Druid’s temple - it is a man-made folly built over 200 years ago by William Danby the owner of the Estate and nearby Swinton Park www.swintonestate.com/. Not a lot of information is known about the temple although it is understood that William Danby constructed the structure in order to help with local unemployment and paid workers one shilling a day and that is about £3 in todays money.
To complete the illusion of an ancient structure Danby attempted to employ someone to live on the site, particularly in the tomb at the rear of the temple as a hermit for seven years. They were expected to let their hair and beard grow and not to speak to anyone however it is little wonder no one lasted the full seven years.
The temple contains a sacrificial altar, tomb, a group of menhirs in the centre and dolmens around the edge. The overall length is approximately 100 feet with some stones about 10 feet high.
The temple was said to be a replica of the Stonehenge with monoliths and trilithons to form two circles in a vesica piscia, with the first circle centered on a monolith depicting a phallic symbol. However since this is only a man-made folly it was never been a place for religious activities nor similar practices of the Celtic cultures. Nonetheless, Druid’s temple is a good place for contemplation and meditation or if you want to spend a quite moment with the nature.
Since the estate is still within the Yorkshire Dales, please remember the usual countryside code rules such as to take your litter home with you, close any gates behind you and keep your dogs under control or on leash when required. For more information about countryside guidelines please click this link www.gov.uk/government/publica....
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1 окт 2020
