Liverpool Has Its Own Stonehenge – And It’s 5,000 Years Old

Many cultures around the world have had rich burial traditions going all the way back to ancient times. Grieving the loss of a loved one is a universal experience which transcends not only time, but also species. So, it is only inevitable Liverpool has its own piece of history: The Calderstones are the remains of a Neolithic chambered tomb dating back around 5,000 years.

Located in Calderstones Park, the six remaining stones from the site were placed in a greenhouse in 1954 but have been moved to The Mansion House in 2019, giving visitors a chance to witness a piece of ancient times up close.

What are The Calderstones?

Made from sandstone (fun geology fact: the sandstone itself is 260 to 230 million years old), The Calderstones are the remaining six megaliths once part of an ancient Neolithic burial chamber. The site is originally believed to have been located “20 meters further West”, according to Historic Liverpool.

There were seven megaliths in total within the tomb arranged in a box shape with soil and turf piled to look like a little mound with a narrow entrance.

What is the mystery behind their use and meaning?

While no one really knows the meaning behind constructing such elaborate constructions, there are some intercultural links from around the Irish Sea. There are similar spiral symbols carved into the sandstone as well as structural choices that can possibly show a connection between the local communities.

What is more, the dagger-shaped carvings are similar to a tomb carving in Spain, as these kinds of structures first started in the Mediterranean region before spreading up to the North West. It is also said that The Calderstones tomb was one of the last of its kind to be used, being an operational burial chamber for around 800 years.

Archeologist Martin Greaney wrote in Historic Liverpool: “As an archaeologist, I often bump into the border between the historical (especially the prehistorical) and the strange. By that I mean the paranormal, the unexplained or the mysterious. Ancient monuments like the Calder Stones are rife with legend and half-known stories. I have to admit that I love all that stuff!”

“The Calderstones of Liverpool collates the history, rather than prehistory, of the stones, from their earliest ‘written’ mention on a boundary dispute map of 1568 up to their relocation to the current glasshouse vestibule in the 1980s.”

The Calderstones opening times

Visitors can witness the ancient megaliths at The Calderstones Park at The Mansion House between 10am and 4pm. Plus, when you visit, check out the Reader Bookshop which is also an adorable cafe!