Cocking Tor Cross, possible new find near Ashover | Forum

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tiompan Feb 9, 2012 10:41:59

Replying to Bonjoy

Bonjoy wrote:

Hello,
I’m new to this site. I’m a Sheffield based rock climber and have been climbing in the Peak district for many years. Some of the crags have old carvings (e.g. Rowtor Rocks) so I am a little familiar with the local rock art. Just thought I’d show you carving I came across a few years ago as it bears some similarity to old carvings elsewhere in the area and may be a new to you. I can’t find any reference to it on the internet.
Here is a picture from a climbing guidebook which incidentally shows the carving http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6845518249_05befa32d8_b.jpg , a crossed circle with dots in each quarter. The marks look old (to my untutored eye) being well weathered and without tool marks. It is on a broken block on the ground below a subsidiary buttress south of the main part of Cocking Tor, west of Ashover ( Latitude, Longitude: 53.15120207373375, -1.488073468208313 ) . The block looks to have been broken/split from another piece more recently than the carving judging by the weathering of the new faces, but there is no obvious matching scar on the crag or boulders nearby. There is a quarry behind the natural edge. Maybe it was originally on a cragtop block altered/destroyed by the quarry activity.
Cheers
Jon

Thanks Bonjoy ,imo it doesn't look that old and is not in the tradition of cup and ring marks .

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stubob Feb 9, 2012 16:57:02

Replying to Bonjoy

Hey up,

I live in Matlock and am familiar wi both areas....Wi like the carvin you mention below Cocking Tor, although similar to the design at Rowtor I agree wi Tiompan and say it's not prehistoric and think it looks a bit crisp. Never come across the carving but then I know more of the top of the edge; from the Turning Stone, Robin Hoods Mark down to Ravensnest, and the amount of grafitti on rocks and trees form the late 19th Century till present is incredible.
The Turning Stone was mentioned in, I think Black's Guide, as being a 'druidical remain' along wi Arbor Low......that area certainly attracted a lot of visitors because of this.
Although there's known rock art found nearby in Ashover and I've come across flint tools and flakes in the fields opposite Old Engine Farm near Cocking Tor on Holestone Moor.... so something was happening in the area.

Unlike Tiompan however....I'd say the circle cross design at Rowtor is, if not prehistoric, older than the work by Thomas Eyre. It's just too fancy and detailed to be by him......he did steps, caves, chairs, troughs, terraces, walls and enhancements etc......Eyre's Chair near the Cork Stone on Stanton Moor is another of his.....all larger cruder stuff.

In a totally non-argumentative kinda manner I kinda think just cause its not in the tradition of cup and ring rock art dont make it not......sorta thinking about ....say the Hangingstones on Ilkley Moor, pretty out there compared to the vast majority of carvings up there.....

nice one
stu

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buntun May 7, 2026 11:59:52

Replying to Bonjoy

Hi Bonjoy

Is it possible to have a quick chat with you about this? Also, which guide book is the pic from? thank you