Newtown Mill

Also known as:
Ewe Hill
Nearest town:
Alnwick (18km ESE)
OS reference:
NU044242
OS sheet:
75
Latitude:
55° 30' 41.06 N
Longitude:
1° 55' 49.15 W
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Newtown Mill

Hob
Hob Jul 7, 2005

The NMR reckons there are a couple of cupmarks on this stone, it does make the proviso that the stone is weathered, which it is, but the cups are a bit dubious.

It’s a similar stone to many of those in Northumbria, some of which have undeniable cups, but these two are a bit iffy, maybe it’s because they’ve been well hammered by the elements. I couldn’t for the life of me get a decent photo of them.

Strangely, Stan B doesn’t include them in any of his books, nor are they on the online Archive.

It’s a canny old stone though.

Newtown Mill

stubob
stubob Aug 17, 2003

A nice enough little stone.......handily just over a metal gate so access is pretty straightforward.

Folklore

Newtown Mill
Standing Stone / Menhir
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Sep 28, 2025

This comes from the Alnwick Mercury of 1st of November 1861. Which suggests that Hob is right (well that is to say he was right nearly 20 years ago) to attribute the story to the Alnwick area.

In the fields between Lilburn and Middleton, rests a stone, which in the suggestions of the “Religio loci” is not to be removed, while the present system of things maintains its stability.

Two hinds, with more than the intrepidity of their class, resolved to explore the mystery that it shrouded, and enrich themselves by one energetic stroke. Accordingly, when the shades of night had fallen, and nature had sunk to repose, having provided themselves with mattocks and spades, they, without informing anyone, and without waiting for customary warnings, repaired to the scene of enterprise, and commenced their daring operations.

They had already penetrated to a considerable depth, without any manifestations of danger, each fresh spadeful of earth communicating invigorated energy to their arms, and re-inspiring them with hope; and they had begun to flatter themselves, that the oft-repeated tale of demoniac watchers over the treasures that slumbered was a vain chimera, which ignorance had conjured up; when all at once, one of them heard a low fluttering as of something struggling to get free, come from beneath the stone. He communicated his impressions to his coadjutor, but as the sound had not reached him, he received but a rude banter to re-assure him.

He again resumed the work, when suddenly a repeated movement from below, shot a pang of terror to the heart of both. One of them still persisted in disturbing the precincts of the fated stone; but scarcely had he removed the unhallowed soil, when the stone commenced moving up and down violently; – and out there issued from under it – and the earth quaked to let it forth – a creature all in white – in figure like a swan: – that “flaffered and flew,” and made such strange and hideous outcry; that the delinquents, casting down their implements, hurried off, each in the direction his terrors prompted him, would farthest carry him from the grasp of the evil thing, which his unhallowed doings had evoked from the recesses of the earth, and whose rage no human power might avail to appease.

The sanctuary of the stone was ever afterwards inviolate. Fixed in its pristine position, it still draws the dread and reverence of all the swains in its vicinity, who have not yet learned to undervalue the opinions and belief of their simple progenitors.

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