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The menfolk of the area were said to have to climb this stone in order to prove themselves worthy of marriage.
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There is much history and folklore attached to this hill.
Queen Cartimandua of the Briganitines is said to have used the hill as her stronghold during the Brigantine Civil War against her ex-husband Venutius.
Cartimandua was a client ruler of the Romans. When she handed the fugitive Caratacus over to Rome, Venutius divorced her. She took his brothers and kinfolk captive, which led to civil war between 55 - 71 AD.
However, no archaeological evidence has been found of this and as the fort was abandoned around 400 BC, it seems unlikely.
The Norman castle built on the hill during the 12th century probably wiped away any archaeological traces, if Cartimandua's camp had been there.
The Roman name for the hill was Camulodunum (not to be confused with Colchester), which has lead to suspicions that Castle Hill was Arthur's Camelot. There certainly was a 5th century King of the Pennines called Arthius, but no proof that he inhabited Castle Hill has been found.
Other folklore is that tunnels lead from the hill, one to the Deadmanstone at Berry Brow, and another to Almondbury.
The Devil is said to have leaped to Castle Hill from Netherton Scar (where he left his footprint), some eight miles away. This may be a memory of the fire at the hillfort which lead to it's abandonment.
The hill is also said to be the lair of a dragon which guards a golden cradle.
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The Giant Rombald was said to have both knocked the calf rock from the Cow and Calf and left his foot print in Almscliffe Crag in one great step over Wharfedale whilst escaping the wrath of his wife.
As Almscliffe lies vaguely North West of the Cow and Calf, this could be a folk memory of a summer solstice sunrise alighnment?
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During ages past a Badger man was a miller's man or a trader in flour. It is thought than an ancient market used to take place here at the time of the equinoxes on the old trade route that traverses the moor.
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The small recess beneath the Hangingstones is known as the Fairie's Parlour.
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Said to have been a moot point for the Masons, and the Pendle Witches, standing on the border of four moors. The rock was reported as bearing cup n' ring marks in the 19th C, which have now presumably weathered away.
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Barmishaw is said to translate as 'Spirit in the woods'. This area of the moor has supposedly played host to a number of strange phenomena including fairies, alien abductions, earth lights and healing wells. Strangely enough the common thread between all the apparitions that have been reprted here is the colour green.
It's obvious that the moor's prehistoric inhabitants placed a strong importance in this area due to the number of rock carvings around the hillside spring.
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Name: Andy Hemingway
D.O.B: 17.04.66
Occupation: Graphic Artist
Website: http://www.ahgphotography.co.uk
I was born and raised in Huddersfield. I moved to Norwich in 1988 to go to Art School and haven't got it together to leave yet!! My interests are visiting and reading about ancient places, tribal art and society and trying my damnedest to keep as far from the Rat Race as possible! Ambient Rambling is where it's at!
Love music - psychedelic 70's rock, punk, roots n' dub and world/trancy sort of stuff in general!
Also do voluntary work for festivals and have been involved in the Norwich Free Festival in it's various guises for a number of years.
My special area of interest is Ilkley Moor. I don't get the opportunity to go back often these days, but I spent much time on the moors in the 1980's... often for days on end. The Twelve Apostles is an old friend of mine! Although I know the moors fairly well, each journey I make back there is still full of discovery. I always seem to find something I haven't seen before.
NB - Since I wrote this I have in fact gotten away from Norwich and now live in Barnsley.
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