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Standing Stone / Menhir
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A relocated stone, this one is currently out of favour with the Archaeologists as it's obviously not in it's original context.
It currently resides next to the Chinese Pond in the gardens of Walington Hall, where it was placed in the 18th century, having been moved from it's original position on the NE side of the Poind burial mound near Belsay, on the other side of Shaftoe Crags.
In it's present state, it's about 7ft tall, but was probably shorter when in a socket. It's slightly squared base raises questions of possible interference by it's re-locators and may also add weight to the argument that the Middleton stone, more or less halfway between Wallington and The Poind, may have also been shifted, as it too has a squared base with heavily weathered grooves and fluting on the top.
Rumour once had it that there was a circle in the vicinity of Shaftoe crags, and all 3 of these stones may have been part of it, it's easy to imagine a Duddo-like small circle, with similar groovey-fluting.
Either way, this stone seems to have a bit of a 'somebody-else's-problem' field about it in that many people visit Wallington and the Chinese Pond, yet few notice/remember this stone, despite it being smack bang next to the path.
In this position, it's probably the most accessible of Northumbrtian prehistoric relics, but being in the grounds of the hall, you have to pay the entry fee.
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Posted by Hob
28th April 2005ce
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