Thirteen carved concrete slabs spiral inward, inviting pedestrians to enter a modern monument filled with historical and contemporary references.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1970
- Architect / designer
- David Harding
- Type
- Spiral concrete public-art enclosure
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB51792)
- OS grid reference
- NT 28113 99790
Architecture and continuing use
The slabs increase in height around a tightening circle, with granite setts continuing the spiral underfoot. Reliefs combine Celtic and Pictish motifs with modern people, quotations and popular culture.
Its story
Town Artist David Harding created Henge in 1970 while Glenrothes was expanding. The work responds to the discovery and relocation of the nearby Balbirnie stone circle while deliberately addressing present-day memory and public life.
Why it is included
Its interactive form, local archaeological response and importance within Britain's first Town Artist programme give the modest materials unusual significance.
What to notice
- The gradual rise in slab height around the circle.
- Reliefs ranging from ancient symbols to twentieth-century figures.
- The inward spiral continued in the paving.
Reading the surroundings
Enter by the public path and move carefully around the confined centre. Do not climb on the slabs or damage relief surfaces.
Timeline
- 1950 Discovery of the Balbirnie circle introduced an archaeological reference for later design.
- 1970 Harding completed the neighbourhood landmark at Pitteuchar.
- 2011 The spiral became one of Glenrothes's formally listed artworks.
- 2026 Fife Council continues to recognise it within Harding's civic legacy.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The designation locates a public artwork rather than an archaeological henge; the name describes artistic form and inspiration.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Henge, Glenrothes, LB51792 — Designation category, mapped location, date, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- Fife Council: tribute to David Harding — Current council confirmation that Henge remains embedded in Glenrothes's public landscape.
Location
OS grid reference NT 28113 99790 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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