Shap is a curious place. Users of the M6 in Cumbria will see its name on signs which tells them they are at the highest point on the M6, before they start their descent to Penrith. But otherwise, the small village - population 1,264 - is unknown to the millions of people who whizz past it.
But 4,000 to 5,000 years ago things were different. Shap was a Very Important Place.
We know this because of megalithic remains in and around the village, even though most of them no longer exist or are buried. We’ve posted about the sad case of Kemp Howe Stone Circle, to the south of the village, which marked the southern end of the remains. But that was just part of a large collection of carefully placed stones.
From here, going north and roughly following the modern A6 road, was Shap Avenue: two parallel lines of stones extending north-north-west to a larger stone circle to the north of the village. There were also a number of large standing stones at strategic points. As always, no-one is really sure what this was all about, but these sites were clearly very significant to our ancestors, probably used for religious purposes.
This enormous megalithic complex survived very well for thousands of years until the 17th century. Then came the two revolutions: first the Agrarian, then the Industrial. The large number of stones lying around were just too tempting for people who wanted to build walls, gate-posts and buildings without the huge effort of quarrying for new stone.
There is only one known painting of Shap’s stones before they were mostly destroyed, painted by an unknown artist, following a sketch by Lady Lowther in 1775. Looking north, it clearly shows Kemp Howe stone circle in the foreground and the parallel rows of stones going into the distance.
The arrival of the railway destroyed Kemp Howe stone circle and, as local people needed even more buildings, they helped themselves to the remaining stones.
Today there are a few stones remaining. Two of the largest stones which had fallen over have been righted and set in concrete - not everyone’s idea of best practice today but at least we can see them.
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| The Goggleby Stone, about 6 feet high and 12 tons, now set in concrete |
For other stones, today it’s a parlour game: spot the stones. Here are a few photos of some of the stones, cleverly repurposed by the residents of Shap.
I’m not sure what I think about the destruction of what was a hugely important megalithic site. Today we can afford to disapprove but at the time it was just progress and economic development.