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The Northern Antiquarian Forum

Archaeology, folklore & myth of Britain's pre-christian sites & heritage: stone circles, holy wells, maypoles, tombs, archaic cosmologies and human consciousness. Everyone welcome - even Southerners!


3 posters

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE

    lowergate
    lowergate


    Join date : 2010-11-01
    Age : 75
    Location : CLITHEROE

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE Empty THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE

    Post  lowergate Sat Jun 04, 2011 2:09 am

    This large earthwork is sited on Hazelhurst Fell above Bleasdale & is over one and a half miles in length.

    After parking the car at Admarsh Visitor Centre we took the farm road passing Bleasdale Circle to Holme House Farm. From here we climbed the steep track to Fiendsdale Head then followed a staked path directly east over the peat haggs to the start of the Calder Dyke earthwork, marked by an access sign and shooter's road.

    Here the northern bank of the dyke carries a shooter's access road and can be followed over Hazelhurst Fell to a point where the track turns south and climbs down the fell to the Bleasdale Tower Estate. At this point the dyke and the track part company.

    Here the dyke at an elivation of 400m is clearly seen running east for a mile over the northern bank of the fell.

    As to what the Calder Dyke represents it is difficult to say, only that it is man-made and not a natural feature, nor is it part of a drainage system for water catchment - though it has been used as such at the far eastern end as it meets with a natural stream that flows down to the River Calder intake.

    Old OS maps have the Calder Dyke recorded as an 'ancient earthwork', and those at Lancaster Arch' Unit have tentatively placed it in an Iron Age setting.

    Other sources think it to be part of the ancient Harrington Dyke that once marked the southern boundary of the lands held by the Harringtons of Hornby Castle (more research needed).

    Still no nearer but a great day out with superb views of Snowdonia, the Lakes and Howgills - and I got my first ever sighting of the Isle of Man from the Bowland Fells after nearly 50 years of walking them!

    Well worth a visit and a ponder - john



    Paulus
    Paulus


    Join date : 2009-08-20
    Location : Yorkshire

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE Empty Re: THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE

    Post  Paulus Sat Jun 04, 2011 2:54 am

    Hi John Smile

    D' y' have any images of the site, or a copy of the old OS-map with it on? It sounds worthwhile giving it a TNA profile - wot d' y' reckon?. Are there any other monuments in close proximity to it? (tumuli for example) study

    lowergate wrote:...and I got my first ever sighting of the Isle of Man from the Bowland Fells after nearly 50 years of walking them!

    Sounds awesome John! The day over this side of the border was damn clear - but we were stuck in the valleys.

    All the best - Paul
    lowergate
    lowergate


    Join date : 2010-11-01
    Age : 75
    Location : CLITHEROE

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE Empty Re: THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE

    Post  lowergate Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:50 am

    The dyke runs E to W on the Bleasdale Fells 2 miles N of the Bronze Age Bleasdale Circle & Enclosure. A Roman road from Ribchester to Gallgate runs 1 mile to the east of the dyke. A stone Langdale axe was found at the head of the Langden Valley 2 miles to the NE.

    I would invite others to look at the site and record of it before we put it up on TNA Paul.

    john
    Paulus
    Paulus


    Join date : 2009-08-20
    Location : Yorkshire

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE Empty Re: THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE

    Post  Paulus Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:54 am

    lowergate wrote:...I would invite others to look at the site and record of it before we put it up on TNA Paul.

    OK John! Wink

    How RU fixed for a meet-up next week on Thursday 16 June, to venture up Easington? Was chatting with Dave earlier & he seems up for it. Other crew-members seem keen aswell. We could meet you in Clitheroe or upon the edges. Wot d' y' reckon?

    All the best - Paul
    lowergate
    lowergate


    Join date : 2010-11-01
    Age : 75
    Location : CLITHEROE

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE Empty Re: THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE

    Post  lowergate Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:17 am

    Thursday 16 June is fine with me Paul - Easington Fell has many sites to explore

    I will give you a photo of the Foulscales Stone then we can put an article together for TNA

    Best

    john
    QDanT
    QDanT


    Join date : 2011-05-29
    Location : Earby used to be in Yorkshire

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE Empty Maps

    Post  QDanT Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:33 pm

    1930's OS

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE 1930sOS

    1940's OS

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE 1940sOS

    and from a 25k that still has field walls on ! not now plotting them Bah ! they might as well write "Here be Dragons"

    THE CALDER DYKE, SD 565 482, BLEASDALE, LANCASHIRE CalderDykeBleasdale8x6

    cheers Danny

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