St Ninian's Church (Ninekirks)

Trip No.188  Entry No.1  Date Added: 18th Sep 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 13th Sep 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: St Ninian's Church, Ninekirks: We parked in a very small car park which is at the start of a green lane/permissive footpath, at NY 55815 28944. This was quite tricky to spot as the entrance to the car park is small and hidden by tall grass.

The permissive footpath initially leads us a gentle slope at the northern side of a very recently ploughed field, with the River Eamont downslope to our left. The path then turns northwards, still with a steep drop down to a loop of the river, but with pasture to our right. The sheep here were so large they looked like calves.

Through the trees, we could see a large tower attached to a large building, so it came as a bit of a shock to drop down to river level and see the church was so small. It turned out that the building we could see was on top of a hill on the northern side of the river.

Whilst there was no church guide book, the notes left by the Churches Conservation Trust were very helpful.

Beautiful spot, and well worth the walk.

Stanger Spa

Date Added: 8th Sep 2022
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jun 2020. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Stanger Spa Well, Embleton: The well is approached by a narrow causeway which runs through a boggy area, terminating at the well house. At the time of our visit, the land around the well was very wet, and in places there were deep puddles of water around the edges of the well house.

Whilst there were lots of other walkers in the area, I didn't see anyone else look at the well house.

An interesting spot and well worth visiting.

St Anne's Well (Shap)

Date Added: 6th Sep 2022
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 12th Jun 2020. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St Anne's Well, Shap: Stopped off for a break on one of very rare essential car journeys during lockdown, when exercise restrictions had been relaxed slightly. A lovely spot, although difficult to park as the long, thin, layby next to the motorway maintenance compound was full with cars of other walkers and dog walkers.

Heading east to walk around the forested areas, the noise of the motorway disappeared, and it was easy to spot the small area of limestone pavement this well is located in.

A very peaceful and lovely spot, although a fair way from any habitation in this era.

Long Meg And Her Daughters

Trip No.185  Entry No.2  Date Added: 21st Aug 2022
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2022. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Long Meg and Her Daughters: We walked along the quiet, shady old hollow ways from St Michael's and All Angels, Addingham to Long Meg and her daughters, coming across a well by the side of the track, plus a solitary standing stone in a field just north of Long Meg. The latter was too close to the field boundary to be a rubbing stone. It wasn't marked on the OS map, nor is it mentioned on the Historic England map search or the entry for Long Meg.

We took my daughter-in-law, son and their two dogs along, and they were amazed it was 'a proper stone circle'. The base of Long Meg itself is currently being used as a shrine, with people leaving offerings even as we walked up to this stone - including flowers, key rings and even a pair of sunglasses!

The rock art on Long Meg stood out well in the bright sunlight. The site was very busy today, and the field full of large cattle, who fortunately kept their distance.

Preston Park Museum (Stockton on Tees)

Trip No.186  Entry No.2  Date Added: 12th Aug 2022
Site Type: Museum Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 10th Aug 2022. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Preston Park Museum (Kirklevington Stones): I'd tried to arrange a visit here a couple of months before the first pandemic lockdown hit, but the museum closed early, and it's been well over two years until I was able to rearrange the visit.

Some of the Kirklevington Stones are one display (some of the more important ones behind glass), some in the museum store. A small archaeology section, but with impressive exhibits.

Got to see the museum store, but the stones were stored on the floor under a very deep shelf, so some of them were impossible to photograph properly, which was disappointing.

I personally preferred this museum to Beamish, as there were more shops to go into in their Victorian Street, a small cafe, which wasn't too busy (most people were queued up in the cafe in the park), and small, but interesting exhibits.

St Peter's Church (Croft-on-Tees)

Trip No.186  Entry No.1  Date Added: 12th Aug 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes on 10th Aug 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St Peter's Church, Croft on Tees: The church's wedding co-ordinator kindly opened the church for us at very short notice, and acted as our guide for our brief visit. A very lovely church, right next to the River Tees. Sadly, the stone recorded on the Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture as Croft on Tees 01 had been moved to the Bowes Museum, and was about to be transferred to Newcastle as part of the celebrations of the Lindisfarne Gospels returning to that part of the world. This was disappointing, as this was the stone I most wanted to see.

A couple of bonuses were the additional stones built into the external fabric of the building, which we walked around to see what we could spot.

Our grand-daughter, Alice, was partly named after 'Alice in Wonderland', so it was good to be able to take a photograph of the sculpture which is said to have inspired Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat.

St Martin's Church (Kirklevington)

Date Added: 9th Aug 2022
Site Type: Early Christian Sculptured Stone Country: England (Yorkshire (North))
Visited: Yes. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St Martin's Church, Kirklevington: Visited just before first lockdown was enforced. The church wardens opened the church for us and made us very welcome, but what we didn't know before our visit was that most of the stones are at the Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees. #

There is obviously some 'bad blood' between the congregation and the museum, as the church warden and the ladies cleaning the church made it very clear they think the stones have been 'stolen' and belong in the church.

Am trying to arrange a visit to the museum at some time in the future.

St Oswald's Church (Dean)

Trip No.184  Entry No.3  Date Added: 31st Jul 2022
Site Type: Rock Art Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 24th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: St Oswald's Church (Dean): Having left St Michael and All Angels at Isel, we visited the well in Eaglesfield and tried to find the Singing Well just outside Deanscales. The latter we could see over the hedge, but were unable to gain access to the field it sits in from the road. Parking by the lych gate of the church, walking along the southern side of the church, the preaching cross is easily visible, sitting on what looks like the base of a large market cross, with seven steps. The cross at the top is topped by a 'modern' (18th century) sundial.

We spent some considerable time in the church with the notes provided, tracking and photographing the medieval grave slabs that were visible. Enjoyed this visit.

St Michael and All Angels (Isel)

Trip No.184  Entry No.2  Date Added: 31st Jul 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 24th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: St Michael and All Angels, Isel/Blindcrake: We had first visited the Grade II listed medieval well in Blindcrake at NY 1486 3482, which has a domed well head very similar to the holy well at Brompton.

This is a very, very pretty location for a church, and the inside did not disappoint. There are two fragments of the same cross shaft displayed immediately opposite as you walk in through the south porch, a couple of fragments built into the walls, and four sun-dials. We went armed with Guy Points's Cumbria Gazetteer, and found all the stones he mentioned.

Mercat Cross (Kirkcudbright)

Trip No.183  Entry No.4  Date Added: 22nd Jul 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Mercat Cross, Tolbooth, Kirkcudbright: We'd stopped to see the old well at Mclellan's Castle (not named, just a water supply for the castle, so not recorded here), then walked across to the High Street. This is a lovely old market cross, now displayed high on the steps of the Tolbooth. Well worth walking across town to the High Street, as there are some great historic, old buildings to see. Perhaps a little late for the Portal, this cross being 17th century, but well worth a visit. There is also a well/well head underneath the cross.

Stewartry Museum

Trip No.183  Entry No.3  Date Added: 22nd Jul 2022
Site Type: Museum Country: Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Stewartry Museum: We arrived at the museum with 10 minutes to go until closing, having been to St Cuthbert's Church almost next door, only to discover that the 8th century cross arm was not in that church, but now located in the museum.

Our thanks go to Isla who obtained permission for me to upload photographs to the Portal (she admits to being a keen follower of the Portal, especially stones!), and for her enthusiasm and time in showing us the cross fragments, and also the rock art and rock art impressions they have at the museum.

Would love to come back and spend more time here. A small museum, reminiscent of a smaller Hunterian museum, with lots of things packed into a relatively small ground floor room, some interesting modern sculptures (including Odin's Throne) and impressions of rock art panels stored outside adjacent to the street.

St Winning's Well (Kirkgunzeon)

Trip No.182  Entry No.1  Date Added: 20th Jul 2022
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway)
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 2 Access 4

Log Text: St Winning's Well, Kirkgunzeon: We parked near the telephone kiosk in the village, at about NX 86783 66771, and walked back to the small cross-roads, then north-westwards up the little dead-end lane. A very pretty spot. We had the grid reference of the well, so were looking around, when the owner of the large house round the corner came out to see if we were lost. He also warned us that the person who lived in the cottage at the very end of the lane was very wary of strangers, so helped us find the well. of which he told us there was nothing left. There is a small section of closely mown grass at the end of the white cottage with old threshing (?) wheel at the end, and the stand of trees under which the well is located. We walked up the 10m or so of this path and were able to see into the bowl of what was the well. It was dry at the time of our visit, although some remnants of the stonework forming its crude bowl were visible under the shrubbery. Better, perhaps, to visit in the winter when this has all died down.

Roman Bridge Remains (Bitts Park)

Trip No.181  Entry No.1  Date Added: 17th Jul 2022
Site Type: Ancient Trackway Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 17th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 1 Access 4

Log Text: Roman Bridge Remains, Bitts Park: A lovely park, and a lovely walk. Stones are hidden largely in deep shade between the main avenue running along the northern side of the park and the river. We needed to drop down onto the sandy paths below the avenue, and follow the river along. The four stone 'sculptures' come into view first. The rectangular 'display' of stones is about another 100m further westwards.

Cross Shaped Stone of Keverigg

Trip No.180  Entry No.4  Date Added: 11th Jul 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Cross Shaped Stone of Keverigg: We went looking for the boundary stone inscribed with a cross, as marked on the modern OS map, but were unable to find it (grass too high and lots of lichen and moss on surrounding rocks to be able to make out the carved cross).

My impression of this particular stone is that it's the remnants of a quarried stone (or natural), as it lies on/near a long line of limestone pavement.

St Michael's Well (Shawk)

Date Added: 10th Jul 2022
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 25th Jun 2020. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: St Michael's Well, Shawk: Situated in a very lovely, heavily wooded area, to the east of a stream, Chalk Beck, which has stepping stones over it (these appear to move and be replaced when the stream floods, as there are several sets).

There is no mention on Pastscape or HE, although the HE map search shows a ‘W’ at the location of the well.

To reach the well, we parked on the grass verge at NY 33234 47664, and walked down the (private?) lane leading first south, then largely eastwards, past a number of properties, including the first which is called ‘Farthings’. At NY 33679 47362, the footpath carries on eastwards, through a gate; there is a private road which continues to the south. Our OS map indicated the well was nearer a footpath which started at NY 33653 47097, and which ran largely eastwards, but after 150m or so, it became so overgrown, we turned back.

We proceeded down the marked footpath at NY 33679 47362, where there are now a couple of wooden stables/sheds. There is an old hollow way which runs alongside the western side of the wood here, and we continued along this, through another gate, and followed the path which ran downhill, with a steep gorge to our right hand side. This path winds downhill, eventually coming to some stones laid across the course of Chalk Beck. We gingerly crossed this (wouldn’t like to try when the river is in flood or after it had been raining heavily). The well is immediately to our right hand side, about 20m to the east of the beck, largely hidden by tall grass and bracken.

The well structure is stone, with an opening in the top. The well was about 1/3 full of water, although we didn’t try and sample the water, as someone had thrown in a beer/lager can (a real shame). No visible signs of any ornamentation on the well housing.

The bedding planes on what we thought are red sandstone here were very clear, with a cliff on the western side of the river. Impressive!

Bampton Grange Cross

Trip No.180  Entry No.2  Date Added: 10th Jul 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Bampton Grange Cross: A glorious day. We'd previously seen this cross in August 2020, when lockdown restrictions had been briefly lifted for a short time, but I didn't post any photographs. That day had been grey and the cemetery busy with people strimming grass around family graves. Today was glorious, and we had the cemetery to ourselves (living people, that is).

This cross has had a hard life, but has spectacular views over the fells.

We finished this visit with a trip to the Bampton Village Store which served teas, toasties and cream teas, and were made very welcome. NY 51505 18200, with a parking area to the side of the store.

Plague Stone (Penrith)

Trip No.180  Entry No.1  Date Added: 10th Jul 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Plague Stone/Cross Base, Penrith: We've driven by this site many a time without realising this stone was here. A bit difficult to find somewhere to park, as the stone is near the hospital, community college and fire station, but there is a modern housing estate, so disk parking is available along Tynefield Drive.

The stone was easily found, once we picked it out from amongst the shadows of the surrounding trees.

I wasn't aware of The Great Plague of Cumbria until I researched more about this stone. Definitely a re-purposed cross base. Shame it's being used as a rubbish bin by people who pass by.

St Mary's Well (Heversham)

Trip No.179  Entry No.4  Date Added: 22nd Jun 2022
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 21st Jun 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: St Mary's Well, Heversham: Spotted the blue 'W' on the HE map search when looking up information for St Peter's Church, so decided to have a look. Actually found the well purely by chance, when we drove past looking for a parking spot, then doubled back and parked near the lych gate, walking back to the well after we'd photographed the Anglo-Saxon stone fragments.

Having escaped the noise of building work (and radios) at home, we arrived to find the builders in the house opposite the well blasting out very loud rap music. Not a great visit as a result, as we couldn't hear ourselves think, but good to have added another well to the list I've seen.

Anchorite Well (Kendal)

Trip No.178  Entry No.2  Date Added: 22nd Jun 2022
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 21st Jun 2022. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Anchorite Well, Kendal: a short-ish walk from Trinity Church (Kendal Parish Church), through a modern housing estate. The roads have some interesting names: Buttery Well Road (couldn't find the well, though), Mint Cake Cottages and Kirkbarrow.

The well was easily spotted as there is a large green metal sign at the entrance to the site.

Beautifully clear water. Would have liked to have been able to walk all the way around the well pool, but the western side path was private access only to the cottages.

St Peter's Church (Heversham)

Trip No.178  Entry No.3  Date Added: 22nd Jun 2022
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Cumbria)
Visited: Yes on 21st Jun 2022. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: St Peter's Church, Heversham: A lovely little village, but so very full of builders with loud radios, which there was no avoiding.

Inside the church was quiet, but a number of other visitors who came and went. We looked at the cross shaft (and the very old south door) in the south porch, and easily found the small fragment in the external wall to the east of the porch, in the south wall.

The church itself was simple and unremarkable, apart from an old wooden pew which was carved with the date 1626, and a huge chest at the east end of the north aisle, which dates from1400.