Gallow Howe Cairnfield, Castleton
Historical and Educational Articles for Lion Inn to Grosmont
Boundary Stone in the Gallow Howe Cairnfield, Castleton
Gallow Howe Cairnfield, Castleton, Coast to Coast
Cairnfields are areas containing a cluster of prehistoric cairns located in close proximity to each other. The Gallow Howe Cairnfield has nine grassed over cairns. Two of these are identified on the OS map as ancient Round Barrows or burial cairns. The Cairnfield is positioned only 100m from the Gallop Howe Round Barrow, which is 100m to the north east, on the opposite roadside of Castleton Rigg, although there is no trace of it any longer. Gallow Howe is well known for its 18th century gibbet which once stood atop Gallow Howe. To the west of the Round Barrows is the Ridge End Sandstone Quarry (disused).
Castleton Rigg faces, to the south, onto Rosedale Head, and the road extends past Young Ralph Cross, Flat Howe, the Marjory Bradley Stone, Blakey Howe and the Lion Inn. To the north east is the village of Castleton and to the west is Westerdale Moor. The River Esk flows from the west and north of the Cairnfield.
Gallow Howe Cairnfield
In addititon to nine Round Barrows the Gallop Howe Cairnfield also hosts three of a large line of Boundary Stones forming a chain on top of Castleton Rigg. The chain starts from the north west side of New Road on the north west edge of the Rigg and extends to a position just outside of the south east fence boundary of a recently restored Cold War Bunker. This is were the Stones join the Cairnfield. The line then exits the Cairnfield and the Boundary Stones then take a straight line along the west roadside, leaving the Rigg near Westerdale Head. The image portrays the first of the Stones to enter the Cairnfield from the north.
Gallow Howe BS South Side
Gallow Howe Boundary Stone seen in the snow. This is the Stone's north side. On its north side is an etched inscription that is the last remaining physical evidence of the existence of the actual gallows that hung nearby. The letter D identifes to Dansby Estate boundary.
Gallow Howe BS North Side
The North side of the Gallow Howe Boundary Stone contains the following etched inscription, slightly hidden behind ice: "Gallow How". This is to identify the nearby Gallow Howe Burial Carin and an ancient gibbert which have now disappeared from view. The date of 1835 appears further below.
Castleton Cold War Bunker
To the immediate north of the Gallow Howe Cairnfield on Castleton Rigg is a recently restored World War II bunker. The bunker had been in use by the Royal Observer Corps from 1959, during the Cold War, in order to monitor radiation levels in the event of a nuclear war and was closed in 1991. The bunker subsequently fell into disuse but was restored recently and is now part of the Castleton Museum. It can be visited on open days during the summer months. A similar nuclear war bunker is located in Chop Gate.
Second Cairnfield Stone
All of the Stones in this chain have whitewashed upper thirds to assist in easy identificaton of the boundary). The second Stone in the chain, within the Cairnfield, bears the initial W. which identifies the Westerdale property. On the opposite side the stone shows the letter "D" which denotes the Danby side of the boundary.
Northmost Round Barrow
Two of the Round Barrows in the Gallow Hill Cairnfield are identified on the OS map. The image is of the northmost of the two. It is immediately south east of the second Boundary Stone. It has a radius of 7m by 5m and is 1/2m high.
Southmost Round Barrow
From the northmost of the OS listed Round Barrows the southmost Barrow is readily seen, the snow accentuating its shape. This Round Barrow has a listing with Historic England who describe it as comprising a pair of low mounds, the overall shape being a north facing crescent.
Cairnfield Third Boundary Stone
The third Boundary Stone in the Gallow Howe Cairnfield is closer to the road than the previous two. This Stone is about 10m south of the second Stone. A further Round Barrow lies about 12m west of this Stone, and another a further 13m west again. These Round Barrows are difficult to recognise, so perfectly have they naturalised into their surroundings.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
