e I am interested in holy wells, standing stones and ancient crosses; also anything old, prehistoric, or unusual. Mermaid Carving at Zennor Church in Cornwall. [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. 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. Categories: Myths And Legends, Natural Rock Formation, Natural Stone Or Other | Tags: The Bridestones near Todmorden in West Yorkshire | Permalink. t Dun Aengus Fort, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Southern Ireland (The Republic ofIreland). the main regional groupings of such megalithic long cairns, these lying mainly There is a legend that says the name Bridestones came about because a Viking chieftain and his bride to be were buried here, however the name probably comes from Briddes Stones or even Brigante Stones from the ancient British tribe who inhabited the area in the 1st century AD. We offer full pack-out capabilities for kitting and assembling, secured storage and weekly activity reports. There is even a rock-house at Fast Ends above Bridestones Farm at(OSgrid ref:SD 9277 2690). STOP! The Bridestones, Cheshire SJ 9062 6219. It was several days before he was able to tell his wife the true story and he finally contacted a well-known acquaintance who he could trust to investigate the goings on of that evening. This tool provides an estimated delivery date and the days-in-transit for the selected lane. Dun Aengus Fort, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Southern Ireland (The Republic of Ireland). Biddulph Moor, with extensive views across the Cheshire plain to the west. The Marsden Cross, Marsden Heights, Near Nelson,Lancashire. their longevity as a monument type, all long cairns are considered to be Please note:road access is via Dalby Forest,toll payable toForestry Commission(incl. Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, Near Amesbury,Wiltshire. The remains of a Neolithic Chambered Tomb on the crest of Bosley Cloud overlooking Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire. A contractor cutting bricks for the wall of the partially-restored wild and natural walled garden at Warley Place, Brentwood. One legend says that a recently married couple were murdered at the location, and the stones were laid around their grave. There are a number of myths and legends associated with The Bridestones, many of these going back to the mists of time. August 31, 2016 by sunbright57 1 Comment. OS grid reference: SD 9334 26750. Other stones were used to build the adjacent house and farm, while yet more were recycled into an ornamental garden in Tunstall Park which remain there. Search over 1 million photographs and drawings from the 1850s to the present day using our images archive. which successive burials or cremations were placed during the Early Neolithic Free entry to Dalby Forest when you visit car-free. These imposing structures would be at least as old as the Egyptian pyramids. In the 1760s some of the stones were used for the nearby road (Dial Lane), while other stones were used in the building of Bridestones farm; other stones from the monument have ended up in Tunstall Park, Stoke-on-Trent. Pike Low, Near Briercliffe, Burnley,Lancashire. If the Brigantian goddess was venerated here, the date of the most active festivities would have been February 1-2, or Old Wives Feast day as it was known in the north.. being c.110m long x 11m wide. Today only one main chamber 6 metres in length remains originally there would have been three chambers or compartments. 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. Bridestones Griff separates the two groups of stones and leads to the grassy valley of Dovedale and its ancient woodland and rippling beck. There is a trig point at the summit of 437 metres which provides splendid views across the upper Calderdale and South . National Trust members). Generated by ZB-Block 0.7.0, based on code originally written by Zaphod. Today only one main chamber 6 metres in length remains originally there would have beenthree chambers or compartments. 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. St Johns Church and Witchs Grave at Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, NorthStaffordshire. The Bridestones are known locally as a mythical and spiritual place, sitting high on the moor above the Staffordshire Moorland Town of Biddulph, a few miles east of Congleton. Referer: Over 500 years old the Hall contains an important collection of paintings, and there is also a knot garden. Originally an earthen mound upto 300feet (90m) in length running north to east covered the tomb making for a verygrand burial mound. In keeping with the spirit of the time, however, he saw the rocks as the natural haunt of a large settlement of Druids a vast variety of rocks and stones so scattered about the common, that at first view the whole looked something like a temple of the serpentine kind. Access is via Dalby Forest Drive, toll payable to Forestry Commission (incl. Source Historic England Archive BB83/04456. Or they might perhaps take their name from bride as in bride and groom at a wedding ceremony, which harks back to times, long ago, when weddings supposedly took place on the moor where the outcrops of rocks now known as Bridestones are located. d If you can fix the issue yourself (such as using a different browser, connecting through a different Internet provider, etc) please do so. It is These native snakes are Britains only venomous species, but you can admire them from a respectful distance. 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. Categories: Burial Chambers, The Bridestones | Tags: The Bridestones at Timbersbrook in Cheshire | Permalink. c Maiden Castle Hill-Fort, Near Dorchester,Dorset. The Bridestones Dial Lane, Congleton CW12 3QJ England Best nearby Restaurants 37 within 5 kms Coach And Horses Congleton 10 1.7 kmSeafood British Pub Diner The Castle Inn 596 2.5 km - Seafood British Pub The Talbot 807 2.6 km - Bar British Pub See all Attractions 36 within 10 kms Biddulph Grange Garden Cloud (IPV4:L1010). Please do not change the subject line, nor the first few lines of the body text.Click HERE to start a trouble ticket. Holiday/Weekend pickups should be coordinated with your local service center. About Me About The Journal OfAntiquities. the bridestones staffordshire. 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. 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. Dedicated to Bride, goddess of the Brigantine people, like her triple-aspect we find a triple-aspect to the outcrops here: to the west are the Bride Stones; to the east, the Little Bride Stones; with the Great Bride Stones as the central group, surveying everything around here. For further information visit forestryengland.uk. There was a large heap of stones that covered the whole, a hundred and twenty yards long and twelve yards broad. Preview trail 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. Est. It was constructed with its apex pointing to the East to catch the first rays of the rising sun, and as the sun would set, so the Western extremity would be bathed in golden sunlight from the disappearing sun. The site was originally 100m long and 11m wide but one of the main stones was removed for road building, revealing the chamber inside. Over thousands of years, the layers of hard sandstone alternating with softer calcareous layers have been eroded by wind, frost and rain. slabs set on edge and divided into two by a now broken cross slab. south-western or western Scotland. All things to see and do Facilities Car park Nearest car park: Bridestones car park in Dalby Forest. 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. Rowland in 1766 suggests the stones were a place of Druid ritual. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 11 min to complete. Find the travel option that best suits you on this page. 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. Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping is a three pawprint rated place. 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. The site was excavated in the 18th century and suffered damage including the removal of some stones. Despite the removal of the covering cairn, the Bridestones long cairn retains The sides of the cave, if I may so call it, were originally composed of two unhewn free stones, about eighteen feet in length, six in height and fourteen inches thick at a medium. Accessible toilet at Staindale Lake car park (not National Trust). Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. local communities over a considerable period of time. The Carved Stone Heads of Ribchester inLancashire. Over the last 200 years the monument has suffered from robbery of the stones. The Brink Ends Cairn, Near Wycoller, Lancashire. Alternatively, the Old English word for "birds" was "briddes"; the stones in their original form could have resembled birds, giving rise to "Briddes stones". Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership. Nearest station - Malton, 12 miles. 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. revealed cobbling which included a charcoal layer containing flint blades and 1 The Bridestones are located on the border between Staffordshire and Cheshire (SJ908622), three miles from Congleton and seven miles from Leek on a hill called the 'Cloud' at a height of 820 feet. 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. One huge boulder in particular, known as The Great Bridestone is fantastically shapedat its base, looking like an up-turned bottle,as if it might topple over at any moment. Bridestones nature reserve. . Explore the many ways you can help to support the incredibly rich and varied heritage. The Marsden Cross, Marsden Heights, Near Nelson,Lancashire. Listed on the National Heritage List for England. 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. Sadly, stones that formed the forecourt have been taken away leaving a much smaller monument. Find out about services offered by Historic England for funding, planning, education and research, as well as training and skill development. A group of volunteers from The Friends of Balaam's Wood Local Nature Reserve clearing brambles at Gannow Green Moated Site, New Frankley in Birmingham, Two horsemen reading The Sportsman, 30 Oct 1902, Farnborough, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. Today the monument is protected by fencing with trees and shrubbery making the monument more secluded. (LogOut/ Uninterested in either archaeology or paranormal phenomena he ran back to his car and tried to start it, but this was in vain. About Me About The Journal OfAntiquities. A story in the Phenomena Magazine in 2011 reports that on 16thJune 1991, Bill, a local businessman was travelling back home to Leek from Chester in the small hours and on the way, having drunk several coffees in Chester, stopped to relieve himself at 1.30 in the morning. There are 6 ways to get from London to The Bridestones by train, bus, car or plane. Take a look at the map of Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping to help plan your visit. 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. The Bridestones at Timbersbrook in Cheshire. the bridestones staffordshire . 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. [5], The largest single ransacking of the monument was the removal of several hundred tons to construct the nearby turnpike road. 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. Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions. l Where investigated they appear to 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. A second chamber in the centre of the mound was recorded as measuring [1] The site is protected as a scheduled ancient monument. 1989 Licence number 102006.006. Using an old browser means that some parts of our website might not work correctly. Change). Bride Stones, west Yorks (Sphinx- like formation). A lovely 9.5 mile walk past the Bridestones up to The Cloud. is a forecourt originally surrounded by a complete or partial circle of stones Mermaid Carving at Zennor Church inCornwall. As he brushed himself down and got his bearings, he noticed his hands were emitting showers of sparks as through charged with electricity. The Bridestones near Todmorden in West Yorkshire, Lenora's Culture Center and Foray into History. The reason(s) your connection was interrupted are:Bothost and/or Server Farm. semi-circular form with two conjectural stones completing the circle. The stones may have once been seen as a petrified wedding party. Sadly, stones that formed the forecourt have been taken away leaving a much smaller monument. community, often with only partial human remains selected for interment. 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. They are said to have lived in a wooden structure or homestead that was connectedbetween the two large rocks; one of the oblong-shaped rocks having square-shaped openings in its side, which must have taken a great deal of time to carve out. The whole complex is now just over 100 metres in length with the cairn 11 metres in width. The Bridestones Neolithic chambered long cairn. c The Pillar of Eliseg near Llangollen, Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych), NorthWales. Brink Ends Cairn, Near Wycoller,Lancashire. Find out useful info on exploring with your canine companion, plus guidance to ensure everyone enjoys their visit. l [5], Excavations of the site were done by Professor Fleur of Manchester University in 1936 and 1937, with the aim of restoring the site as much as possible to its former condition.[5]. Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever. Carn Euny Entrance Grave at Brane inCornwall. Bus connections from York. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. stones stood within the circle and two stood outside the circle to the east. Discover fascinating rock formations hewn by the elements from Jurassic-era sedimentary rock over millennia, then spot wildlife in the surrounding Bridestones nature reserve. Bridestones, (a possible cup-marked rock). To help with this, we've created a new pawprint rating system and given all the places in our care a rating. Indeed there is a15 foot highoval-shaped, weathered rock called Great Bride Stone and beside it a smaller rounded rock called the groom stone. View all posts by historyfox, Design a site like this with WordPress.com, https://www.stokearchaeologysociety.org.uk/Bridestones/The%20Bridestones%20final%20pro.pdf. LKQ Pick Your Part - Santa Fe Springs We update our salvage yard daily with the largest selection of used vehicles to pick and pull OEM used auto parts. Recommended option. Post: Fantastic views on a sunny and frosty day Other rocks have been givennames, too, arising from one perception or another. There are 4 ways to get from Bristol to The Bridestones by train, bus or car. accessible toilet, 85m/280ft from Bridestones car park (Forestry England). Billingsley goes on to point out that: Taylor [Ian Taylor,1993], has suggested an identification of Bride with theOld Wife or Gaelic Cailleach, a traditional spiritual denizen of wild places more usually associated with the Irish goddess Danu; a local appearance of this hag figure may well be the Old Woman. Sinners Well / Gratton Lane Well, Endon, NorthStaffordshire, Tunstall Park Glacial Boulder, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, NorthStaffordshire. In the present day though there have been a number of people who have married here in recent years. Cup-Marked Stone on Delves Lane, near Nelson, Lancashire. a The goddess divine qualities were those of healing, smithcraft, poetry, and mother-hood. The views from the place stretch out spectacularly over the vast Cheshire Plain. Several bits of bone were also found, but so small that it could not be discovered whether they were human or not. Recommended option. This is a very popular area for hiking and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.