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Drake Stone

Question for Hob

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Creyr C
Creyr Jan 22, 2006 21:53:44

I went up here quite a few times when i lived near alnwick, and i seem to remember up top there is evidence of mill stone quarrying - a half cut stone laying about somewhere, as well as the obvious cutouts from the rock.
Is the larger of the basins you've posted big enough to be related to this ?

We always used to finish off a day up here with a visit to the lady's well at holystone and a drink in the salmon inn. Ah those were the days.....

H Hob
Hob Jan 22, 2006 23:11:50
Replying to Creyr

I think you might be right!

If I'm right the halfcut stone is lyng in front of the Drakestone, it's just visible in the bottom left of this: http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/43310 photo. It's about the right size to have come from the larger basin, and has the same strange patterns running through it. The same fossils (or whatever they are) would probably have been what made it split in half, it doesn't look like good millstone material really. There were definitely folk with chisels up there in the late19thC as the graffiti on the reverse of the stone attests.

That might explain why the references to the 'Druidical' basin have been discounted. Anyone aware of them would probably first notice that millstoney thing and think "Ah, that's no Druidical rock basin..."

Cheers for the astute observation Creyr, it's most appreciated. It's a wonderful landscape is Coquetdale, did you ever get up to anyof those hillforts around Alwinton?

P Paulus
Paulus Jan 22, 2006 23:49:07
Replying to Creyr

Another query about this place Hob. I love the look of the place. Do you know if there's any dragon legends nearby as the word 'drake,' as y' probably know, usually derives from the word 'dragon' in old place-names. Is it an old dragon stone? I notice there's a stream running from the boulder called the Drakestone Burn, running to Harbottle village. Perhaps some dragon carvings in the church? Or am I just living in hope!? (there's no mention of the place in Screeton's 'Northumbrian Dragon Legends')