The Rollright Stones, situated near the village of Long Compton, Warwickshire, England, shrouded in legend and folklore, have captivated locals and visitors alike for centuries. This megalithic complex constructed around 2500 to 2000 BC holds an intriguing story dating back to the medieval period. King’s Men, Whispering Knights, King Stone, each have a tale to tell.As the legend goes, a monarch and his army were marching across the land when they encountered a cunning witch, Mother Shipton. She issued them a challenge: ‘Seven long strides thou shalt take, and If Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be.’ Bewitched by the prospect of ruling all of England, the king accepted her challenge and took precisely seven strides. As he claimed victory, a hill rose beneath him and obscured his view of Long Compton. The witch cackled, ‘As Long Compton thou canst not see, King of England thou shalt not be! Rise up stick and stand still stone, for King of England thou shalt be none; thou and thy men hoar stones shall be, and I myself an elder tree!’ With these words, the king was turned into King stone, his soldiers were petrified into the circle of King’s Men and the witch transformed herself into an elder tree.Many other legends accompany these stones. At midnight, King’s Men are believed to come to life, and together with King Stone, go down to a local spring to drink. It’s also rumored that no one can count the same number of stones twice. Whether steeped in truth or mere folk illusion, these stories continue to animate the landscape, adding magic to these timeless stones.