Numerous folk tales are associated with the stones, including the tale that a king was riding across the county (Oxfordshire) with his army when he was accosted by a witch. She said to him:

"Seven long strides thou shalt take, And if Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be!"

His troops gathered together in a circle to discuss the challenge and his knights muttered amongst themselves – but the king boldy took seven steps forward. Rising ground blocked his view of Long Compton in the valley below, and the witch cackled:

[i] "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 sh...

Numerous folk tales are associated with the stones, including the tale that a king was riding across the county (Oxfordshire) with his army when he was accosted by a witch. She said to him:

"Seven long strides thou shalt take, And if Long Compton thou canst see, King of England thou shalt be!"

His troops gathered together in a circle to discuss the challenge and his knights muttered amongst themselves – but the king boldy took seven steps forward. Rising ground blocked his view of Long Compton in the valley below, and 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!"

The king became the solitary King Stone, while nearby his soldiers formed a 'cromlech', or circle, called the King's Men. As the witch prepared to turn herself into an elder tree, she backtracked into four of the king's knights who had lagged behind, and who were whispering and plotting against the king. She turned them to stone as well and today they are called the 'Whispering Knights'.

Legend holds that at midnight, the stones come alive and return the king and his men back to flesh and bone so that they can dance. Anyone who gazes upon their midnight glee either turns to stone or dies! According to an 18th century legend, village maids would sneak out to the Whispering Knights on Midsummer's Eve and listen carefully, hoping to hear whispers of their future and fate.

It's said that you cannot accurately count the stones, and a different tally will be made each time you try. The King Stone was fenced off between the two World wars, as conscripted troops would chip a slice of stone away to take with them. Legend has it that this gives protection in battle.

It is considered unlucky to touch the King's Men.