Spinsters' Rock

Spinsters’ Rock stands on Shilstone Farm west of Drewsteignton in Devon. It is a Neolithic dolmen beside the A382 road, reached through farmland. Three upright granite slabs support a single capstone between 1.7 and 2.3 metres high. The capstone is 4.5 metres long and 3.1 metres wide. In 1862 the structure collapsed and was restored the same year. No archaeological finds were ever recorded at the site. Antiquarians of the 18th century wrote about nearby stone circles and alignments. Their reports are now considered of dubious accuracy. A few standing stones remain in the fields close by. Only two of these stones form a line with Spinsters’ Rock itself. Visitors find the dolmen in open farmland with wide views across the countryside. The three tall uprights and massive capstone create a dramatic silhouette. Nearby stones stand isolated in the grass. The setting is quiet, with no modern buildings nearby. The site offers a clear picture of a Neolithic burial chamber.