Summerbridge standing stones? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

David Raven Mar 6, 2008 17:58:01

Whilst driving back home last Sunday after scouting out a walk in Nidderdale for NEWalks, I grabbed a few pics of a stone near Summerbridge that had been bugging me for a while. I've driven past several times and seen it in a field, but never had a camera on me before.

I couldn't find any reference to it on TMA or the Megalithic Portal, or Pastscape, or the MAGIC map, or the ADS Archsearch website!
So, this time me and a mate pulled over and I took a few pics. Here's a pic from the roadside, using my meagre 55mm zoom lens;-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Gyrtrash/SummerbridgeStones1.jpg

The stone is behind a timber yard, on the road into Summerbridge from Lofthouse.

We noticed a public right-of-way running through the wood behind it, so we legged it up there and wandered through the woods to get a bit closer:-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Gyrtrash/SummerbridgeStones3.jpg

It looks like it's just balanced on the smaller stones at it's base, but 'in the field' those stones seem to be incidental. From what I can recall, the stone is firmly planted in the ground, though I didn't go into the field to check (next time!).

We also noticed two more stones that were now part of the nearby drystone wall:-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Gyrtrash/SummerbridgeStones4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/Gyrtrash/SummerbridgeStones2.jpg

The main stone in the field reminded me a little of the Hartwith Moor stone, which is not too far away:-

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/6139/hartwith_moor.html

Does anyone know anything about these stones? I thought I saw them mentioned on a website within the last couple of years, but can't recall where!

Or does anyone have any opinion as to their provenance? Do they look like they might be 'ancient' even?

Thanks in advance for your time!

Cheers
Dave

David Raven Mar 7, 2008 21:00:42

Replying to David Raven

David Raven wrote:

... does anyone have any opinion as to their provenance? Do they look like they might be 'ancient' even?

Thanks in advance for your time!

Cheers
Dave

Heeeeey! One at a time!

Just take your turn! :-D

StoneGloves Mar 10, 2008 07:23:02

Replying to David Raven

yes, they look real enough - the pair in the wall have been there a fair while - long enough to be genuine. Just because nobody's listed them already doesn't mean anything more than that they've been missed. Get in touch with the county archaeologist and wait for their response - don't seek confirmation or approval from this board - you'll just receive whimpers and nonsense.

robokid Mar 10, 2008 10:55:34

Replying to David Raven

Wow - thats dead exciting.
I was skeptical about it as the large stone in the field doesn't look overly weathered and gave me the impression of being quite new, but i guess you have to see it first hand. The ones that are part of the drystone wall are definately interesting, they look older.
Have you checked it out on an o/s map.
I tried locating the wood yard on google earth, but the one i found didn't really match up. perhaps looking at an aerial shot to identify the location would be a plan?