Todmorden Monoliths

Map Referance : SD925237
53°42'31.34"N 2° 6'53.45"W
Google Earth

These stones are little-known yet must rank as some of the most impressive standing stones in Yorkshire. The 1;25,000 O.S. map doesn’t actually show them, but the settlement called ‘Stones’ has a ‘Stones Lane’, so they aren’t too hard to locate.

The first one stands about twelve feet high, spindley, with what looks like holes on the surface, for attaching a gate. It sits on a large circular stone, like a mill-stone. According to the 1912 geological survey map of the area, there was no stone here, it’s thought to have ‘appeared’ there sometime between 1912 and 1921. Perhaps it was moved there to replace a missing stone?

The mound on which it stands is called Centre Hill, but is also known locally as Beacon Hill, indicating it’s use in times past.

Just to the west of Centre Hill, in the adjacent field, stands the tallest and most impressive of the group. Again, a good twelve feet high.

Travel north-west up Stones Lane and you find the next monolith. Sitting in a field on the left, only four-and-a-half-feet tall, it's easy to miss as it lies near the dry-stone wall.

This stone had a counterpart originally. It was still standing during the early fifties, but it isn’t today. However, at the point where the older maps show it's position, there now lies a spring. A trough of stones has been arranged around the opening where lies a stone, about five feet long, said to be the lost menhir. It now forms part of the ‘basin’ that holds the spring water for the farm's livestock.