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<< Our Photo Pages >> Stones monoliths, Todmorden - Standing Stones in England in Yorkshire (West)

Submitted by DavidRaven on Wednesday, 17 November 2010  Page Views: 33049

Date UncertainSite Name: Stones monoliths, Todmorden Alternative Name: Central Hill; Beacon Hill
Country: England County: Yorkshire (West) Type: Standing Stones
Nearest Town: Todmorden  Nearest Village: Stones
Map Ref: SD92522359
Latitude: 53.708679N  Longitude: 2.114797W
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
4 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.
2 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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Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : infra red 16-11-2010 (Vote or comment on this photo)
These stones are little-known yet must rank as some of the most impressive standing stones in Yorkshire. The 1;25,000 O.S. map doesn’t actually show them, but the settlement called ‘Stones’ has a ‘Stones Lane’, so they aren’t too hard to locate.

The first one's a curious thing! Standing maybe twelve feet high, spindley, with what looks like holes on the surface, for attaching a gate. It sits on a large circular stone, like a mill-stone. According to the 1912 geological survey map of the area, there was no stone here, it’s thought to have ‘appeared’ there sometime between 1912 and 1921. Perhaps it was moved there to replace a missing stone?
The mound on which it stands is called Centre Hill, but is also known locally as Beacon Hill, indicating it’s use in times past.

Just to the west of Centre Hill, in the adjacent field, stands the tallest and most impressive of the group. Again, a good twelve feet high.

Travel north-west up Stones Lane and you find the next monolith. Sitting in a field on the left, only four-and-a-half-feet tall, it's easy to miss as it lies near the dry-stone wall.
This stone had a counterpart originally. It was still standing during the early fifties, but it isn’t today. However, at the point where the older maps show it's position, there now lies a spring. A trough of stones has been arranged around the opening where lies a stone, about five feet long, said to be the lost menhir. It now forms part of the ‘basin’ that holds the spring water for the farm's livestock.

The Northern Antiquarian (TNA) features a page for these standing stones - see their entry for Stones Farm, Todmorden, West Yorkshire, which places the stones as SD 92520 23593 and SD 92256 23800. TNA give directions for finding these stones, together with recent photographs, an image of the 1911 OS map showing the location of the stones, and descriptions.

Beacon Hill is recorded as Pastscape Monument No. 46121 which refers to the alternative name of Central Hill and the site of a nearby beacon at SD 9255 2369 (just to the north of the southernmost stone and north of the farm buildings), adding: "No trace of the beacon remains. A stone pillar has been erected on its site." These stones are also scheduled as Historic England List ID 1230971 which places these stones at SD 9252 2359 and SD 9225 2380 and tells us the earliest reference to these stones is during the time of Henry III (1216 to 1272).

The Journal of Antiquities also includes an entry for these standing stones - see their page for Standing Stones At Stones, Near Todmorden, West Yorkshire, which refers to three standing stones (presumably the two standing stones mentioned in HE and the pillar which marked the site of the beacon?). The Journal includes photographs, a description and a list of reference sources for more information. They also mention a well, just to the south of the stone at SD 9225 2380: "A little to the south of this stone, close to the wall, there is a well that has a ‘good’ constant supply of fairly clear water that comes down from the low hillside above. At the front of the well there is a 5 foot long, flat recumbent stone; this is considered to be the former standing stone No 4. The spring apparently began to flow or re-emerge when the stone was being dug-up, according to Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian". Interestingly, Historic England list a mid 18th century plunge bath at SD 92558 23558 - see List ID 1230903

Note: Some superb new shots of these little known Yorkshire stones
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Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : sunny day 16-11-2010 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : 16-11-2010 When we got there the wheaher didnt look too good :( but just as we were about to go the clouds broke and the sun came out to play :) (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : Stones monoliths I was there May 2009 and it was not good weather I said I'd go back with some sunshine :) so here it is taken 16-11-2010 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : taken 16-11-2010 in infra red (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : infra red taken 16-11-2010 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : The other stone taken on a wet day 27th may 2009 I will return to these when it's sunny :) (1 comment)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : taken on a wet day 27th may 2009..worth going back to with some sunshine i think :) (4 comments)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : Small stone taken 16-11-2010.

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : The small stone. Taken 16-11-2010

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : The smallest stone of the three on the other side of the road. Taken 16-11-2010.

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : 16-11-2010 wonderfull clouds and sunshine for a November day :-)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : 16-11-2010 The sun shone for me :)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : taken in infra red 16-11-2010 (4 comments)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by rldixon : taken in Infra red 16-11-2010 a nice sunny afternoon the sun came out just as we were gona give it up as a bad job :)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by DavidRaven : Further up Stones Lane, in a north-westerly direction, lies the smallest monolith. It's easily missed as it's only four-and-a-half-feet tall and hides near a dry-stone wall. (Grid Ref; SD 9222 2382)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by DavidRaven : I'm sure I can see something...? Some sort of carving... (6 comments)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by DavidRaven : To the west of Centre Hill in the adjacent field, stands the tallest of the group, again a good twelve feet or so tall. I noticed faint markings at head height but they were too indistinct to be legible. (Grid Ref; SD 9250 2361)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by DavidRaven : These stones are almost unheard of. They must be amongst the tallest menhirs yet to be discovered by the masses! The O.S. map doesn't actually show them, but the settlement of 'Stones' has a 'Stones Lane' so you know you're on the right track. The first one is a curious, spindley thing, twelve feet high. It sits on a large circular stone, like a mill-stone. There are marks on it's surface th... (1 comment)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by Nicecupoft : Stones monoliths, Todmorden. Stones Lane Lat 53.7088 Lon -2.1148 Taken April 2020

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by jumping-buddha : The 'recumbent' stone at Todmorden, now forming part of a water trough.

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by andyb456 : An eerie site on a foggy day! It took us ages to find these stones. David must be a better adventurer than us! Our search took us to the Tourist Office in Todmorden, they didn't know either but did hand us a file containing drawings of many natural and standing stones in the area from a local enthusiast, together with instructions how to find them (if you have local knowledge!). If you can fin... (2 comments)

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by andyb456 : Like David says, it seems to be a gatepost in a millstone. Nevertheless, the site itself does appear to be old and respected.

Stones monoliths, Todmorden
Stones monoliths, Todmorden submitted by DavidRaven : At the spot where the last (missing) stone sat according to old maps, there is now a spring. A trough has been created for livestock to slake their thirsts. Part of the 'modifications' show a stone over five feet tall, thought to be the 'lost' menhir, now recumbent! (Grid Ref; SD 9223 2380)

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 1.2km NE 47° Holy Well (Todmorden)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SD9339324411)
 2.5km NNE 23° Whirlaw Stones* Rock Art (SD9348125886)
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"Stones monoliths, Todmorden" | Login/Create an Account | 13 News and Comments
  
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Anonymous on Saturday, 01 June 2019
Small correction:

"These stones are little-known yet must rank as some of the most impressive standing stones in Yorkshire" this should read "in Lancashire". Geographically they are in Lancashire and administratively they are in West Yorkshire.

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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Anonymous on Friday, 17 February 2017
We visited stones today by chance and they are impressive. Some thoughts in this article slightly different from journalofantiquities but I would like to see a pre wwi map as if "Stone Wood" is named then surely stones were there pre 1920's? Fazerneil
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Anonymous on Sunday, 23 October 2016
I went to take a look at these and I can't help thinking the big one next to the road looks like Churn Milk Joan in Hebden Bridge. Could there be a connection?
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Sunny100 on Saturday, 06 August 2016
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I have a copy of Paul Bennett's brilliant book 'The OLd Stones of Elmet'. I believe he is hoping to do an up-date at some point.
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Anonymous on Saturday, 06 August 2016
I think the first "curious" stone was a celtic cross in the 18th century. The one at the top of the hamlet on a pedestal
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Anonymous on Monday, 03 February 2014
Amazing energy I felt from these stones. A beautiful part of the world to explore. I feel that Ley Lines are strong around here or very close by ! I feel recharged after coming in to contact! A must see !!!
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by RoyG on Thursday, 18 November 2010
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Interesting that there should be a natual spring present.
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Todmorden Street View by SteveDut on Saturday, 17 April 2010
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Mikki on Friday, 04 July 2008
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All this info could be found in Paul Bennett's really good book, The Old Stones of Elmet, written in 2001. But it isn't the first time you have quoted from his book is it?
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Re: Stones monoliths, Todmorden by Anonymous on Wednesday, 01 March 2006
a beautiful stone i found it early one september morning while trying get lost.
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