Page 14 - The Flickering Cauldron Magazine - May 2022

The estate is nestled in the beautiful Nidderdale countryside which is a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. So there’s shed loads to see and enjoy in the area.
Meanwhile, let’s get back to the ‘Druids’ temple. Whilst it appears to be a Neolithic creation, dating back to the dawn of man's time on Earth, it’s actually only a couple of hundred years old.
It is, in fact, what we today refer to as a ‘folly’, which means it was built at the whim of a wealthy man who simply wanted to build it.
However, the history of its construction is a testament to the owner of the Swinton estate at that time, William Danby.
The early part of the 19th century saw a resurgence in the interest of the history (and mystery) of Druidism and ancient practices.
However, Danby was aware of the high level of unemployment at that time, of the men in the area around his estate.
It’s believed that whilst he knew he was creating a ‘folly’ with his reconstruction of a Druids Temple, he did so in order to create work for them.
So whilst today, we know the stones are not as ancient as we would like them to be, the setting and surrounding countryside make them well worth visiting.
Druids Temple Deity Stones
14 | The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Druids Temple
Druids Temple Altar Stone