The Fairies Parlour -Almscliffe Crags

Almscliffe Crag is a large rock outcrop located on a low hill, 4 miles to the south west of Harrogate. 

The weathered mass of Millstone Grit sits at the southern end of a low ridge, elevating the crags into an even more prominent position, where they can be seen from many miles around. The top of the crags provide a 360° panoramic view, taking in the moors and surrounding farmland, and the valley of the river Wharfe to the south.

It is perhaps no surprise to find that such a notable landmark would feature in the areas folklore, and in this case the crags were believed to be home to the local faerie folk. It is worth noting that these were not the dainty winged creatures of  Victorian imagination, rather they were believed to be supernatural beings, usually invisible to humans, but also able of assume any form when interacting with people. In the past there was a genuine fear of the faery race, as they were thought to be ever present, easily offended, and would cause death or bad luck to anyone who crossed them.

The Old Wife of Danby Rigg

Danby Rigg is a large promontory hill on the northern edge of the North York Moors, 12 miles to the west of Whitby.

The first edition OS map (1857) marks two stones on the east side of the hill as the “Old Wife’s Stones”. Today, a single large boulder remains on the site, while the fate of the second stone is unclear. Identifying the position of the missing stone is not helped by the 1892 edition map which marks the two stones in a slightly different position to the earlier map. Overlaying the maps on the modern aerial view also shows the mapping to be out by several metres – placing the stones a little to the south of the surviving Old Wife’s stone (OW1). Re-aligning both maps on this stone provided two possible positions for the ‘lost’ second stone.

The Giant’s Grave – East Barnby

The hamlet of East Barnby is located four miles to the west of Whitby.

A solitary standing stone known as Wade’s Stone stands in a field to the north of the hamlet. Wade was a legendary giant who lived on the North York Moors, along with his wife Bell – who was also known as the ‘Old Wife’ in local folklore. The Standing stone is located on a low ridge which comes to a slightly raised and rounded end, 50m south of the stone. The stone itself is unusual in that it seems to have been a column of softer sandstone encased in ‘Crow Stone’ – a hard white flint (or Ganister), some of which still clings to the surface.

  The antiquary John Leland, writing in the late 1500’s noted that …

“Mougreve Castelle stondith on upon a craggy hille: and on each side of it is an hille far higher then that whereon the castelle stondith on. The north hille on the toppe of it hath certen stones communely caullid Waddes Grave, whom the people there say to have bene a gigant and owner of Mougreve.”

Buckingham’s Stone – Bilsdale

Buckingham’s Stone is located in Tarn Hole – a large valley on the edge of East Bilsdale Moor, two miles to the south-east of Chop Gate on the North Yorks Moors. (See end note regarding access.)

 The stone is said to be named after George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham, who died at Kirbymoorside in 1687, shortly after hunting in this area. The duke was a flamboyant and controversial character in the royal court, but in later life he retired to Helmsley, and formed the Bilsdale Hunt. Officially he died of Pneumonia after catching a chill while out hunting, however a letter from his friend at that time (lord Arran) indicates that he actually died from an infection and gangrene in his ‘private parts’, after falling from his horse.

Raise the Julenek!

(A Yule related post inspired by the Old Wife’s Neck.)

  Our Scandinavian cousins have preserved a Yuletide custom known as the Julenek – a sheaf of grain stalks kept over from the summer harvest, which is then hung up outside on Christmas eve. The custom was apparently condemned in the 1700’s as having pagan origins, but today it is still a popular Christmas decoration in Nordic countries.

  ‘Nek’ is an old Scandinavian word for a harvested sheaf of grain (oats, barley, wheat etc) while Jule / Yule is the week long period around the winter solstice. So the Julenek is the ‘midwinter Sheaf’.

  Today, the purpose of the Julenek is said to provide a food supply for winter birds, and as a symbol of charity and caring for animals at Christmas. A story attached to the Julenek tradition tells how a poor man gave one of his last sheaves to provide food and shelter for the birds on Christmas Eve. The birds prayed that God would help the man, and the following morning the grains of the Julenek were turned to gold. This Christian charity element may have been emphasised to allow the continued use of the Julenek after the accusations that it had pagan overtones.