fitzcoraldo

Roseberry Topping

Oh, how indelible a lovely view
Imprints itself upon our memory:
For, who can climb thy summit and from thence
Behold that prospect, so enchanting; spread
Before his wonderous gaze; nor feel it’s power
To cheer the mind, and elevate the soul?
Around, and over us, the clouds are borne
with gentle motion, glittering in the sun:
Like those huge icebergs which in Arctic Seas
Contrast with dazzling white the blue beneath.
Whilst others fleecy float with crimson tints,
Emblems, at once of purity and peace.
And far beneath us blooms the lovely dale
Of Cleveland, with it’s smiling fields of corn;
It’s meadows, with their peaceful flocks and herds,
It’s rural villages, those happy seats
Of busy, prosperous industry, and all
The little farms which doth the landscape bound,
And give an animated gaiety,
Adding fresh pleasure.....................................”

There’s at least another 100 lines of this!
It was written in the 1850’s by a geezer called Mr. J.R. Robinson of Drewsbury.

“Eston Nab is one of the most attractive of Clevelands hills. It’s lofty summit overlooks a vast extent of country, and it’s antiquarian remains and historical associations invest it with much interest.”
The Watering Places of Cleveland
Samuel Gordon
Pub. 1869

“Within this parish, on the summit of the mountain that overlooks the villages of Kirkby and Broughton, there is a singular monument, called by the neighbouring people, the Wain-Stones: which, according to the most pobable etymology of the word may denote the stones of lamentation, and are probably Danish, erected in memory of some Danish cheiftain slain here. It consists of a rude collection of stones some of the of an immense size, and all apparently in their natural position, except one which stands erect and appears to have formed a part of some ancient cromlech.”
The Hstory & Antiquities of Cleveland
Rev. John Graves
Pub. 1808

A poem by Herbert Read

Kirkdale.
I, Orm the son of Gamel
Found these fractured stones
Starting out of the fragrant thicket.
The river bed was dry.

The rooftreesnaked and bleached,
Nettles in the nave and aisleways,
On the alter an owls cast
And a feather from a wild doves wing.

There was peace in the valley:
Far into the eastern sea
The foe had gone, leaving death and ruin
And a longing for a priest’s solace.

Fast the feather lay
Like a sulky jewel in my head
Till I knew it had fallen in a holy place.
Therefore I raised these grey stones up again.

St Gregors Minster was rebuilt by Orm the son of Gamel between 1055 and 1065. This event is commemorated by a beautiful Saxon sundial which is inscribed thus “Orm Gamal’s son bought St. Gregory’s Minster when it was all broken down and fallen and he let it be made anew from the ground to Christ and St. Gregory, in Edward’s days the King and in Tosti’s days, the Earl.
This is day’s sun marker at every tide. And Haworth , me wrought and Brand priests.”
Lovely eh?
The church contains many items of Anglo Scandanavian and Anglo Saxon stonework including Tomb slabs, decorative panels and a beehive quern.

The Kirkdale Hyena Cave was discovered by quarrymen in 1821 when they discovered enormous amounts of bones stashed in the cave. The find was investigated by the mighty Professor William Buckland, Prof of Geology at Oxford University. Buckland identified the bones of Lions, deer, reindeer, rhinoceros, bear, horse and other small animals. There were also the remains of more than 300 hyenas. Buckland studied the caves for more than 2 years and wrote his findings up in the book “Reliquiae Diluvial” or “Observations on the organic remains contained in caves, fissures and diluvial gravel and or other geological phenomena, attesting the action of an universal deluge.”
Buckland argued that these remains proved that the biblical narrative of the flood was true.

“On the summit of this promontory , which spreads out to the forthwards into an extensive plain, there is an ancient encampment, conjectured to be of Saxon origin, consisting of a double circle of rough loose stones: the inner rampart or entrenchment being 150 paces in cirmcuference; and the whole still perfect except on the north, where a small portion of the circle is cut off by the abrutness of the rock,which on that side is nearly perpendicular. This was probably constructed by the Saxons about the year 492 when they were overthrown by the Britons at the battle of Badon-Hill”
The History of Cleveland by John Graves published 1808

“About a mile south from the village of Great Moorsham, stands FREEBURG-HILL,a detached mountain of a conical form, called by Pennant “a vast artificial mound or tumulus;” but it is evident, he oberserved it only at a distance; as there is a naturalrock on it’s top now wrought as a quarry,which is a decisive proof thatit was not constructed merely by the hand of art . It is conjectured by some to have been a druidical work, onthe same model as Silbury-Hill in Wiltshire: but considering its altitude,situation and stupendous dimensions has a much greater solemity attached to it.”
The History of Cleveland by Robert Graves published 1808