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<< Our Photo Pages >> High Bridestones (Yorks) - Stone Circle in England in Yorkshire (North)

Submitted by Andy B on Tuesday, 03 December 2024  Page Views: 35187

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: High Bridestones (Yorks) Alternative Name: High Bride Stones
Country: England County: Yorkshire (North) Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Whitby  Nearest Village: Grosmont
Map Ref: NZ8499704629  Landranger Map Number: 94
Latitude: 54.429990N  Longitude: 0.691287W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

elad13 SolarMegalith mooonwitch would like to visit

TheCaptain visited on 17th Sep 2024 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 After a day walking the beautiful coastline between Runswick bay and Staithes, I had an hour or two of beautiful sunshine left in the day, and made the decision to drive over onto the moor for a quick look for the Bridestones, of which I have vague memories from 27 years ago. In this weather, three upright stones standing can clearly be seen, so I walk over to the tallest, more than 6 feet tall. At this point, three other large stones can be seen flat to the ground along with several smaller ones. My memory tells me they were in a circle, but that doesn't really look to be the case to me today. To the northwest, slightly down the hill, can be seen several other standers in a rough line, and walking down along the row the I come to another group of several stones, but this time nothing more than a few feet tall. There are many other smaller stumps and flat stones can be seen before progressing down to another fairly large stander. Back at the top, there is another short stander off to the southeast, and what appear to be several moor, but which turn out to be sheep munching! Its all a bit of a mess, but I dont think this should be given stone circle status, it's more like a stone row to me. A megalithic disaster indeed.

Sadie visited on 28th May 2023 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

SandyG visited on 19th Sep 2017 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Limited car parking available next to the row at NZ 85048 04719. Despite the problems associated with determining which stones are natural and which ones were placed it is probable that this is a stone row leading away from one of the two stone circles in this area. The presence of considerable quantities of surface stone means that without excavation it is not possible to be certain that this is a stone row.

kthdsn visited on 20th Jul 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 5

TheWhiteRider visited on 20th Jun 2012 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

MAIGO JimChampion kelpie have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 2.8 Ambience: 4.2 Access: 4

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : At the lower, northwestern end of the main alignment is another fairly large stander. OK, I'm off (Vote or comment on this photo)
Possible Four Poster stone circle, situated on a very bleak limestone pavement, surrounded by heather. There are two distinct groups of stones, possibly the ruins of two "four posters" (square arrangement of stones with one stone at each corner). Many of the stones have fallen.

Access: Just south of the lane from Goathland (famous for British police TV series Heartbeat) to A169. Just over brow of hill, before the Car Park on the right.

I would agree with Aubrey Burls sum-up: a "megalithic disaster". A little disappointing.

Update October 2019: This complex site is now featured on the Stone Rows of Great Britain website - see their entry for High Bride Stones, which puts this site into a slightly different context of being a 'single stone row … lead(ing) fromasmall stone circle … there is a second stone circle, several cairns and prehistoric field systems in the vicinity".

The SRoGB entry includes a description, a plan of the row from a recent survey carried out in September 2017, a plan of the row showing its context within its immediate prehistoric landscape, photographs, descriptions of all the individual stones, access information and a list of online resources for more information.

The row is also recorded as Pastscape Monument No. 29287, which describes this site as: "Eleven standing stones in two groups, which are possibly the remains of a pair of Bronze Age "four poster" stone circles. This may also be the remains of a stone alignment".

The site is also scheduled as Historic England List Entry No. 1004892 (High Bride Stones). The SRoGB also includes a link to the Smell of Water High Bride Stones 1817 to 1995 webpage.
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High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by bec-zog : Detail of one stone @ High Bridestone site. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by bec-zog (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by kbr61263 : Largest stone shot towards low sun, south-west(ish) (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by JimChampion : August 2007. The larger megaliths at the High Bridestones; only one remains standing. Described aptly by Aubrey Burl as a 'megalithic disaster'. (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by SandyG : Plan of High Bride stone row and circles (Source: survey at 1:500 by Sandy Gerrard). (Vote or comment on this photo)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by kelpie : Another view of these ravaged stones

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by kelpie : A depressing set of stones, much ruined to the extent the original layout can only be guessed at.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by johndhunter : High Bridestones (Sleights Moor) - Remnants of southern stone circle in the foreground. The two upright stones at “B” indicate the remnants of the northern stone circle and “A” is the most northerly stone still upright in the alignment. Image taken June 2012.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by Postman : All the High Bridestones

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by Postman : The end stone, with two ruined four poster stone circles beyond?

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by SandyG : Looking along the row from the southern stone circle.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by Bladup : High Bridestones.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by kbr61263 : Largest stone with my daughter (9) for scale.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by kbr61263 : High Bridestones, looking along the line, north-west(ish). Taken Saturday 16th Feb, around 4pm, 1 hour before sunset (1 comment)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by JimChampion : August 2007. The High Bridestones, on the moor. Just one of the megaliths is still standing, with small change firmly wedged into its many crevices. A megalithic shambles indeed. The heather in bloom says that it is summer, although the temperature (and wind) on this day was more like winter!

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : Looking southeast along the row from the tallest of the High Bridestones. Beyond this can be seen the smaller southeastern stone. Or is it a sheep? (1 comment)

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : Looking northwest along the row from the tallest of the High Bridestones. Beyond this can be seen the mid setting of three smaller standing stones, and the far northwestern stone. At the left are a couple of the large flat stones supposedly making up a circle with this tall stone.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : The tallest of the High Bridestones, more than 6 feet tall. At this point, three other large stones can be seen flat to the ground along with several smaller ones. My memory tells me they are in a circle, but that doesn't really look to be the case to me today.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : The tallest stone of the High Bridestones, more than 6 feet tall, at the southeastern section of the row. A good place to park for your visit can be seen beyond.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : The tallest stone of the High Bridestones, more than 6 feet tall, at the southeastern section of the row. The smaller southeastern stone can be seen in the pale patch of grass beyond to the right.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : The tallest stone of the High Bridestones. Yes its still growing coins.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : The tallest stone of the High Bridestones, more than 6 feet tall, at the southeastern section of the row.

High Bridestones (Yorks)
High Bridestones (Yorks) submitted by TheCaptain : Walking down along the row there is another group of several stones, but this time nothing more than a few feet tall. Some say this is the remains of a smaller stone circle, but its all a bit of a mess.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 474m WNW 282° Low Bridestones (S) (Yorks)* Stone Row / Alignment (NZ84530472)
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"High Bridestones (Yorks)" | Login/Create an Account | 9 News and Comments
  
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Re: High Bridestones by johndhunter on Saturday, 07 December 2024
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An Opinian: Calling this site a little disappointing gives the wrong impression and doesn't do it justice. A megalithic disaster it may well be but this just makes it all the more intriguing and the series of excellent photos recently (12/24) uploaded by TheCaptain certainly show it in a good light. With easy access it is well worth a visit especially on a calm (can be windswept) sunny day.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: High Bridestones by TheCaptain on Saturday, 07 December 2024
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    I agree. This is an intriguing place to visit, with lots of interest trying to find all the stones and figure out what it is. To me though, there may be slight disappointment if going looking for a stone circle, but certainly not if looking for a stone row!
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: High Bridestones by TheCaptain on Monday, 02 December 2024
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Visiting on a sunny September evening, three upright stones standing can clearly be seen from the road, so I walk over to the tallest, more than 6 feet tall. At this point, three other large stones can be seen flat to the ground along with several smaller ones; my memory tells me they were in a circle, but that doesn't really look to be the case to me today. To the northwest, down the hill, can be seen several other standers in a rough line, and walking down along the row the I come to another group of several stones, but this time nothing more than a few feet tall; there are many other smaller stumps and flat stones can be seen before progressing down to another fairly large stander. Back at the top, there is another short stander off to the southeast, and what appear to be several moor, but which turn out to be sheep munching! Its all a bit of a mess, but I dont think this should be given stone circle status, it's more like a stone row to me. A megalithic disaster indeed.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: High Bridestones (Yorks) by johndhunter on Thursday, 12 October 2017
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The Reverent George Young writing in 1817 in his book A History of Whitby page 665 about Upright Stones on the Moors states “On Sleights Moor there is a remarkable assemblage of this description called High Bride Stones forming an irregular line and perhaps originally an avenue. There were eleven upright stones in this cluster some years ago. At present there are only six standing and three or four of them have fallen down, none of them exceed seven or eight feet”
Just over a hundred years later in his 1930 book “Early Man in North East Yorkshire” on page 105 Frank Elgee quotes George Young above and then goes on to give his own observations as follows:
Today six only are standing and at least fourteen are fallen. The most conspicuous stone is seven feet high and terribly weathered . Near it lie three others nearly as long and another about four feet long, which together with the upright stone form a semi circle. Some distance to the south stands a solitary stone about three feet high. Thirty yards north of the semi circle, three upright stones from two to three feet high form part of another semi circle, the remaining stones which to the number of at least eight have fallen over and are more or less hidden in heather. Further north are two fallen stones and still further in the same direction is a monolith six feet high and deeply rain furrowed.
Thus the High Bride Stones, which from north to south extend about 150 yards seem to have originally consisted of adjacent circles, one of large, the other of smaller stones, with outlying monoliths.
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Re: High Bridestones (Yorks) - Street View by kelpie on Monday, 19 April 2010
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Re: High Bridestones (Yorks) by Anonymous on Monday, 25 August 2003
I have just been to Yorkshire and visited both the High and the Low Bridestones. I don't find the site(s) disappointing at all. Some of the stones have fallen and others have probably been used as foundations for the grouse shooting stands in the vicinity. Has anyone ever attempted to trace a map of the place with the exact location of each stone as it stands or would have stood? And to put that into relation with the cardinal points, solstices etc.? I think there are a few surprises pending. I'm not too convinced by the "four poster" idea. I have the suspicion that the High Bridestones are all linked together and that what is left is only a part of something once much bigger. Could the Low Bridestones (or at least a part of them) not be a representation of a boat, as you find them in Scandinavia?
Grateful for any further information on the matter.
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Re: High Bridestones (Yorks) by Anonymous on Sunday, 27 April 2003
The Bridestones in Dalby Forest, Thornton le Dale on the north York moors are far superior
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Re: High Bridestones by kelpie on Saturday, 24 February 2001
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I drive within a few yards of this site several times a week and intend surveying it more detail soon. Burl believes it may be the remains of two four posters but I'm not so sure (I'm not so sure about a lot of stuff Burl says - aaaah heresy!).
Whatever it is/was it's in a sorry state with most of the stones fallen. Those that remain attract passinbg visitors and there are many coins wedged into slots in the upright stones. It's a bit of a desolate place but interesting.
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