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Part of the stone circle tradition of construction exists in Derbyshire
Like much of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, it spread during the late neolithic and early bronze Ages, over a period between 3300 and 900 BCE.

Its not currently 9 stones though. From the mid 19th to 21 century, the site has declined 7 stones to 4
They range from 1.2 to 2.1m in height. The tallest in the south. Originally the circle measured 13.7 meters in diameter. Some of the missing stones are found nearby in fields and a gate.

There are two carved cup marks, on one of the remaining stones
And, some are nearby too. Examples of ‘cup-and-ring’ style of rock art.

There may have previously been an earthen tumulus inside the ring

Precise dates are not known (1)
Excavations found flints and pot-sherds from the bronze age (2)

The site is also called the Grey Ladies. (3) Archaeologists claim in folklore that these stones were supposed to dance both at midnight and at midday (4)

Less than 400m to the S-SW is Robin hoods stride, a natural gritstone crag (5)

Check it out with some more neolithic architecture today!

Cite: 1) Guilbert, Graeme; Garton, Daryl; Walters, David (2006). “Prehistoric Cup-and-Ring Art at the Heart of Harthill Moor”. Derbyshire Archaeological Journal. 126: 12–30. Pg. 20

2) Historic England (1 December 1993). “Nine Stone Close small stone circle (1008007)” (https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1008007?section=official-list-entry). National Heritage List for England

3) Grinsell, Leslie V. (1976). Folklore of Prehistoric Sites in Britain. London: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-7241-6 Pg. 159; Burl, Aubrey (2000). The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany (https://archive.org/details/stonecirclesofbr0000burl). New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-08347-7 Pg. 53

4) Burl, Aubrey (2005). A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-11406-5 Pg. 53

5) Burl 2005, p. 53; Guilbert, Garton & Walters 2006, Pg. 12

Bibliography: Bateman, Thomas (1848). Vestiges of the Antiquities of Derbyshire. London: John Russell Smith

Nine Stones Close (https://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1265) at The Megalithic Portal