HARTHILL MOOR 1. Grey Ladies of Harthill NINE STONE CLOSE, DERBYSHIRE Once known locally as The Grey Ladies, Nine Stone Close on Harthill Moor is a bronze age "circle" comprising the largest standing stones in Derbyshire. Sadly now only four remain, although a fifth can probably be found re-used in the wall to the south. Over 6' in height (the four remaining were probably the largest on the site, although before most stones were removed some antiquarians hazarded that some were in excess of 15') and with a diameter of around 40', the circle also once featured a central cairn. The landscape of Harthill Moor features the inspiring crag of Robin Hood's Stride to the south west, between the 'horns' of which the major southern moon sets at Midsummer - the circle appears to be aligned to this - and there is also excavated evidence of local settlements and an iron age hillfort. OS: SK.225.626 East from a minor road from Alport to Elton (parallel to the B5056), opposite Harthill Moor Farm. The hillfort known as Castle Ring is behind the farmhouse. Back to: The Gallery | Home

GREY LADIES OF HARTHILL oil on canvas | 16" x 20" | 2004 | £240 #P5 A3 & A4 | #GC4 Happened to be doing some sketches for this one evening whilst a farmer joylessly manured the field around me and a local rock-climbing group wandered around Robin Hood's Stride, confusing this artist's long-distance focus by popping up as occasional crags! Rather demystifies things somewhat. That apart, this image was the one used on the posters for the Buxton Museum exhibition, Earth-Hewn, in 2005.