This was the start of todays Teddy Tour
and we started by visiting the Swan Inn at Middleton on the Kirkby Lonsdale to
Sedbergh road
I asked the Landlord if he’d heard of the Barbon Cross ? yes back just passed
the old church and in a field on the right at the top of the hill. I showed him
a map print out saying it was further back than this on the Barbon turn off, so
couldn’t be this, turned out what he’d described was a Roman Mile Post that I’d
seen on the map but ignored, I’m glad I asked as the mile post is well worth a
visit. So after a couple of pints of Black Sheep Bitter and excellent Steak and
Ale Pie with all the trimmings it was off to find the Mile Post
I don’t think it’s wright that this is just laying in a field, it should be
upright with perhaps a Blacksmith made rail around it to stop it being used as a
rubbing post. I gave the Landlord the Blog address, as he wished us luck in
finding the Barbon cross which he’d not heard of
parking’s bad but just before the tunnel under the old railway track to Whelprigg there’s a pull in and a plain fence to get onto the track bed and just opposite
the end of the wood there’s a step over into the field
I wonder if Alen McEff gets excited about Klondyke Wood ?
and just over the top of the field, at the front of the wood
just thought I'd share - cheers All
doing some reasearch I came across this :- courtesy of English Heritage
ReplyDeleteROMAN MILESTONE APPROXIMATELY 74 METRES TO WEST OF ROAD / / A683 / MIDDLETON / SOUTH LAKELAND / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 75735 / SD6226385883
Milestone. Roman. Dressed stone. Cylindrical shaft, approx 1,676mm high and 457mm in diameter. East side has inscription: "MP LIII": 53 miles to ? Carlisle. Below it an inscription: "SOLO ERVTVM/RESTITVIT/GVL MOORE/AN MDCCCXXXVI": added by the historian, Dr Lingard, to commemorate its discovery and re-erection by W. Moore. Diagonal scratch marks on west side probably made by ploughs.
Scheduled Ancient Monument.
district:- South Lakeland
listed building
coordinates:- SD62268588
So I e-mailed them this morning and told them it's been pushed over !
Well that was fast :-
Dear Danny,
Thank you for your e-mail which has been forwarded to my office (NW Region in Manchester) by our Swindon office.
This is becoming a popular monument. I had another e-mail this morning drawing our attention to the milestone's recumbent state and by coincidence, I received a call about it from the local Civic Society about a week ago. I suspect, given its location in the field and the shallow depth of the post below ground that it has been used by cattle as a scratching post and been pushed over. I am making arrangements to go and visit the monument. As you may be aware, the milestone was found in the 19th century and does not appear to be in its original location. It is also not publically accessible, visitors having to seek permission from the farmer to cross his land to visit the monument, the nearest public footpath being some distance from its location.
Once I have arranged with the farmer to visit, we will consider the possibilities of relocating the stone, there is a public footpath that runs from the church, just to the north and which, as far as is currently known, crosses the probably line of the Roman Road that runs up the Lune Valley. This would make it easier for visitors such as yourself to view it, and put it in a better context, although it is, apparently, something of a mystery as to which destination it refers, being 53 miles from somewhere although that "somewhere" is uncertain.
I hope in you travels you were able to view the milestone in the Lancaster City Museum. It is a splendid example with all the details one could wish from such a monument, apart from, like the Middleton one, being out of its original context. Lancaster Museum is also the home of the recently discovered tombstone of Insus, a "reiter" type of cavalry memorial which seems to be unique as it depicts the rider (Insus of the Treverii) holding aloft, in his sword hand, the severed head of his enemy.
I am sure that your bear would be interested in seeing these.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Peter McCrone
Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments
English Heritage,
Canada House,
3 Chepstow Street,
Manchester,
M1 5FW
Wow.
ReplyDeleteI've often been to Barbon - it's not so far from here, but I didn't know about either of these. I shall be popping back to the Lancaster City Museum, it's a lunchtime trip from work, to have a look at that Milestone. (I was there a couple of times fairly recently to see the 'Silverdale' Viking hoard (fascinating).
cheers Mark you'll like the Swan
DeleteInteresting just how much history is lying about all over the place. I've been through Barbon many times and never given the place a second thought. And as for Klondyke Wood, never mind excited, I'm positively feverish.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Alen
cheers Alen 49'er McEff
Delete