SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

The photo (taken September 5 2012) shows a 'carving' on a rock at Hetchell Crags. I have often been to the Crags (which are in Leeds) but I don't recall ever spotting this 'carving' before. It does not seem natural so I wonder if anyone knows anything about it? Though it is a bit weathered it does not look as if it could be old enough as say the Cup & Ring marked rocks on Ilkley Moor. It probably is recent but it is more elaborate than just someone's rough attempt at carvings that are commonly seen on rocks everywhere.

This photo shows the location of the rock a bit better. It's not the safest place to have done a carving. The carving was more distinct by eye than it appears in the photos.

Roman Roads etc.http://pompocaliandhetchell.co.uk/#/rom ... 4549107425

Thanks for the links Brunel. I always find Pompocali to be extremely interesting and am surprised that, as far as I know, there is still no consensus as to what it was. The very active spring just above the old ford on what is thought to be on the line of a Roman road always runs nice and cool even in long dry condtions. The tall Hetchell Crags will be a surprise to anyone that does not know of them and come across by chance. Several types of butterflies in the area on September 5th but very few in numbers. I saw a very red looking one that was flying fast (or at least being carried in the breeze fast) but I could not get a good look at it. I wonder what type of butterfly it was? Edit added later. Thinking about it, the red butterfly was probably a Peacock butterfly but in moving fast and not that near me I likely only noticed its dominantly red colour. On checking my typing I found I had typed one of the "butterfly" as "butterly". An 'utterly butterly butterfly' eh! Well being red, probably not! I once had a parrot but it could not tell talk from mutter (OK I lie, I never had a parrot). I'll stop now before you all lose the will to live.     

You made me laugh!I've never heard of the place so enjoyed reading about it.At first I thought your pic was a fossil. Interesting....

When it comes to rock carvings, Caron's relations have been at it too [overlooking Ilkley].

I doubt it is, as it would likely have been noted before, but it almost looks like ogham:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OghamProbably just someone in the mid 20th century messing around.

BarFly wrote: I doubt it is, as it would likely have been noted before, but it almost looks like ogham:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OghamProbably just someone in the mid 20th century messing around. I suspect you are right BarFly. It is weathered but not as much as I would expect if some Roman had done the carving. Shame really. Hetchell Crags does have climbers, so perhaps a bored or mischievous climber cut the marks some years back.

They look suspiciously like tooling marks, where someone has been quarrying sandstone blocks by prising along a line of weakness (which may explain the horizontal slab along the bedding plane below the marks) Leodian wrote: I suspect you are right BarFly. It is weathered but not as much as I would expect if some Roman had done the carving. Shame really. Hetchell Crags does have climbers, so perhaps a bored or mischievous climber cut the marks some years back. As an aside I used to do a bit of climbing at Hetchell in the 80's and its home to a real gritstone classic 'Reach for a Peach' by Al Manson. The 3rd Edition of the Yorkshire Gritstone guide has a classic route descriptionReach for a Peach, 8m, E4 P36c Desperate! Rockover for the obscene green orifice. One finger undercut this and powerglide for two nipples miles above. Pinch these, think of England and execute the final moves. A route for technical wizards and incorrigable perverts alike. NB The crux is now harder since the better nipple suffered an unfortunate mastectomy

I like that description grumpytramp. I've only rarely seen anyone climbing when I've been there but the main high face does look like it could be a challenge. There is (or perhaps now was) an apple tree growing in front of the main face but I've not noticed any apples there for 2 or more years now. You needed to be a climber to get to the apples (assuming they were edible).