In the Wonders of the Peak Gallery at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, are two stone heads dating approximately to the 12th century. Although they date to the medieval period, they display a style much older. Stone heads, such as these, are found throughout Britain, but with a high density in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. All these heads display a style termed “Celtic”, having stylised features with large, elongated and staring eyes, flat, wedge shaped nose and a slit like mouth.
Many of the heads date to the Iron Age and Roman period, but the tradition of carving these heads in the distinctive style continued well into the 20th century. They are often found buried in fields or built into dry stone walls, but often they are found associated with springs or other bodies of water.
What was the purpose of these heads? For the Iron Age people of Britain and Europe the human head was a potent symbol, and the Celts are noted by Classical writers as engaging in head hunting during tribal wars. It is possible that this may have been propaganda by Greek and Roman writers, but there is some evidence to support their claims.
In Welsh and Irish vernacular literature, the heads of heroes possess magical and talismanic properties after death. An example of this from the Welsh Mabinogion, which describes the head of the great leader and hero, Bendigeidfran, being cut off at his request as he nears death. The head continues to speak to his companions and brings them good fortune on their travels. Eventually the head is buried at Tower Hill in London, where it acts as a talismanic guardian of Britain. In a similar story from Ireland the huge head of the hero Conall Cernach has the magic power to bring strength to the warriors of Ulster if they use it as a drinking vessel.
The human head is well attested in Celtic art and often appears as a decorative element in jewellery and other objects. La Tene metalwork often uses the human head as a symbolic motif.
It is possible that the stone heads represent local gods or presiding spirits of the land, and that they were located in certain places to act as guardians and bless the land. Those placed near springs, or other bodies of water, seem particularly potent. Water was especially sacred to the Celts, and rivers, lakes, bogs and springs were seen as portals between this world and that of the gods. Two examples of Celtic heads found near water are, the triple head from the confluence of the river Etherow and Glossop Brook near to Melandra Roman fort, Glossop, (now in Manchester Museum) and the head found near the Russett Well in Castleton, (on display at Castleton Tourist and Information Centre).
Some heads, such as that from Mouselow near Glossop, display small horns. It was quite common for Celtic gods to be displayed with animal features, as the animistic beliefs of the Celts saw the natural world as sacred. Depictions of horned heads predominate in Northern Britain, mainly in the tribal areas of the Brigantes, and these deities seem to be associated with warriors and war.
Take a walk around many villages and towns in the Peak District, and you will often see the distinctive Celtic heads on buildings. Buxton has several examples dotted about the town, most notably on the old courthouse; these were found at various locations and later added to the building. You might be lucky to come across one of these heads still sitting in the countryside, by a bubbling spring, or in a dry stone wall, their haunting gaze keeping watch across the landscape.
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery 