Pastime of creating ‘fairy castles’ is feared to be putting protected monuments such as Stowe’s Hill in Cornwall at risk
We live in a strange world it seems to me characterised by dashboard cameras, wheelie bin snoopers and now people who don’t like seeing cairns on the top of hills. I thought this article might be a joke at first but I fear it is serious. I rent an office from Lincoln Cathedral and it is changing constantly to reflect trends and values so why attack something as relatively harmless as this – or perhaps I have it wrong!!!
The public body responsible for looking after some of England’s most historic places has issued a stern warning to people who indulge the art of stone stacking in protected spots.
Historic England said that in some circumstances people who balance or stack stones may be breaking the law and could even face jail.
Stacking or balancing stones is a pleasing pastime for some lovers of the outdoors and a precarious natural sculpture is a familiar sight on mountain, riverside and beach.
But Historic England said stone stackers should not tamper with spots classified as ancient monuments.
The warning followed concern that stone stacking was putting the neolithic site Stowe’s Pound on Stowe’s Hill in Cornwall at risk.
Caradon Archaeology posted images of “fairy castles” – stone stacks – on its Facebook page and called for the registration plates of anyone seen piling stones to be taken and reported.
The post said: “Stowe’s Hill is a 6,000-year-old settlement, built by our neolithic forebears. It is a protected, scheduled monument.
“This practice is not only vandalism; it is illegal, and carries with it a possible prison sentence. If anyone sees anyone attempting to move stones please warn them of this and message us. Or try and get their registration number and message it to us.”