Three carved rocks opposite St Margaret's Church

Reasons for Designation

Rombalds Moor is an eastern outlier of the main Pennine range lying between the valleys of the Wharfe and the Aire. The bulk of this area of 90 sq km of rough moorland lies over 200m above sea level. The moor is particularly rich in remains of prehistoric activity. The most numerous relics are the rock carvings which can be found on many of the boulders and outcrops scattered across the moor. Burial monuments, stone circles and a range of enclosed settlements are also known. Prehistoric rock carving is found on rock outcrops in several parts of upland Britain with one of the densest concentrations on Rombalds Moor. The most common form of decoration is the 'cup and ring' mark in which expanses of small cup-like hollows, which may be surrounded by one or more 'rings', are pecked into the surface of the rock. Other shapes and patterns, including some dominated by grooves or lines, are also known. Carvings may occur singly or in small groups, or may cover extensive areas of rock surface. They are surmised to date to the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age periods (c.2800-500 BC) and provide one of our most important insights into prehistoric 'art'. The exact meaning of the designs remains unknown, but they have been interpreted as sacred or religious symbols. Frequently they are found close to contemporary burial monuments. All positively identified prehistoric rock carving sites exhibiting a significant group of designs have been identified as nationally important.

Although not in their original location, these stones remain important because they are fixtures in their present setting and retain important carvings. In particular the stone known as the Panorama Stone bears 'ladder` markings, which are very rare. It will make a significant contribution to analysis of the form and meaning of these rock carvings.

Details

The monument includes a group of three gritstone boulders set in concrete, the upper surfaces of which bear complex carvings comprising cups, rings, and other markings. The rocks are situated in an iron-railed enclosure north of St Margaret's Church, Ilkley. The scheduling includes the whole of the area enclosed by the iron railing within which the rocks are situated. The iron railing itself is not included in the scheduling.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

25254

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hedges, J D (ed), The Carved Rocks on Rombalds Moor, (1986), 44
Hedges, J D (ed), The Carved Rocks on Rombalds Moor, (1986), 44
Hedges, J D (ed), The Carved Rocks on Rombalds Moor, (1986), 44

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