Other Stones in this area

Walton Head Monoliths 1

The Captain Aug 31, 2005 11:16:29

The MAGIC map indicates a second stone in the field south of the one that Paulus describes on the edge of Walton Head Lane. This stone is shown as being next to Wareholes Well (there are a number of wells in this area, including Snape Well, and St Helen's Well in the corner of the graveyard of the church in Kirkby Overblow) . Anyone ever checked this out?

I've already noted another large stone in the small field behind the bungalow that lays at the intersection of Swindon Lane (A61) and Walton Head Lane. MAGIC also indicates a Stone in the field on the West side of the A61. I caught sight of this stone once or twice from the 36 bus but just assumed it was a recumbent gate stone.

Anyone checked them out?

Paulus Aug 31, 2005 22:57:26

Replying to The Captain

Hi Captain
It seems there used to be one helluva cluster of sites scattered in the general region here. Graeme Chappell and me checked a lotta stuff in this area in the 1980s & found that many of the stones registered on some of the old records had perished - but we know we didn't check everything (how can anyone?). There was once a nice standing stone midway between Great Almscliffe & Little Almscliffe, seemingly gone (unless it's hidden at the bottom of a wall somewhere) which bisected a near-perfect midsummer/midwinter alignment between the 2 natural outcrops. And the list of stones on the local boundary perambulation records is quite something - some of which were truly old, others more recent. If ever you fancy a wander in search of some of the stuff round there, lemme know. Me 'n' Richard Stroud (RockRich) keep exploring the region just a few miles west around Blubberhouses, where there's still quite a lot of stuff to be discovered. This whole region's rather strange. It 'smells' like there's stuff hidden - and there are some very odd localised folklore clusters peppered about that speak of typical pre-christian sites & goings-on. It'd be good to hear if you find anything.
Best wishes - Paulus

The Captain Sep 5, 2005 10:15:11

Replying to The Captain

Some notes on the Wells around Kirkby Overblow and Walton Head Lane from http://www.bath.ac.uk/lispring/sourcearchive/fs8/fs8ew1.htm

St Helen's Well, Kirkby Overblow (SE 3238 4920)

This well was previously featured in Source 3 (First Series), and erroneously stated to be a dry, stone trough. Nothing could better illustrate the importance of actually visiting each well personally, because on doing so, with Ian Taylor and Mark Valentine, it was discovered from enquiring at the nearby St Helen's cottage that the well is hidden away in the corner of a recess a few yards back from the road and next to the cottage. Two steps lead down into an outer chamber and well house containing an inner stone trough full of clear water. The well is kept reasonably clear by the owner of the cottage, although it is actually on council land. The entrance to the well is being rapidly overgrown by a cotoneaster, and the council have been asked to attend to it.

The guide to the nearby All Saints' church states that the waters of the well never fail and have medicinal properties. It says: 'From pagan times it must have been associated with fertility rites and the track between it and Almscliffe Crag, which lowers on the horizon, must have been well worn for that too was a pagan place of worship, high and lifted up.' The church has a St Helen's chapel but the well doubtless predates the church.

Bird Well, Kirkby Overblow (SE 3228 4920)

About 100 yards to the west of St Helen's Well, and on the same side of the road, lies Bird Well. The water runs into a trough which, when we visited, had recently been cleaned out. A big frog jumped in as we watched. Across the road is Bird Well House; a lady living there remembered catching frogs at the well as a child, but knew of no healing properties or traditions attached to it. To her knowledge, however, it never runs dry. The only intimation we had of this well was the name Birdwell Farm. on the O.S. map.

Wareholes Well, Kirkby Overblow (SE 3133 4953)

This lies in at the top of a beautiful small valley in a natural and uncultivated hillside, and once more was discovered only by map reading. The fact that it is named suggests some significance, but also its very atmosphere prompted thoughts of ancient sanctity. Water from the hillside is caught and held in a large, very deep stone trough which is very clean and may possibly receive attention from local people. Other stones are set in the ground before the well. Hawthorn and elder trees grow nearby. The quietness of the place invites one to linger and seems timeless. However, an old boundary stone dated 1767 stands on top of the slope above, a witness to time gone by.