Arthur's Stone, Herefordshire

Arthur’s Stone is a Neolithic chambered tomb in Herefordshire whose great capstone and supporting stones survive after the covering mound largely disappeared. A right-angled passage provided access through the side of the monument. Research has shown that its architecture changed: an earlier dolmen-like structure surrounded by a circular stone bank was subsequently incorporated into a longer, trapezoidal cairn. Targeted excavations beginning in 2023 recovered human bone, pottery and stone objects, including materials connected with more distant regions. These discoveries place the tomb within the wider connections of early farming communities rather than identifying a named historical occupant. Its association with King Arthur is a separate medieval tradition, recorded from before the thirteenth century. One legend describes Arthur killing a giant beside the stones. Such stories explain the monument’s later cultural significance, but are not evidence for its Neolithic construction or burial history. Period: Neolithic; multiple construction phases Grid reference: SO 31887 43118 Protection: Scheduled monument Source: Historic England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1010720 (Open Government Licence). © Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Banner photo: "St Arthur's Stone, Dorstone" by Tim Sheerman-Chase, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY 2.0.