Surprising secret of mysterious 'little Stonehenge' hidden in UK woodland

The Swinton Druids Temple in North Yorkshire is a mysterious and ancient ruin that's actually not as old as it looks - and it's not quite what it seems either.

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Hidden within a sprawling estate in North Yorkshire, an ancient-looking ruin stands, but it's not as old or enigmatic as it seems.

Despite its striking similarity to the 5,000 year old Stonehenge, Swinton Druids Temple is actually the brainchild of quirky landowner William Danby, who owned the Swinton estate near Masham.

The exact date of the temple's construction remains a mystery, but it's thought to have been built sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Much like Stonehenge, little is known about the construction of the 'temple', but it's highly unlikely that it served as an astrological clock or a site for human sacrifice.

Instead, it was a 'folly', a type of structure designed to mimic ancient ruins or monuments, according to Yorkshire Live. Such follies were a popular trend among 18th-century landowners, who commissioned eye-catching towers, decaying castles, and whimsical palaces.

Leeds' Roundhay Park castle, Halifax's Wainhouse Tower, and Stainborough Castle near Barnsley are other notable examples of these architectural oddities. Occasionally, landowners would commission these follies as a means of providing employment, paying workers around a shilling a day to construct these peculiar structures.

Swinton Druid's Temple, designed to mimic a prehistoric monument, exudes an aura of mystique and enigma that was highly coveted during its time. Nestled within the woodland area of the Swinton Estate, the location certainly amplifies the atmospheric charm of these 'ruins'.

The ruins are associated with numerous local myths, including devil worship and spooky occurrences reported by those brave enough to stay overnight.

Nowadays, visitors can wander around the ruins accessible from Swinton Park, and even have a picnic among the stones. But beware of druids.