Castlerigg 26

One of the things to be *VERY* careful of (and I'm sure you've considered this) is that some drilled holes are in fact just that. Holes drilled in by a farmer in preparation for dynamiting a stone that is in his way, or to get at whatever treasures lie beneath.

I come across these all over Ireland as so many tombs were destroyed to make road hardcore.

Stan lives in Hexham, about eighteen miles west of here (Newcastle). I suppose when we go out to see this particular collection of stones I'll catch the bus out to his place and we'll travel out together in his car, and back again. Arguing most of the way, probably !

I'll probably say to him something like *if anything I've told you about these stones is incorrect then just drive off and leave me in the middle of nowhere*.

My concern is in confusing holes that have been made through upright stones, at enclosure, to take hinges, and other gate furniture. I can imagine gunpowder being used on stones in Wiltshire but, in the Pennines, people were maybe poorer and broke the stones by fires and water and with hammer and chisel.

I was the only stonemason at the Bronze Age Forum ! (literally)

david