ARBOR LOW 1. Arbor Low; 2. Eorthburgh Hlaw 2 ARBOR LOW oil on board | 12" x 16" | 2001 | £NFS Having worked on large images for a while I returned to a smaller scale for this study, profiling one of the recumbent stones and allowing much fun depicting the cracks and lichen on the limestone. The landscape of this site, the undulating henge and surrounding fields, only allows for the odd overview: one step in any direction and a large proportion of the circle can vanish. The sky was slightly reworked in 2005 after a small scratch en route to an exhibition. Back to: The Gallery | Home

EORTHBURGH HLAW 2 oil on board | 18" x 14" | 2005 | £NFS ARBOR LOW, DERBYSHIRE Atop Middleton Common with magnificent panoramic views, Arbor Low is a site of evolution, stemming from around 3000BCE. Initially a 3-sided Cove, an imitation burial chamber, was erected in the late neolithic and aligned to the midsummer setting moon. Now recumbent, like all the stones at Arbor Low due to improper bedding-in, the Cove was excavated in 1901/02 and a possibly unrelated burial was discovered on its eastern side. A pit containing a human arm bone has also been discovered. The next phase saw the construction of the henge in the late neolithic or early bronze age, enclosing a platform 170’ by 130’ in circumference, followed by the erection of the stone circle measuring 140’ by 120’ in diameter during the bronze age. Comprising of about 40 large and 13 smaller blocks of local limestone, they weigh up to 10 tons and are 13’ long. Although the bank and ditch were dug 6’ deep into limestone, the blocks used in the construction of the circle were excavated slightly further afield from an exposed outcrop and were therefore already weathered before being erected - unusually, the weathered sides face inwards. With a 30’ entrance to the north west and a narrower 20’ entrance to the south-south east, Arbor Low has been termed the “Stonehenge of the North”, with its present name a derivation of Eorthburgh Hlaw, meaning “Earthwork Mound”. Continuing this site’s evolution, earth from near the south-south east entrance was later dug out to create a bronze age round barrow. Excavated by Bateman in 1845, bones, flints and 2 early bronze age food vessels were uncovered. An unfinished earthen avenue leads to Gib Hill, 1000’ feet to the west. Measuring 14’ high and 120’ across, the C18th saw it used as a site for gallows. Bateman excavated Gib Hill in 1848, revealing it to be a barrow with a burial kist, which he subsequently removed and installed in his own garden: this was returned to Gib Hill 90 years later. The area is Intersected by more than 50 ley lines, on private farmland with a minimal access fee, and a superb solstice venue. OS: SK.160.636 Off a minor road east of the A515 between Buxton and Ashbourne, and heading towards The Nine Ladies on Stanton Moor. As noted, on private farmland & a small payment towards access & upkeep is requested as you approach.