| Waylands Smithy |
Waylands Smithy is a Neolithic burial chamber; archaeologists have identified two distinct phases of development. In the first phase a round barrow was created with material dug from two ditches to either side of the mound. The mound was covered with a wooden mortuary house and the remains of 14 bodies were discovered during excavations in 1962 - 1973.
Phase 2 was begun around 3500BC, the mound was enlarged to its present shape and the cruciform chamber was constructed at the widest end. The mound was enclosed with a supporting dry stone wall and 6 large sarcen stones were erected in the entrance wall.
The site was reconstructed after excavation in the 1960's although two of the original facing sarcens are now missing.
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 Legends and Folklore
The site is named after the Saxon god of smithing, Wayland, also known as Weland, Volund and Wieland. Weyland is the god of magic, metalworking and enchantment. He ascended to Valhalla after wreaking revenge on those who had wronged him.
According to folklore anybody who has a horse to be shod should leave it at the mound and place a coin on a nearby stone, new shoes will be fitted to the horse by Wayland.
In another story Wayland has an apprentice called Flibbertigibbet, Wayland sent him along the Ridgeway to buy a weight of nails. On his way back Flibbertigibbet decided to spend some time searching for birds eggs, carried away he totally forgot about time and returned to Wayland hours later than expected. Wayland enraged picked up one of the giant sarcen stones and threw it at his apprentice pinning him by the heel. Unable to move Flibbertigibbet sat crying on the stone. This was the reason an area of the burial chamber was known as snivelling corner. 
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| Map ref: SU 281 858 |
| Directions: The burial chamber can be reached from the ancient ridgeway path. |
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