothing. I know nothing at all of Cheatham Hill. I find neither on any map. I am wondering if these are whats left of the lands wfere my ancestors lived. If you know anything, I would so appreciate a anthrpology lesson here.
Sincerely,
Jeff Cheetham
[email protected]
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by Thorgrim on Thursday, 19 May 2005
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    Yes it is pretty certain that your ancestor came from Cheetham in Lancashire. The Normans really introduced surnames as before them people were known as their father's son ie Jack Will's son (Jack Wilson) or by a nickname - Jack Short or whatever.
    Place names became adopted as surnames when somone moved to another area for work. So Jack became Jack of Cheetham when he went elsewhere. This differentiated him from all of the other Jacks.

    Cheetham was Chetam in 1212 and Chetham in 1226. The meaning is the same as for Chatham. The first element is from the Old British language (or Celtic if you prefer that term) "ceto" from "kaito" meaning a forest or wood. So Cheetham means the village by the forest or wood. Nearby is Cheetwood which shows that the original meaning of "Cheet" had been forgotten. Cheetwood literally means "wood - wood"

    Try entering your surname on Google - you will find out a lot more. Good luck with your research.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by kompani on Tuesday, 27 June 2006
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    Hi, as a former resident of Chapeltown I can tell you that the Cheetham family once occupied the local 'mansion' and the villages public house is named after then 'Cheetham Arms'. They provided a very exclusive music school in Manchester names Cheetham School of Music built in 1421 and still active.
    Have a look at the two links below.....
    http://northturton.com/Chapeltown/chap_01.html
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chetham%27s_School_of_Music
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by Anonymous on Friday, 06 April 2007
    Cheetham Hill is also a district of Manchester. Its the area around Strangeways Prison.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by Anonymous on Tuesday, 03 February 2009
    hi there cheetham hill is an area of central manchester n.west england it got bombed by the i.r.a about 20 yrs ago but has now been re-built hope this has been of some help i also have a friend called kev cheetham he lives in flixton
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Cheetham Close by Jjriley68 on Tuesday, 26 August 2014
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    Hi jeff i live near Cheetham hill and im sure the it gets its name from the Cheetham family that use to live at a farm in bogart o clough , there a very strange tale about this family they were haunted by the bogart that lived there maybe that might help
    .
    [ Reply to This ]

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