Free Republic

Credit: University of Manchester Some say King Arthur slayed a giant there. Others say he knelt in prayer and his knee print indentations are forever etched into the stone. But archaeologists are setting out to find out just how big the structure is and what really happened at Arthur's Stone, a 5,000-year-old, Neolithic chambered tomb in Herefordshire, England, near the border of Wales. On July 1, a team of researchers began excavating the site, said Julian Thomas, an archaeology professor at the University of Manchester who is leading the project. They'll be on site for the next four weeks, Thomas...

Archaeologists from The University of Manchester have started a dig at a 5,000-year-old tomb linked to King Arthur...Arthur's Stone is a Neolithic chambered tomb which has never previously been excavated, but English Heritage say that similar examples in the same region have been found to contain incomplete skeletal remains of several people, together with flint flakes, arrowheads and pottery.Today, only the large stones of the inner chamber remains, which is placed in a mound of earth and stones whose original size and shape remains a mystery. The chamber is formed of nine upright stones, with an enormous capstone estimated to...

How To Make Pax Cakes, A Palm Sunday Tradition Mark Palm Sunday with your family by making pax cakes, a forgotten Herefordshire sweet treat Palm Sunday treat: Mary-Anne Boermans' lenten biscuits Photo: Mary-Anne Boermans By Leah Hyslop 29 Mar 2015 The Easter period is inextricably connected with certain foods – eggs, roast lamb and hot cross buns. But not many people in Britain today will enjoy a pax cake. These little treats, which seem to have originated in Herefordshire, were once handed out by churches after the service on Palm Sunday, the day which marks Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusaleum....

A farmhouse owner who shot a burglar in the leg with a shotgun while trying to protect his £20,000 cannabis crop has been acquitted of unlawful wounding. Malcolm White, 64, shot Robert Richards during a raid at Stocking Gobbetts, Whitbourne, Herefordshire, in 2011. Richards, who lost part of his leg, was armed with a crowbar and chisel when he tried to break into the farmhouse. White admitted growing cannabis and illegal possession of weapons and will be sentenced at a later date. During the trial at Worcester Crown Court, Simon Phillips QC, prosecuting, described how White had been intent on...

Archaeologists are to examine a site near a medieval Herefordshire building before a new library is built. The dig will take place near the Master's House in Ledbury before it is extended to house a new library. Herefordshire Council said a viewing platform will be put up so people can observe the work taking place during the three-week dig from 5 January. A medieval wall was uncovered at the site in June, which prompted the more detailed examination. Kate Murray, assistant cultural services manager at the council, said: "I would like to apologise to motorists and traders for any inconvenience...