Moss and I drove over Murk Mire Moor last week (from Egton Bridge along the Roman road to one of our favourite spots - the ford at Wheeldale). The stones are placed at about half-mile intervals by the side of the road, and they’ve certainly got the feel of way-markers. The Roman road is clear enough to follow most of the time but it would have been really difficult to follow in times past if it was covered with frost or snow - even today there are no clear points to aim for when travelling in either direction.

What’s really intriguing about the stones is the square hole cut into some of them. We’ve thought that they may have served as lines of sight but actually that doesn’t seem very likely. Other suggestions that they’re for astronomical observations, Ley Indicators or, as you say, that the holes held lanterns (or a square post with a lantern hanging from each end?). Possibly, but a lantern wouldn’t burn for very long and why a square post? Who would have lit lanterns way out there on the moor every night? Is the answer in the shape of the hole itself? Why a fairly precisely-cut square hole? What might a square hole have held? A box maybe? We’ve heard of one stone, on the North York Moors, where coins were left on its top for travellers to use for a meal or lodging if they were desperate. Did these square holes once hold a small ‘charity box’ of sorts?

At St Mary’s church in Whitby (church where Dracula, in the shape of a dog, took refuge :-) there’s a ‘bread shelf’ where richer members of the community would leave loaves of bread for the poor of the town. Just wonder if both examples are part of a tradition of providing for the poor or needy... just a thought... :-)

Tried emailing you by the way Chris but the addie on your blog doesn’t seem to be working.