<< Our Photo Pages >> Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm - Standing Stone (Menhir) in England in Cheshire

Submitted by Andy B on Friday, 03 January 2003  Page Views: 19046

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm Alternative Name: Previously incorrectly listed as The Murder Stone, see the comments below
Country: England County: Cheshire Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Whaley Bridge  Nearest Village: Kettleshulme
Map Ref: SJ9845581083  Landranger Map Number: 109
Latitude: 53.326663N  Longitude: 2.024658W
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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Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by Vicky : (Vote or comment on this photo)
Standing Stone in Cheshire

This standing stone can be found 2km due west of the Derbyshire town of Whaley Bridge but is located in the Cheshire part of the Peak National Park. This ‘scheduled’ stone stands 1.3m high, 0.5m thick and is roughly diamond-shaped. The ground around its base is partially eroded (perhaps again by sheltering sheep) but this does not appear to be threatening the stone. Composed of local brown gritstone it is pitted from millennia of exposure to the elements. As to how it got its name, we can only guess but perhaps it has something to do with its fierce-looking, pointed shape.

The stone is situated on a hillock which is not the highest point in the immediate area but does have excellent panoramic views across the Goyt Valley and Reed Hill (topped by a round barrow) to the south, and Lyme Park to the north-east. After a relatively quick and easy climb to the summit this is a great place to be. If the wind is blowing then you get the same sense of exposure that prehistoric man must have felt when erecting this imposing monolith.

This stone is unusual in comparison to its other East Cheshire comrades. The broad diamond of sandstone contrasts with the svelte examples at Foxlow Edge and Bosley Minn. The Murder Stone is clearly not on located on a trackway and although it appears to be in a prominent position, it would not have been easily visible from, other locations. For example, from Reed Hill, it would merge into the background. If you try hard you can just see the stone from Higher Lane as you travel north towards Disley. Its isolation has served to protect it from whatever forces have caused so many other more accessible stones to lean so heavily.

Viewing: To find the stone, from Macclesfield take the B5470 &Macclesfield Road towards Whaley Bridge. Just after the hairpin bend (located at NGR SJ972793) take the next left into Higher Lane which skirts the base of Reed Hill. Follow this lane for 0.75km until you climb a steep hill and near the top turn right. Follow this lane down hill and then up again. After 0.5km you will come to the entrance of Coldfield Farm on your left where you should be able to park.

On foot take the track towards the farm buildings but stay to the left of them by Holme Wood. The path quickly opens up and skirts round the base of the hillock to the right. Continue along this path and after a few metres this stone will be visible above you to your left on the summit.

References

Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin 1973

Cheshire County Sites and Monuments Record
Page originally by Vicky.

Note: Please note the stone itself is on private land but can be viewed from the nearby public footpath or from the road above.
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Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by Postman : Zooming past the Murder stone (incorrect name) to cairn topped Reed hill, to me the two seem to be related if you know what I mean. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by Postman : Pretty colours (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by Postman : Standing back from the stone, cairn topped Reed hill on the right. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by TimPrevett : Looking to the SE. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by TimPrevett : The Murder Stone (incorrect name), with its view to the west. A very prominent position; I caught sight of the stone a few times on the roads around here. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by DavidHoyle : Looking NW from the stone towards the tops above Lyme Park. Summer solstice sunset would have been behind the peak.

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by DavidHoyle : Looking approx SW on a very grey day.

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by Flickr : murderous view looking beyond the Murder Stone (incorrect name) towards the village of Kettleshulme and Taxal Edge (on the skyline) The wonderfully named stone is said to date from the Bronze Age, and is now a scheduled grade II listed ancient monument. No-one actually knows how the stone got it's name, but as you can imagine there are many theories.... Image copyright: Ron Layters, h...

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by Postman : The Murder stone (incorrect name) and its "killer" view

Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm
Stone near Higher Cornfield Farm submitted by TimPrevett : Looking to the NE.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.1km WNW 282° Bowstones* Ancient Cross (SJ9739181309)
 1.3km ENE 60° The Dipping Stone* Ancient Cross (SJ99558171)
 1.4km SSW 209° Reed Hill* Round Barrow(s) (SJ978799)
 1.4km ENE 73° Hawkhurst Head* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SJ99838149)
 1.6km WSW 242° Sponds Hill N* Round Barrow(s) (SJ970803)
 1.7km WSW 239° Sponds Hill S Round Barrow(s) (SJ970802)
 1.8km ENE 59° Ringstone (Whaley Bridge) Stone Circle (SK000820)
 2.0km WNW 285° Knights Low W Round Barrow(s) (SJ965816)
 2.0km WNW 288° Knightslow Wood E Round Barrow(s) (SJ965817)
 2.0km WNW 288° Knightslow Wood W* Round Barrow(s) (SJ965817)
 2.1km WNW 284° Knights Low E* Round Barrow(s) (SJ964816)
 2.1km WNW 287° Knightslow Wood* Round Barrow(s) (SJ964817)
 2.3km SSW 212° Further Harrop* Round Barrow(s) (SJ972791)
 2.4km WNW 288° Knights Low NW Round Barrow(s) (SJ962818)
 2.4km WNW 302° Lyme Park* Ancient Cross (SJ96458235)
 2.4km SSW 198° Charles Head* Round Barrow(s) (SJ977788)
 3.0km SSE 159° Windgather Rocks Cup-Mark Stone Rock Art (SJ995783)
 3.1km SW 235° Andrew's Knob Round Barrow(s) (SJ959793)
 3.5km ESE 115° The Shall Cross* Ancient Cross (SK0165579615)
 3.5km NNW 342° St Mary (Disley)* Ancient Cross (SJ97388444)
 4.2km ESE 113° Ladder Hill* Ring Cairn (SK0230579434)
 4.6km SW 222° Little Low Round Barrow(s) (SJ954777)
 4.6km SSW 202° Highway Man Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SJ9670476849)
 4.8km SSW 196° Blue Boar Farm* Round Barrow(s) (SJ971765)
 4.9km SW 214° Great Low Hillfort (SJ957770)
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Re: The Murder Stone by DavidHoyle on Sunday, 10 November 2024
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You can find the william wood memorial stone o. Google maps. This stone is the murder stone not the standing stone about a km away from it.
www.google.com/maps/place/William+Wood+Memorial+1823,+Buxton+Old+Rd,+High+Peak+SK23+7PW/@53.3408703,-2.0096958,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x487a35a103cdf957:0xe2bc7e5303f614a3!8m2!3d53.3416812!4d-2.0099134!16s%2Fg%2F11qrg_4y4w
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Murder Stone by Anonymous on Friday, 08 November 2024
The location of this is quite a bit out.
Could we please update and move to lat long as follows:
53.3266634, -2.0246547
SJ 98455 81083

Thanks,
David Hoyle
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Murder Stone by Anonymous on Thursday, 05 October 2023
I am glad people are pointing out that that is not the 'murder stone'. It sort of points out that people need to do better research before writing articles. I am 70 years of age and lived in Whaley Bridge for around 27 of those years, from birth in fact. It's interesting to note how 'history' changes over the decades. Such standing stones are possibly landmarks along ancient tracks. Easy to see from a distance, and to walk towards from a previous marker. Others would call them Lay Lines.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: The Murder Stone by Andy B on Saturday, 14 October 2023
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    Sorry for the delay in dealing with this, I have changed the name we use for this stone, thanks - Ed
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: The Murder Stone by Anonymous on Tuesday, 02 May 2023
The text to this entry says: “ No-one actually knows how the stone got it's name”.

I do … see my comment from 2007 !

On the road from Disley to Whaley Bridge, just by the sign for Derbyshire, is the stone commemorating the murder of William Wood on 16th July 1823. That commemorative stone is the real ‘murder stone’ and it’s just a few hundred yards away from the stone highlighted here.

At some stage in the past someone mis-allocated the name ‘murder stone’ to this small standing stone in a nearby field and that error has become embedded on this site.

Not being particularly technically minded I’ll try to upload a photo of the actual ‘murder stone’ which is still in position and the writing is still clearly visible. I’ll also paste a web link.

https://www.goyt-valley.org.uk/the-murder-stone/


[ Reply to This ]

The Murder Stone by Rubadubdub on Friday, 12 March 2021
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Regarding: "The Murder Stone is clearly not located on a trackway and although it appears to be in a prominent position, it would not have been easily visible from, other locations."

I think, in fact, it was on a trackway (or at least immediately adjacent to it) which might explain its positioning and location.

The stone stands near the head of a valley and the trackway alongside the stone was a route from Moorside to Cornfields. The section of Higher Lane between Moorside to Cornfields appears to be relatively modern and built sometime in the latter part of the 19th century.

If you look at the Cheshire tithe map (circa 1850) you'll see that the track with the Murder Stone on is named "Carriage Road over Moorside to Cornfields". The map shows that the section of Higher Lane linking Moorside and Cornfields simply did not exist then. So back then the Murder Stone trackway was 1 of only 2 routes from Moorside to Cornfields, the other a more gruelling route involving going up to and just beyond the Bowstones and then down a track named as "Road from Sponds to Handley Foot Farms."

The more modern section of Higher Lane linking Moorside and Cornfields goes over a deep clough and stream (near Cornfields) via a Victorian bridge but this wasn't an option until recent times and the trackway that sits alongside the Murder Stone would likely have been used a lot more than it is now!
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Murder Stone by Anonymous on Monday, 16 February 2009
It is true that the murder stone is in fact the inscribed stone on the road from disley to whaley bridge,it can be hard to find by the wall on the left hand side of the road looking towards whaley,as it is quite small.I am from high lane the next village after disley, and locally it is well known as the spot where william wood was murdered by a highway man in 1823.Neil H.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Murder Stone by neilbaileyces on Monday, 16 July 2007
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Sorry, this is NOT the Murder Stone.

The Murder Stone is a headstone at the side of the Disley to Whaley Bridge road and it commemorates the murder of a William Wood on that spot on 16th July 1823 - just half a mile away (not a few miles) from this stone at Hawkshurst Head pictured by Vicky.

Vicky's Stone lies a few hundred yards down the hill from the Dipping Stone. It does look as though it possibly had some sort of function as a marker but whether that's in the ancient past or recent past it's hard to tell.

I've seen nothing on old maps yet to indicate Vicky's Stone has been there any great length of time, unlike the Dipping Stone, and the entry on the megalithic website is questionable.

Neil Bailey, 16th July 2007
[ Reply to This ]

Re: The Murder Stone by dubbin on Saturday, 22 April 2006
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I agree that "the murder stone" is an incorrect name for this stone, unless anyone can show otherwise. The murder stone is a more modern inscribed stone several miles away. Vicky, where did you get the name from?
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