HOWARDROSE writes:
It seems to me a lot of info is missing with regards to the Bridestones. Orriginaly the name was the Bridga stones. It is the largest paved burial chamber so far found.
Where to start. Originally this millstone grit ridge ranging from Mow Cop to the Cloud formed a barrier against the last ice age. At the end of this the glacial detritus broke through the ridge leaving the gap that can now be seen between the two above mentioned points.
On the lee side of this break through one of the oldest boats to be found was discovered on the edge of the Cheshire plain marshes.(some 6000 yrs BP)
The original digs back in the 30s did not do justice to this site.
Picture this, to get to the exposed chamber you have to walk up the farm drive.
On your right is a 7-8 foot high wall. On the far side of this wall, towering above it are a lenght of stones, possibly 200ft long, covering yet more burials.
Inset into this wall, in its own niche is a squared stone, some 2-3ft high. Atop this stone is an inscribed cross, reminiscent of a theodolite mark. This stone is not a triangulation point. Put a compass on its cross and the needle just spins.....
The strange thing about these stones is they seem to on the edge of a wood, this would not have been there when first erected. For a tomb of this size you would have needed a sizeable population, a)to build it and b) to fill it.
The point the tomb is built on is the packhorse routes from the cheshire salt plains could this have been the controlling point into what we now know as staffordshire.
OK so far. What about the Hill fort, what hillfort I hear you say.
The hill fort less than half a mile away on the other side of the Cloud.
This looks out over the Cheshire plain and as far as I know has never been excavated.
The farmers Aberdine Angus watch you as you look around the site the occasinal very sweet blackberry pops into you mouth.
Below you, you can see the dish of Jodrel Bank radio telescope.In the mid distance you can see a railway bridge, built from some 18 million bricks which were originally ordered for Macclesfield and Congleton at the time of swithching to the modern size.
But still the History does not stop. The village of Astbury at the base of the hill has a church. In this church Oliver Cromwell stabled his horses, both cavalry and artillery. From the fields around Astbury church Cromwells canons fired upon the Bridestone Farm. For some reason this point in Staffordshire has always attracted attention.
Do not forget, this was not a backwards area, we have Arbour Lowe, numerous Roman things, AND Reginald Mitchel (SPITFIRE) went to and studied Engineering as I did at Hanley High School
With regards to warnings if you are checking for dog poo you should not be studying old stuff. Look up, not down
I hope this will generate more thoughts, please feel free to contact me.
PS 30 lay lines pass through the Bridga stones.
Regards H
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