What is this hidden memorial?

[Almondine]

On the road between Thurlstone and Crow Edge (the small road right up on the hills right next to the wind turbines - windmills on the right) there is a small hidden memorial of some kind.

 

As I've been having to drive past lately (due to a diversion at Crow Edge) I noticed it. It is right opposite what looks like a water tower that has fallen down. It has a small path which leads into the trees. Inside is a small circle with an old stone memorial and old stone benches around it. It has been driving me crazy not knowing what this is - it's in such a strange place.

 

Can anyone help???

[nomme]

From your description and looking at this

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=422000&Y=404000&width=700&height=400&gride=423147.793471214&gridn=403325.057948695&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=freegaz&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&keepicon=true&zm=0&scale=25000&left.x=8&left.y=215

I guess it's Catshaw Cross (remains of), though what that is I don't know.

 

Google has not turned up anything about it. Maybe the remains of an old settlement?

[Almondine]

No that's definitely not it (although now I'll be keeping my eyes out for that too!).

 

From the map, I think it's on Lower Maythorn Lane but it doesn't show any kind of monument.

 

Thank you for trying though

[Strix]

there's a thread about it somewhere. I'm just looking for you

[Strix]

Phooey - can't find it

 

I'm losing my touch

 

Where's cgksheff?

[cgksheff]

I'm probably buried in that stone circle!!!

 

Looks like the dog is getting a new walk tomorrow!

[Almondine]

Thanks for trying.

 

 

Let me know if you see it on your walk.

[Almondine]

Good idea. I'll bring my camera tomorrow

[Almondine]

Although, it's not something people would notice unless they really look for it. I passed by loads of times and never realised it was there as it's hidden in the trees.

[cgksheff]

Well! That was interesting!

Thank you for provoking my interest.

 

It is a Saxon cross (well only half of one, really!) that has been recently replaced after a little adventure.

 

It is located HERE in the copse at the junction of Lower Maythorne Lane.

 

View from the road

 

Only the bottom plinth is original and the 'cross' is a new replica.

 

Here is an article from "The Independent" which tells the tale behind it:

 

Districts split Saxon cross to settle 150-year feud

By Ian Herbert, North of England Correspondent

Published: 27 March 2004

 

After a feud lasting 150 years, involving theft, vandalism and municipal threats of legal action, two districts in Yorkshire reached an unusual settlement yesterday over a 1,000-year-old Saxon cross.

 

New Mill in West Yorkshire and Dunford in South Yorkshire have decided that the only way of resolving their differences over the 8ft-high Maythorne Cross is to split it. Dunford gets the ancient base; New Mill gets the rest.

 

It was erected as a boundary marker at a cross-roads between Cheshire and Wakefield. The dispute was sparked by Dr Henry Morehouse, a local historian and collector, in the 1850s. With the aid of a horse-drawn cart and several men, Dr Morehouse stole the cross from its ancient site near the hamlet of Victoria, in Dunford, added a new column and ball, and placed it in his own garden.

 

One of his descendants moved it four miles to the grave of his favourite horse, where he left it on a poorly laid foundation for decades. After it was vandalised in 1959, Kirklees council stepped in, restored the cross and gave it to the local civic society, which placed it outside the village library in 1984.

 

When the library closed the battle began again in earnest. After there was talk of the monument being removed, a local roofing contractor, Gerald Parker, recruited eight other men and launched a dawn raid in June 2000, claiming the cross belonged to his in-laws' ancestors. He dug it up, loaded it on a lorry and took it back to Victoria. The note he left behind said: "Gone home."

 

Kirklees council was unimpressed, issuing a legal threat to Mr Parker: "We request that you return the cross in a safe and unharmed condition."

 

Mr Parker held out for a settlement, keeping his new possession in a field.

 

And his local parish, Dunford, seems to have secured the most from yesterday's deal. Allen Pestell, a councillor, said: "It is like the Elgin Marbles being returned to Greece. Gerald did not act with our blessing and as a councillor I cannot condone taking the cross, but we cannot condemn him. If he hadn't snatched back the cross, we would never have seen it again in the parish." Mr Parker said: "We tried to tell New Mill they were in possession of stolen goods. When I heard it was going to be moved again I thought we could lose it for ever. We'll have to make sure the cross is firmly embedded this time. We don't want anybody stealing it again."

 

Clifford Lord, of the civic society in New Mill, said: "We were not happy about the way the cross was removed from New Mill. It's a bit of a farce, us just having the top half of the cross which is not original. But at least the arguing is over."