Visitor Information

Adults £1.00
children 9-16 50p
Children under 9 are free

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Booking the Rollright Stone Circle

You can download a booking form here

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR GROUPS USING THE KING'S MEN STONE CIRCLE IN PRIVATE BOOKINGS

Introduction

This document is designed to assist Groups wishing to use the King's Men stone circle and Wardens performing gate duty for those Groups, in an effort to maintain preservation and conservation requirements and hopefully maintain good relations between those Groups, the Wardens and the Trust whom the Wardens represent. The following aims to specify procedures for both Groups and Wardens so both know what to expect during a booked event.

Prior to arrival

Please appoint a representative who will be able to introduce your Group to the duty Wardens. Ensure that your representative knows the plan of the event, can give at least an estimate of the expected numbers and is aware of the terms and conditions of use. Plan your event carefully, taking into account the length of time available and remember to allow for setting up and clearing.

On arrival

Please remember that the Wardens may not necessarily know who you are until your representative makes introductions. For this reason it is recommended that your appointed representative be one of the first to arrive. If the full fee for the event has not been paid in advance then be aware that the Wardens will have been instructed to obtain the balance of payment unless prior arrangements have been made.

It is extremely helpful if your representative can identify Group members and preferably assemble them in one area, or point them out to the Wardens. General visitors will continue to be admitted to the circle up until a point when the Wardens feel they would not be permitted sufficient time to view the circle before being asked to leave in order to make way for your event. The Wardens must therefore be kept informed as to the state of progress of your Group in order for them to deal appropriately with other visitors, and must be able to distinguish between Group members and other visitors.

Your representative should be prepared to discuss practical aspects of the event with the Wardens. If you wish, you may appoint more than one representative to deal with different organisational aspects, as long as each introduces himself appropriately to the Wardens on duty. The aspects that require discussion should include the use of the fire dish, the fire torches, candles, incense etc. Be aware that conservation work may be in progress and so areas of the circle may be out of bounds. The Wardens may suggest alterations to your plans - please try to be flexible. Any alterations suggested will be intended purely to protect the site from unnecessary damage or disfigurement. Your Group may have a booking proceeding another, and weather conditions can make the site more vulnerable to certain types of damage.

The Wardens will close the site to general visitors when your Group is almost ready to begin. Try to ensure that all members are within the site at that point, and there is no need to return to the lay-by. Wardens turning away visitors can, and have been subjected to verbal abuse and physical threats, and will close the gate for safety reasons. No general visitors will be permitted entrance once the gate is closed.

Please ensure that all Group members are aware that the Wardens are present to ensure the safety of the site. That is their sole purpose. They are not there to clear up debris or help set up your event. They will be watching your Group prior to the event and, in certain circumstances, during the event in order to ensure site safety. Please ask your Group not to stand or sit on any of the stones. Wardens will ask individuals not to do so if this occurs. If any individual is found causing damage, the Wardens will ask that individual to leave. If your Group insists on any practise that may cause damage despite the advice and explanation of the Wardens, the Wardens may ask the Group to leave.

Your Group can expect the Wardens to have ensured the site is clean and any existing damage is noted before your arrival. The Wardens will expect your Group to leave the site as close to this state as is possible, and will check the site after you leave. A report will be made to the Trustees, and if the clean-up is deemed unacceptable it is at the discretion of the Trust whether or not your Group is admitted in the future. If, when you arrive, you find something unsatisfactory, please have your representative make it clear to the Wardens.

Please state clearly when you are ready to start.

During the event

Please remember that although the Wardens can refuse entry to the site, they cannot prevent people standing on the public highway and peering through the fence. If the event is a ritual, then the Wardens will remain in the vicinity of the hut and will try not to disturb you. Please, however, do not expect them to maintain silence throughout. They will do their best to make sure conversations do not interrupt you, but the hut door must be kept partially open in order to watch the gate and occasionally acoustics may cause the odd word to carry. The presence of the Wardens is to your advantage. They will prevent possibly more disruptive interruptions from unsympathetic members of the public or uninvited attention from passing journalists.

Try to keep to your schedule. The Wardens will ask you to close if you over-run significantly and you may find future booking requests refused.

After the event

Please make sure that all materials are removed. If you are using the fire dish there is a water butt to the right of the hut at the back containing water for extinguishing the fire. The Wardens can show you where this is, and can also point out where to dispose of ash. Please ensure that any unpaid monies are accounted for. Your representative should let the Wardens know when the site is clear, and may wish to accompany them for a site inspection. All equipment and persons should be cleared from the site. Please do not leave any materials behind, even as offerings.

If You have any complaints

If you feel that some aspect of your treatment or the behaviour of the Wardens has been inappropriate, please approach the individual(s) concerned after your event and make it clear. You may then address the Trust with your complaint if you remain unsatisfied.

Summary

Plan the event taking the site into account - no equipment/practise will be allowed that may cause damage. If in doubt contact Dohn Prout, who may ask you to discuss it with someone else.

Appoint a well-informed representative.
Allow the Wardens to distinguish between your Group and others.
Try to start and finish on time.
Be prepared to discuss last minute details with the Wardens.
Expect the Wardens to be tolerant, but not necessarily to follow the same path as you.
Leave the site as you found it.

Notes

No Group may specify who will or will not be on duty during their event except following an upheld complaint. If no one is available, no booking will be accepted. You may request that the Wardens be sympathetic to paganism if you wish, or to your particular purpose, but largely what you do is unimportant to the Wardens unless it disrupts the site. This includes the site energetics. Please remember that the Rollright Stones are privately owned and the Trust does have the right to refuse entry, just as you have the right to refuse entry to your home. The site is protected under the 1997 Ancient Sites and Monuments Act and anyone found causing damage can and will be prosecuted It is in your interest to co-operate with the Trust and its representatives to ensure that you and others can continue to enjoy the site now and in the future.

You can download a booking form here