History
TALL TALES Cindy Chant & John Drabik
H
igh on the ridge above Cerne Abbas, stands a little known 6ft tall Neolithic stone, called the Bellingstone. This Megalith may have been a marker, or perhaps used for ritual purposes, but in recent times it has become a ‘wishing stone’ used by generations of locals and visitors. Travelling pilgrims, taking their rest by this ancient stone, would have enjoyed a spectacular aerial view of the Giant on the opposite hill, before walking down to the magnificent Benedictine Abbey. But what of this unique and intriguing, club-wielding, figure carved in the chalk hillside – is it really that old? It is feasible that our ancestors, having the ability to dig massive ramparts, and move huge stones, could have created this impressive 180ft fertility image. Growth and productivity were paramount in the lives of our pre-historic ancestors, and it is easy to imagine elaborate religious ceremonies imploring the various deities to help in this matter. So, was he a sacred symbol to ensure a productive harvest, and the healthy growth of the tribe? There is no documentary reference to the Giant 64 | Sherborne Times | July 2021
until the 17th Century. However, this is not to say that something similar may have been created here by older civilisations, perhaps altered and changed through the centuries, and at times, allowed to grow over with vegetation. There are numerous theories regarding the origins of the giant. He may have been carved as a devotion to a Celtic fertility god, or as a fierce ‘guardian’ to the local tribe. Some historians suggest the phallus was a symbol of luck and prosperity, in keeping with similar figures of this period. It is not surprising he is associated with the ancients, as there are traces of settlements nearby, and just above the Giant’s head is an Iron-Age earthwork known as The Trendle. This site was used annually for maypole dancing - an ancient ritual with pagan roots. In recent times, on the dawn of May Day (Beltane), the Wessex Morris Men dance their fertility traditions here, accompanied by the huge horned Dorset Ooser, which is brought out for special occasions. After descending the hill, they dance in the streets below followed by wellearned refreshments in the taverns. The Ooser, we are
