<< Our Photo Pages >> The Dovestones - Stone Circle in England in Yorkshire (North)
Submitted by DavidRaven on Sunday, 14 December 2003 Page Views: 9186
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: The DovestonesCountry: England County: Yorkshire (North) Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Ilkley Nearest Village: Blubberhouses
Map Ref: SE138554 Landranger Map Number: 104
Latitude: 53.994458N Longitude: 1.790996W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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Whilst searching the internet for information regarding cup-and-ring marked rocks, I came across a website by a man called Gordon T. Holmes. He claimed to have discovered a 'lost' stone circle at 'Raven's Peak' near the village of Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire. He described finding the circle, which contained a stone over seven feet tall! I had to see if I could find this for myself!
At the end of a long days hiking in the South Pennines, myself and a couple of mates decided to make the detour to search out the circle on our way home. Fatigue and a distinct lack of a nearby hostelry made our wanderings swift, and after walking all round Raven's Peak, we decided to try the other side of the ravine.
Peering into the valley we eventually saw a single monolith, just visible in the light of dusk. Climbing down we noted the remains of low rubble walls just to the east of the stone. Signs of an ancient settlement?
The circle itself is very small, barely eight feet in diameter if my memory serves. I found out after the trip that Mr. Holmes thought it formed a figure of '8', but I never noticed. I'll have another look in the near future.
The modern Ordnance Survey map doesn't show any sign of the circle (no surprise!), but when I checked out the 1854 map, it clearly had the words 'Dovestones' right where I reckoned the circle to be. Appropriately, the 'Dovestones' are on the opposite side of the valley from the popular landmark; 'Raven's Peak'.
If you're up in that neck of the woods, check it out! See what you think... Grid ref SE 138 554
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