Long Compton

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Long Compton is a village and civil parish in Warwickshire, England close to the extreme southern tip of Warwickshire, and close to the border with Oxfordshire. It is part of the district of Stratford-on-Avon and has a population of 705 (2001 census)

The village is in the Cotswolds located on the A3400 (which was numbered A34 road) from Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon. As the name implies it is a long village. In the centre is the large church of St Peter and St Paul which dates from the 13th century.

About 1 mile south of Long Compton are the Rollright Stones a neolithic monument. According to local legend, the stones are the remains of a King who set out to conquer England but was hailed by a witch who told him to take seven strides and then:

If Long Compton thou canst see

King of England thou shalt be

The King took seven strides but instead of seeing Long Compton he saw a mound of earth. The witch said:

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 they men hoar stones shalt be,

And I myself an eldern tree