<< Our Photo Pages >> Woofa Bank - Ancient Village or Settlement in England in Yorkshire (West)

Submitted by DavidRaven on Sunday, 14 December 2003  Page Views: 8706

Multi-periodSite Name: Woofa Bank Alternative Name: includes Boughey & Vickerman (372)
Country: England County: Yorkshire (West) Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Nearest Town: Ilkley
Map Ref: SE13904560  Landranger Map Number: 104
Latitude: 53.906376N  Longitude: 1.789913W
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.
 3 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.
 4 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
 4

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Woofa Bank
Woofa Bank submitted by andy_h : Prehistoric walling at Woofa Bank Enclosure (Vote or comment on this photo)
Enclosure in West Yorkshire (includes Boughey & Vickerman (372) carved rock)

In February 2003, myself and a rambling buddy were wandering the moors above Ilkley. We noticed the heather had been recently burned off for the grouse to feast on the young shoots, leaving the huge enclosure at Woofa bank visible. Climbing down, I paced the low rubble walls to be about 50 meters in diameter. The site holds various cup-marked rocks, one of which is actually part of the wall. In fact the plateau contains up to a third of the carved rocks of the moor. An enclosure nearby (at Green Crag Slack) is tentatively dated at Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (Edwards and Bradley 1999). In the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze age the whole area was covered in light scrub, with hazel, alder, birch and pine covering the plateau, according to pollen analysis. It has also been suggested that a shallow lake may have occured here. Not only were conditions favourable for settling, the area is thought to have been part of a major trade route across the Pennines.

Update January 2018: The Northern Antiquarian (TNA) features a page for this enclosure - see their entry for Woofa Bank Enclosure, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire, which gives directions for finding this site, together with photographs and a description. TNA says: "One of the carvings at the centre of the enclosure (listed in the Boughey & Vickerman survey as Carving 372) has been suggested to represent a dancing human figure .... It seems that the walled enclosure itself was constructed around the earlier cup-and-ring stones, probably many centuries later—but we need excavations here to find out more precise details. Much of the walling itself has the hallmarks of being late Bronze Age to Iron Age in structure, whilst we know that prehistoric rock art can date back into the neolithic period; and from this period Eric Cowling (1946) reported that, at Woofa Bank, “at the western end of the ridge,” just above this enclosure, a neolithic flint site existed."

This site is also scheduled as Historic England List ID 1011753 which covers "Enclosure on Woofa Bank with 11 carved rocks and one upright stone." See the comment below for the Pastscape link.
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Woofa Bank 07
Woofa Bank 07 submitted by AndrewTawn : June 2021 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Woofa Bank 01
Woofa Bank 01 submitted by Rich32 : Carving recorded by CSI:Rombalds Moor Project as 'Woofa Bank 01' on ERA, and IAG352 in Boughey and Vickerman's 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding'. This carving can be found amongst the cairns in a small cairnfield. The level of preservation suggests it spent most of its life covered up. What I really like about this carving is the level of imprecision, which is either suggestive of de... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Woofa Bank
Woofa Bank submitted by rich32 : A view looking north over Woofa Bank enclosure. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Woofa Bank 07
Woofa Bank 07 submitted by andy_h : Another cup and ring marked rock at Woofa Bank Enclosure (Vote or comment on this photo)

Woofa Bank 20
Woofa Bank 20 submitted by Rich32 : Carving found during CSI: Rombalds Moor Project surveys and added to ERA as 'Woofa Bank 20'. Even though I found this thing, I'm not overly convinced by the antiquity of the markings, considering their size and profiles. The immediate vicinity is littered with signs of quarrying and there's a small circle of stones (1 metre diameter) within a couple of metres. May be these were created by the... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Woofa Bank 19
Woofa Bank 19 submitted by Rich32 : Carving referenced IAG385 in the 2003 publication 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding', and added to ERA as 'Woofa Bank 19' by the CSI: Rombalds Moor Project. The stone seems to reside in the bank of a small pit, probably created during later quarrying. Image captured 1st March 2013.

Woofa Bank 18
Woofa Bank 18 submitted by Rich32 : Image showing the location of IAG384 in 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding' and 'Woofa Bank 18' on ERA. During recording for CSI, you could just about make out one of the cups peaking out from the vegetation. In the background you can see members of the CSI:Rombalds Moor Project working within Woofa Bank enclosure. Image captured 28th Feb 2013. Image Credit: Peter Butl...

Woofa Bank 17a
Woofa Bank 17a submitted by Rich32 : 'Woofa Bank 17a' on ERA was spotted during recording by the CSI:Rombalds Moor Project. This large stone is incorporated into enclosure walling and has one broad, shallow cup on its SW sloping surface. Can't say I was overly convinced by its authenticity. Image captured 2nd February 2012. Image Credit: Richard Stroud / Carved Stone Investigations: Rombalds Moor Volunteers / England’s R...

Woofa Bank 17.
Woofa Bank 17. submitted by Rich32 : Image showing the close of proximity of 'Woofa Bank 16' and 'Woofa Bank 17' on ERA. Woofa Bank 17 (foreground) has far fewer cups than its busier neighbour. Image captured 9th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 16
Woofa Bank 16 submitted by Rich32 : Carving referenced RM200 in Ilkley Archaeology Group's 1986 publication 'Carved Rocks on Rombalds Moor', and IAG378 in their regional update 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding'. Added to ERA by the CSI:Rombalds Moor Project as 'Woofa Bank 16'. The surface is adorned with several dozen cups, with the vast majority being smaller than average. Peck marks are still visible in many. I...

Woofa Bank 15
Woofa Bank 15 submitted by Rich32 : Referenced IAG377 in the 2003 publication 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding', and added to ERA by the CSI:Rombalds Moor Project as 'Woofa Bank 15'. Another rock with a single cup. Image captured 18 September 2009.

Woofa Bank 14
Woofa Bank 14 submitted by Rich32 : Stone in the foreground is referenced 'Woofa Bank 14' on ERA and IAG376 in the 2003 publication 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding'. Recorded as having a few cups and other depressions.... difficult to see below the moss coverage. Image captured 18 September 2009.

Woofa Bank 12
Woofa Bank 12 submitted by Rich32 : Another view of the carving referenced 'Woofa Bank 12' on ERA. Image captured 9th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 12
Woofa Bank 12 submitted by Rich32 : Carving referenced 'Woofa Bank 12' on ERA and IAG372 in Boughey & Vickerman's 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Ridng'. Quite an unusual grooved cellular design all with tooling marks still present. Another one of the stones that's undoubtedly spent most of its carved life covered up. Image captured 1st April 2005.

Woofa Bank 11
Woofa Bank 11 submitted by Rich32 : This stone has 8 definite cups and several other natural depressions. On ERA it's recorded as 'Woofa Bank 11' and is referenced IAG371 in the 2003 publication 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding'. Image captured 18 September 2009.

Woofa Bank 10
Woofa Bank 10 submitted by Rich32 : Carving referenced on ERA by the CSI:Rombalds Moor Project as 'Woofa Bank 10', and IAG370 in 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding'. It's recorded as having 3 or 4 cups and a party sausage (or a groove). Woofa Bank 11 is in the background. Image captured 18 September 2009.

Woofa Bank 09a
Woofa Bank 09a submitted by Rich32 : A cluster of 3 carved rocks within 2 metres of each other. In this picture you can see 'Woofa Bank 09a' to the fore; left central is 'Woofa Bank 10' and to the right 'Woofa Bank 11'. 'Woofa Bank 09a' has at least 2 cups and was found during recording for the CSI:Rombalds Moor Project. Image captured on 13 April 2012.

Woofa Bank 09.
Woofa Bank 09. submitted by Rich32 : Believed to be IAG369 in Boughey & Vickerman's 2003 publication 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding', this rock was added to ERA as 'Woofa Bank 09'. It's recorded as having one shallow cup, although this may be natural. Image captured 2nd February 2012. Image Credit: Richard Stroud / Carved Stone Investigations: Rombalds Moor Volunteers / England’s Rock Art

Woofa Bank 08a
Woofa Bank 08a submitted by Rich32 : 'Woofa Bank 08a' on ERA sits just NNE of 'Woofa Bank 08' (in the mid ground). It has an ovoid depression which could be a cup. You can just make out the curving enclosure walling in the background. Image captured 4th March 2013. Image Credit: Peter Butler / Carved Stone Investigations: Rombalds Moor Volunteers / England’s Rock Art

Woofa Bank 08.
Woofa Bank 08. submitted by Rich32 : 'Woofa Bank 08' on ERA, sits just to the north of the prehistoric enclosure. There's an awful lot of stone for a possible single cup. Also recorded as IAG368 in 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding'. Image captured 18th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 07
Woofa Bank 07 submitted by Rich32 : Carving 'Woofa Bank 07' on ERA forms part of a prehistoric enclosure. From the size, I'd assume the stone is in its original position. The easterly sloping surface has cups and a angular groove. Image captured 18th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 06
Woofa Bank 06 submitted by Rich32 : The fairly upright 'Woofa Bank 06' on ERA, with its fairly unusual elongated / conjoined cups. Image captured 9th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 05
Woofa Bank 05 submitted by Rich32 : Another of the carvings just to the west of Woofa Bank enclosure walling, this rock has two possible cups. Recorded as IAG364 in 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding' and 'Woofa Bank 05' on ERA. Image captured on 18th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 04
Woofa Bank 04 submitted by Rich32 : This carving sits just to the west of Woofa Bank enclosure and has one or two possible cups. When this image was taken the stone was being used for grouse grit. In recent years, the land manager has started using boxes away from carvings. Referenced IAG363 in 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding' and added to ERA as 'Woofa Bank 04'. Image captured 18th September 2009.

Woofa Bank 03
Woofa Bank 03 submitted by Rich32 : Carving referenced IAG361 in 'Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding', and added to ERA as 'Woofa Bank 03'. This stone has 2 cups. Image captured 9th September 2009.

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 58m SW 229° Woofa Bank 06* Rock Art (SE1385645562)
 68m SSW 203° Woofa Bank 08a* Rock Art (SE1387345537)
 70m SSW 204° Woofa Bank 08.* Rock Art (SE1387145536)
 93m S 191° Woofa Bank 10* Rock Art (SE1388345509)
 93m SSW 191° Woofa Bank 09a* Rock Art (SE1388245509)
 94m S 190° Woofa Bank 11* Rock Art (SE1388445507)
 100m NNE 15° Rushy Beck 03* Rock Art (SE1392645697)
 107m S 181° Woofa Bank 15* Rock Art (SE1389845493)
 108m S 169° Woofa Bank 17a* Rock Art (SE1392145494)
 113m S 181° Woofa Bank 17.* Rock Art (SE1389945487)
 114m S 190° Woofa Bank 09.* Rock Art (SE1388045488)
 114m S 181° Woofa Bank 16* Rock Art (SE1389945486)
 116m S 186° Woofa Bank 12* Rock Art (SE1388945484)
 119m S 183° Woofa Bank 14* Rock Art (SE1389445481)
 124m S 184° Woof Bank 13* Rock Art (SE1389145476)
 125m SSW 209° Woofa Bank 04* Rock Art (SE1384045490)
 130m SSW 199° Woofa Bank 07* Rock Art (SE1385845477)
 133m SSW 199° Woofa Bank 05* Rock Art (SE1385645474)
 145m SE 134° Woofa Bank 18* Rock Art (SE1400545500)
 156m NNE 27° Rushy Beck 05* Rock Art (SE1397145739)
 157m N 357° Rushy Beck 01* Rock Art (SE1389145757)
 157m NNE 27° Rushy Beck 04* Rock Art (SE1397045741)
 157m SW 215° Woofa Bank 03* Rock Art (SE1381145470)
 158m N 357° Rushy Beck 02* Rock Art (SE1389145758)
 206m SE 141° Rushy Beck Spring (Burley Moor) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SE14034544)
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Woofa Bank 17. >>

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"Woofa Bank" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Re: Woofa Bank by Andy B on Wednesday, 24 October 2012
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Things like ‘settlements’ and ‘enclosures’ are traditionally relegated by purist archaeologists to be little more than domestic or utilitarian sites: places where our ancestors kept cattle; or were used for defensive purposes; or lived for long periods of the year.

Of course, these simple ideas are effective and true at some places; but here at Woofa Bank—in this particular enclosure—something more than just domestic activity was enacted, and over the period of many centuries by the look of things.

We surmise this by the incidence of at least fifteen cup-and-ring stones being found within the enclosure itself; and at its very centre is a small standing stone, not previously recorded, that has at least five petroglyphs around it. The incidence of such a cluster of cup-and-ring stones here implies ritual activity.

More here
http://megalithix.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/woofa-bank-enclosure/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Woofa Bank by coldrum on Monday, 04 July 2011
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Pastscape entry.

"Enclosure on Woofa Bank with 11 carved rocks and one
upright stone. Scheduled RSM No 25311. An egg-shaped, rubble-walled
enclosure measuring c.80m in length and c.55m wide. It is incomplete
on its SE side, probably due to localised stone robbing. The walling
is most substantial on the W side where it is c.3m wide and 0.5m
high and appears to be coursed in places, incorporating a number of
large boulders, some of which are set upright. The majority of the
carved rocks associated with this monument are within the enclosure,
one is incorporated in the walling and another lies immediately
outside on the W side. The carvings range from single cup marks to
much more complex designs; all are in the cup and ring tradition.
In the approximate centre of the enclosure is a single rectangular
rock which appears to have been intentionally set upright. "

http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1030842
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Re: Woofa Bank by coldrum on Sunday, 03 July 2011
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Pastscape entry.

http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=48311
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