Apronful of Stones, Kirkby Lonsdale? - query

Help needed!

I've just been writing up the archaeo-info & folklore of the once giant prehistoric cairn, known variously as the Devil's Apronful, or Apronful of Stones, found up the valley north of Thornton in Lonsdale, Ingleton, near Yordas Cave...and summat doesn't add up.

There are various references to folklore about the devil dropping his stones, hence creating the cairn. Usual story. However, this site is way off where the references discuss; and the original printed story told the site in question (an Apron full of Stones) to be at Casterton Fell, several miles north of the Kingsdale cairn. There's no intervisibility between the sites which are in the folk-story either.

The archaeo-article by Alan King on the site in YAJ 50 isn't any help here, as his references are wrong. I was wondering if one of the cairns at Leck village a few miles away might be the Apronful in question - though none of these are near Casterton Fell.

I'm erring more & more to the thought that we've got another Apronful of Stones that's been lost/forgotten about near Casterton somewhere. A 'burrens' place-name a coupla miles north might be the site, but just don't know.

Anyone any ideas?

Cheers - Paul

Hi Paul,

For the original tale see:

W Self Weeks, 1917. 'Some legendary stories and folklore' TLCAS 34. pp 86-7

Charles Jopling, 1846. Archaeologia 31, pp 448-53, fig 448

Also

A long barrow in Cumbria is known as 'Sampson's Bratful' and a mound in Radmorshire carries the name 'Devil's Apronful of Stones',

Hi John -

lowergate wrote:For the original tale see:

W Self Weeks, 1917. 'Some legendary stories and folklore' TLCAS 34. pp 86-7

Charles Jopling, 1846. Archaeologia 31, pp 448-53, fig 448

The earliest reference to this tale is John Hutton's Tour to the Caves, 1781 - though I aint come across the TLCAS one. Will check it out - cheers!

lowergate wrote:A long barrow in Cumbria is known as 'Sampson's Bratful' and a mound in Radmorshire carries the name 'Devil's Apronful of Stones',

I keep meaning to do an article on this folk-name and the cairns, as there's quite a few of 'em, mainly in the northern hills. Variations on the folk-tale occur in Scotland and (if memory serves) Eire aswell. But the ame theme also occurs in Africa and India. All fascinating stuff!

Paul

I take it that you have seen Jessica L's 'North Country Folklore' pp 52/3 - she brings the Great Stone of Fourstones up on the Bowland Fells below the Cross of Greet into the tale ... good luck

Hi John!

lowergate wrote:I take it that you have seen Jessica L's 'North Country Folklore' pp 52/3 - she brings the Great Stone of Fourstones up on the Bowland Fells below the Cross of Greet into the tale ... good luck

Yeaahhh...I've read her account. I truly get the feel that there's been a mix-up and confusion with some creation myths on some sites here. Summat's just "not right", if y' get what I mean. Doesn't smell right... When I get off mi backside & trundle up & have a search round, I'm sure things'll get sorted. There's just so much to do, with so many sites. It's (thankfully) never ending!

All the best - Paul

I have just re-read 'How Culhwch Won Olwen' & noticed that Olwen's father, the Chief Giant Ysbaddaden, was in the habit of throwing 'poisoned stone spears' at those who came to court his daughter, always keeping a ready pile of these stones at hand.

J

lowergate wrote:I have just re-read 'How Culhwch Won Olwen' & noticed that Olwen's father, the Chief Giant Ysbaddaden, was in the habit of throwing 'poisoned stone spears' at those who came to court his daughter, always keeping a ready pile of these stones at hand.

Intriguing stuff. I wonder if thye poisoned rocks occur in the creation myths of any sites? And I know we'll never know, but it'd be nice to find out which plants were smeared on the stones to make 'em poisonous.

atb - Paul