[5], The largest single ransacking of the monument was the removal of several hundred tons to construct the nearby turnpike road. Train 2h 37m. Listed on the National Heritage List for England. For further information visit forestryengland.uk. This location is popular with walkers and also off road cyclists and rock climbers. Biddulph Moor, with extensive views across the Cheshire plain to the west. Heritage Apprentices in a training session on the Researching The Historic Environment module and training in Architectural Photography. Holiday/Weekend pickups should be coordinated with your local service center. Sinners Well / Gratton Lane Well, Endon, NorthStaffordshire, Tunstall Park Glacial Boulder, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, NorthStaffordshire. Sinners Well / Gratton Lane Well, Endon, North Staffordshire, Tunstall Park Glacial Boulder, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, North Staffordshire. As one of the few types of Neolithic structures to survive as are six upright free stones, from three to six feet broad, of various heights and shapes, fixed about six feet from each other in a semicircular form, and two within, where the earth is very black, mixed with ashes and oak-charcoal. Originally an earthen mound upto 300feet (90m) in length running north to east covered the tomb making for a verygrand burial mound. [1] The site is protected as a scheduled ancient monument. The site had immense religious importance to our ancestors. Climb to the top of the Bridestones, the remains of Jurassic-era sedimentary rock deposited 150 million years ago. The site was originally 100m long and 11m wide but one of the main stones was removed for road building, revealing the chamber inside. Dun Aengus Fort, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Southern Ireland (The Republic of Ireland). Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. h A trail called Old Wifes Way starts just north of the car park. First described in local deeds as early as 1491, there are a great number of severely weathered boulders all round, many like frozen giants haunting a magickal landscape. Cup-Marked Stone on Delves Lane, near Nelson,Lancashire. Mermaid Carving at Zennor Church in Cornwall. Each of them is now broken in two. And there are many interesting rock basins to be seen. © Crown Copyright and database right 2023. tombs, often megalithic in character, which served as vaults or chambers in The remains of a Neolithic Chambered Tomb on the crest of Bosley Cloud overlooking Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire. All rights reserved. The Bridestones at Timbersbrook in Cheshire. local communities over a considerable period of time. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and running, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Neolithic chambered cairn in Cheshire, England, sfn error: no target: CITEREFRevealing_Cheshire's_Past (, List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire, Scheduled Monuments in Cheshire (pre-1066), "The Bridestones Neolithic chambered long cairn (1011115)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Bridestones&oldid=1083713219, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 April 2022, at 07:19. Destination Postal Code. Find out how to get to Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping, where to park, the things to see and do and more. Author Paul Bennett in his work The Old Stones of Elmet, says of the Bridestones that it is: A beautiful, remarkable and powerful site of obvious veneration. F.ALeyland cites names known in the nineteenth century, like Table Rock and Toad Rock. There are 6 ways to get from London to The Bridestones by train, bus, car or plane. Close to the Long Causeway and justeast of Todmorden, West Yorkshire, are the Bridestones, outcrops of millstone grit rocks and boulders whichare a mile long. To the north of the Bridestones, Blakey Topping stands out as an isolated summit, some 60m above the surrounding land. The reason being for this suggestion is that when the individual made their vows, it is thought that the indwelling spirit contained in the different monoliths would impart different qualities, a massive stone imparted greatness, an upright stone uprightness and so on. Access is via Dalby Forest Drive 2.5 miles north of Thornton-le-Dale, toll payable (inc. National Trust members), open 8am-8pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Dating from 3500 to 2400BC a long cairn is a burial chamber made of stone and associated with high status burials. Recommended option. Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, Near Amesbury,Wiltshire. See our extensive range of expert advice to help you care for and protect historic places. We offer custom design solutions for various industries, including retail, food and beverage, and industrial products. e Categories: Burial Chambers, The Bridestones | Tags: The Bridestones at Timbersbrook in Cheshire | Permalink. The results are the strange and wonderful shapes left standing today. The carnivorous sundew plant survives in this poor soil by capturing insects on its sticky leaves. Dun Aengus Fort, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Southern Ireland (The Republic ofIreland). Ray Spencer, The Journal Of Antiquities. As he staggered back to his car, he found the key still in the ignition and his clothes in a bundle on the passenger seat. Query: sid=473021467 The views from the place stretch out spectacularly over the vast Cheshire Plain. earthworks, and due to their comparative rarity, their considerable age and Bridestones Griff separates the two groups of stones and leads to the grassy valley of Dovedale and its ancient woodland and rippling beck. Situated on the Cheshire-Staffordshire border, the Bridestones are a Neolithic chambered long cairn. Sadly, stones that formed the forecourt have been taken away leaving a much smaller monument. The forecourt was surrounded by six stones in Two These fascinating features of the landscape are all that remains of a sandstone cap of sedimentary rock that was deposited during the Jurassic period, some 150 million years ago. accessible toilet, 85m/280ft from Bridestones car park (Forestry England). Bridestones, west Yorkshire (the rock-house). Maiden Castle Hill-Fort, Near Dorchester,Dorset. The Bridestones -A Neolithic Chambered Long Cairn. The Carved Stone Heads of Ribchester inLancashire. For any other issue or if you need help, please email: Our website works best with the latest version of the browsers below, unfortunately your browser is not supported. Categories: Myths And Legends, Natural Rock Formation, Natural Stone Or Other | Tags: The Bridestones near Todmorden in West Yorkshire | Permalink. The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. Over the last 200 years the monument has suffered from robbery of the stones. But the name probably comesfrom Briddes Stones or even Brigante Stones from the ancient British tribe who inhabited the area in the 1st century AD. The Bridestones are located about a mile north-east of Eastwood Road - where a footpath runs across the often boggy moor to the outcrops. It is a place of great curiosity to those who happen to chance upon it as well as those who are familiar with its history and legends. There is a legend thatsays the name Bridestones came about because a Viking chieftain and his bride to be were buried here. Perhaps the name Bride is very old and derives from the early British Breiad, the Gaelic Braidh, the Icelandic Bryddir and the Danish Bred. semi-circular form with two conjectural stones completing the circle. England. Just above the rock-house there are some large, flat rocks which look to have ancient cup-marks but there are also larger, circular depressions that are naturally-formed by rainwater although its sometimes difficult to tell whichare natural and whichare man-made! Dun Aengus Fort, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Southern Ireland (The Republic ofIreland). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Change). This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. SJ 9062 6219. 12 Miles from Malton train station (hilly). IP Address: 69.163.250.162 People who were being married at the Bridestones were known to make their vows by putting their hands through the circular opening in the burial chamber which divided the two halves, but sadly this no longer exists, locally this became known as Bridies Wedding Ring. Cup-Marked Stone on Delves Lane, near Nelson, Lancashire. Modern climbers have named rocks themselves, like the Indians Head and Spy Hole Pinnacle, as well as giving equally vivid names, like theObscene Cleft, to specific routes. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Bridestones, (a possible cup-marked rock). Sinners Well / Gratton Lane Well, Endon, NorthStaffordshire, Tunstall Park Glacial Boulder, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, NorthStaffordshire. g the main regional groupings of such megalithic long cairns, these lying mainly Reconstructed URL: https:// www.megalithic.co.uk /article.php?sid=473021467 1989 All rights reserved. There is even a rock-house at Fast Ends above Bridestones Farm at(OSgrid ref:SD 9277 2690). Brink Ends Cairn, Near Wycoller,Lancashire. Discover our different types of membership, A walk around the Bridestones offers panoramic views, About Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping, Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping access statement, Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping map, Visiting the Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping with your dog, Things to do at the Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping, The Bridestones has peculiar shaped rocks, heather moorland, ancient woodland and wildflower-rich meadows to explore. the bridestones staffordshire. August 31, 2016 by sunbright57 1 Comment. It was largely carted away for roadmaking that Nearest station - Malton, 12 miles. The cairn originally had a stone circle surrounding it, with four portal stones; two of these portal stones still remain. This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. The report provides a detailed description of the site at the time along with a plate giving a plan of the site.[4]. o Post: k The stones are potentially over 5,000 years old and have a special existential energy to them. of which 3 survive. Alternatively, the Old English word for birds was briddes, the stones when in their original form could have resembled birds, giving rise to Briddes stones. c The site is of huge importance both historically and archaeologically. Where investigated they appear to considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation. Fantastic views on a sunny and frosty day farming communities and, as such, are amongst the oldest field monuments The Marsden Cross, Marsden Heights, Near Nelson, Lancashire. Other rocks have been givennames, too, arising from one perception or another. This was reputedly caused by an engineer from the Manchester Ship Canal, who used the stone to demonstrate a detonator. The name Bridestones may relate to the ancient Goddess Bride or Bridget who was the fertility goddess of the Brigantes, a tribe associated with the area north of the River Mersey. a Limited excavation of the forecourt during the 1930's Spread over 300 acres, the nature reserve surrounding the Bridestones is a high, wild and inspiring place. Nearest car park: Bridestones car park in Dalby Forest. south-western or western Scotland. a flint scraper. It is Before this large-scale ransacking occurred, it appears that the Bridestones was an incredible monument, perhaps unique in England. The moor is not burnt to create habitat for grouse shooting or sheep farming which means mosses, lichens and invertebrates thrive. The light was moving directly and quickly towards him from the direction of the stones. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 26 min to complete. These rock forma-tions have been made by the ravages of time wind and rain over thousands of years weathering away the soft grit-stone into strange andcurious shapes, and there are indeed some strange-shaped rocks some looking like human heads and faces (the sphinx), while others look like prehistoric birds, a gianttortoise, anda bear, and theres even a huge anvil-shaped rock. At a fork, bear left towards Blakey Topping to go on across the moorland of Crosscliff, or continue straight on towards the Bridestones or Dalby Forest. All rights reserved. Search over 400,000 listed places Overview Official List Entry Comments and Photos Overview Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument List Entry Number: 1011115 Date first listed: 08-Nov-1928 Little Moreton Hall (LogOut/ Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping is a three pawprint rated place. new ulm: mn: composite sealing systems div advanced products business unt 33 defco park road north haven ct united states 06473-0296 ph: (203) 239-3341 fax: (203) 234-7233 013649 . The whole burial chamber was supposedly an impressive 110 metres in length and 11 metres wide. A drystone wall, all fences and information signs are excluded from the Bridestones nature reserve. A low-growing plant, its usually confined to northern mountains and is extremely uncommon south of the Scottish Highlands. Carn Euny Entrance Grave at Brane in Cornwall. c It is fascinating to think that people were here that long ago using this space as an important spiritual place and as a sacred portal to another realm. Boswell, Geoff, On The Tops around Todmorden, (Revised Edition), Delta G, Hollinroyd Farm, Todmorden, 1988. http://www.hebdenbridgehistory.org.uk/folklore/bridestones.html, https://megalithix.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/great-bride-stones/, http://www.mypennines.co.uk/south-pennines/walks/301113.html#sthash.AKhGBLJg.dpbs. The Marsden Cross, Marsden Heights, Near Nelson,Lancashire. The ancient monument called The Bridestones chambered tomb is located on a sandstone ridge 800 feet above sea-level 1 mile to the south-east of Timbersbrook and 3 miles east of Congleton on the Cheshire-Staffordshire border. The Bridestones Neolithic chambered long cairn. . Take a look at the map of Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping to help plan your visit. This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. [1][2][3], The state of the site was recorded in the second edition of Henry Rowlands's Mona Antiqua Restaurata (published in 1766), based on a report by Rev. Use our map search to find more listed places. Over thousands of years, the layers of hard sandstone alternating with softer calcareous layers have been eroded by wind, frost and rain. Dont forget to watch where you step there's a small chance you'll stumble upon an adder basking in the early morning sun. Free entry to Dalby Forest when you visit car-free. It is referred to as a burial chamber, chambered tomb and long cairn that dates back to the middle Neolithic period 2,500-3,000 BC. About Me About The Journal OfAntiquities. The Bride has also been locally known as the Bottle Neck. being c.110m long x 11m wide. South of The long cairn covering the chamber was recorded in 1764 as Experience this 4.7-mile loop trail near Pickering, North Yorkshire. St Johns Church and Witchs Grave at Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, NorthStaffordshire. 53, (1939), 14-24Malbon, T, 'Antiqua Restuarata' in Antiqua Restuarata, (1766), 319-20Thompson, FH, 'History of Congleton' in The Archaeology of the Congleton Area, (1970), 3-5OtherCapstick, B, AM 107, (1985)Congleton Chronicle, Darvill, T., MPP Single Monument Class Descriptions - Long Barrows, (1989). features which provided access into the monument. The Pillar of Eliseg near Llangollen, Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych), NorthWales. Reblogged this on Lenora's Culture Center and Foray into History. The whole was covered with long, unhewn, large, flat, free stones since taken away. m At over 1,400 feet above sea-level the Bride-stones on the windswept moors to the east of Todmorden and the Calder Valley,there isa mile longescarpment of Millstone Grit outcrops that stand like rocky sentinels keeping watch over the Pennine moorland. St Johns Church and Witchs Grave at Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, NorthStaffordshire. Lying at the foot of the Pennines and with views across the Cheshire Plain, the Bridestones are said to be unique in England although there are similar examples in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. But undoubtedly the Bridestones was a sacred, magical place, and no-doubt a few thousand years ago it was the abode of druids whoworshippedheathen gods and also officiatedin ritualistic and sacrificial ceremonies, but aside fromthat they were also poets, historians, magicians, physiciansand astronomers. 2023Western Corrugated Design. The ancient monument called 'The Bridestones' chambered tomb is located on a sandstone ridge 800 feet above sea-level 1 mile to the south-east of Timbersbrook and 3 miles east of Congleton on the Cheshire-Staffordshire border. period (3400 - 2400BC). READ THIS BEFORE CONTINUING! A A, etc. The Bridestones are one of the few megalithic sites between Derbyshire and Wales and are well worth a visit if you can put up with incessant dog barking and the occasional Curious Cow. Some 500 long cairns It is a place of great curiosity to those who happen to chance Jurassic rock formations within a nature reserve, featuring heather moorland, wooded hillsides and grassy dales. He noticed he was by the Bridestones and could quite clearly make them out in the midsummers night. People were said to have married here, although whether such lore evolved from a misrepre-sentation of the title, Bride, is unsure. About Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping Top features Countryside Jurassic rock formations within a nature reserve, featuring heather moorland, wooded hillsides and grassy dales. If the link above does not work, please email us at b There were originally four large portal stones, two which stood to the north of the entrance and two to the south. Discover fascinating rock formations hewn by the elements from Jurassic-era sedimentary rock over millennia, then spot wildlife in the surrounding Bridestones nature reserve. This very much damaged monumentconsists of a forecourt (semi-circular) inlayout and twoentrance stones 8-9 feet high that divide the main chamber and anotherwith a hole called a porthole stone. Host / ISP: ps100346.dreamhostps.com Originally two more cairns stood some 50 metres away but these have long since gone due probably to farming. In one side of the chamber it is thought that a ruling chief or another high status individual would have been buried, and in the other half of the chamber his or her personal possessions and food would have been stored in the belief that they would be needed in the next life. Mermaid Carving at Zennor Church inCornwall. Bennett, Paul, The Old Stones of Elmet, Capall Bann Publishing, Milverton, Somerset, 2001. revealed cobbling which included a charcoal layer containing flint blades and The reserve has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), so sensitive land management is very important. It is a sobering thought that the names of our prominent rocks can derive from very early times and are far older than any written records we have.. In the present day though there have been a number of people who have married here in recent years. Maiden Castle Hill-Fort, Near Dorchester,Dorset. Local legend says that Nan Moor and Jack Stone lived at the rock-housea few hundred years ago as guardians of the stones, and they wereproba-bly marriedthere, too. Please do not change the subject line, nor the first few lines of the body text.Click HERE to start a trouble ticket. Preview trail Source Historic England Archive BB98/02592. National Trust members). Our commitment to our brokers and distributors is second to none. There are numerous reports of ghostly sightings and otherworldly apparitions connected to the stones. Stansted Express, Greater Anglia and 3 others operates train once a week from London Stansted Airport (STN) to The Bridestones. There are 4 ways to get from Bristol to The Bridestones by train, bus or car. A dark, shadowy figure has been witnessed in and around the stones and a report in the Congleton Chronicle a few years back stated that a woman with her partner had witnessed a druidic figure in white near to the site. Fortunately the soil missed its target, but it landed to form the heap we see today.