Knights whispering stones. long Compton. Rollright stones.

Four hundred metres east of Stone Circle, and probably predating it by over 1000 years, the Whispering Knights is a 'portal dolmen' burial chamber that consists of four upright stones and a large fallen capstone.  The so-called ‘portal’ facade is formed by three stones that look like a giant doorway facing down the hill and it was probably intended to be seen from that side. Originally there were two or three more uprights to support the capstone which would have been placed on top, possibly at a rakish angle, to form a table-like 'dolmen' structure. At one time it was believed to be part of a long barrow, but excavations in the 1980s suggested that it is more likely to have been free-standing and intended to impress. The very large pillar-like stone on the left of the portal is the largest of all the Rollright Stones, and with the capstone in place on top (as it was until the 18th century) the chamber would have been even more striking.  It is estimated that using rollers, levers and sledges it may have taken over 60 people to move and erect the stones. It is thought that there would have been a low platform of small stones round the sides and back.