The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

The Bridestones

Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork

Fieldnotes

There are many ways to access this wonderful site. My favoutite is from Commondale along the old 'Monk's trod' path. Once you pass through the gate at the bottom of the Whitely Beck valley you will notice a large earthwork running along the eastern side of the valley, this is Park Pale, the boundary of a medieval deer park. As you gradually walk up the valley, passing the war memorial to two fallen Grenadiers from WWI, you will notice that the skyline ahead is dotted with stones. These are the Bridestones.
The earthwork starts at the edge of the river valley and runs roughly north-south for about 1 km. Over this distance I counted 55 individual stones all free standing, all very weathered, all ancient. There are other stones scattered about and a cursory glance in the numerous grouse butts shows where other stones have been used.
One of the stones close to the ancient Guisborough road has been marked with a cross and a bench mark.
As you move away from the river valley, the earthwork becomes more defined until it finally peters-out on the moor top 15 metres west of the most northerly barrow.
fitzcoraldo Posted by fitzcoraldo
21st January 2004ce
Edited 22nd January 2004ce

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