Mill stone in Gledhow Valley Woods

Suvi · Post by **Suvi** » Fri 06 Apr, 2012 1:21 am

knew nothing of the stone coffin and its occupantthough a Roman altar was found at Chapel Allerton while digging house foundations in the 1820s, perhaps its related

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Wed 25 Apr, 2012 9:15 am

"Three Entrances Project" Opening Event 10am 25 April 2012The Brackenwoods Community Spaces "Three Entrances Project" is now finished. An opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday 25 April at 10am near gateway one, at the junction of Lincombe Drive and Lincombe Bank. Pupils from Gledhow School will be attending and planting wild flower plugs to mark the occasion.Group members are encouraged to attend to chat to the pupils and/or generally help out on the day.Refreshments will be available"

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 28 Apr, 2012 1:01 am

Just seen someone got married in the woods herehttp://weddingphotos-video.co.uk/blog/?p=3819

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Thu 25 Oct, 2012 4:09 pm

So did we ever find a Mill Grinding Stone ?Or was it just

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Thu 25 Oct, 2012 8:46 pm

How about this for a block of stone cut but never moved this is near Smalewell old tunnel.There is even a chain fixed to the centre, i wonder what the story behind it is I think there was a quarry in this spot it is at least seven foot by four foot.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Thu 25 Oct, 2012 8:55 pm

How about this stone its not far from Smalewell tunnel Its about seven foot by four foot wonder why it was left there it even has a lifting chain fixed to it i think there was a quarry near this spot

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Thu 25 Oct, 2012 8:56 pm

Chain in next photograph.

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Thu 25 Oct, 2012 8:59 pm

Lifting chain. The thing about the chain is its condition it looks to have no age to it.PS Sorry to have gone off topic i would love to know why it has been left there just think of the man hours it would have taken to prepair this stone.Could it be a cap stone ?Idont think it has any thing to do with the old railway, the old track bed is some distance away.it is not a very easy place to get a machine into. If you did it would mean going over an old stone bridge i dont know if this would take the weight.Any thoughts.?

Si · Post by Si » Fri 26 Oct, 2012 10:18 am

Hi Tilly. I used to play (laik) down there when I was little. The area must be more overgrown these days, as I remember the stone being at the top of the quarry, not far from the cliff edge, and in those days there were no bushes there at all. I think the chain used to be longer, running along the top, and down the side, being trapped underneath. The chain has no surface rust purely because it is continually being handled by people wondering why it hasn't rusted!There used to be (before my time) a branch line from the railway down to the quarry. My guess is that the chained stone was probably a counter weight for the quarry's crane, but I could be wrong.Attached is a 1906 map of the area, showing the rail-track and cranes. The stone pictured by Tilly is (was?) where it says "cranes" on the map.Incidentally, there used to be some evidence of the rail-track near this stone. There was a trench with a stone lining. The top edge of the stones had grooves cut into them, presumably for the track to sit in. I think this is where the trucks were loaded by the cranes. Also, where the building is marked (below the word "branch") there was a brick-built arched cellar hidden in the long grass. I wonder if it's still there?

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Fri 26 Oct, 2012 10:18 pm

Thanks for that Si now i know i will have to go for a wonder around and see what else there is to find.