6 replies to this topic

[Shropshire Traveller]

Anyone been to this site recently?  It is in danger from heavy use and erosion... I have written to English Heritage concerning it, but have not yet had a reply. If anyone can write to them, please do - this site needs help - and it's not from a quarry!

This is part of what I wrote to EH:

"When I visited last September, I was alarmed at the extreme level of erosion at the site, with several stones being propped up by boulders, and others loose in their sockets.  

I have become more worried about the long-term condition of the monument, as I have found out that it is apparently not under the active care of any particular body.

Given its inevitable deterioration, I feel some urgent, effective remedial work is imperative, with a long-term management plan to be implemented. A monument that has lasted thousands of years will perhaps be lucky to see another decade as a notable part of our heritage.

Furthermore, given that some stones are loose they pose a health and safety hazard; one visitor wrote on a website "My son leaned on a stone and it fell over!".  Not only is the site at risk, but so are visitors!"

If you want to write, please do so to: English Heritage Yorkshire Region  37 Tanner Row  York  YO1 6WP

Any news appreciated; we'll be visiting this, and Ilkley Moor as a whole, on a stones meet on Sunday 26th May later this year.

Cheers

Tim

[kozmik_ken]

Hi Tim,

I know the Twelve Apostles well and share your concern.

However, the Twelve Apostle have been a mess for quite some time. When I first visited the circle in the early/mid 1980s, half of the stone were down then. When Arthur Raistrick visited it in the 1920s, he supposedly found all of the stones fallen and the circle surrounded by a rubble bank. It is also said that Walter Hawksworth (a 17th C freemason, responsible for much strange doings on the moor), re-set the stones during his lifetime.

It is highly unlikely that any of the stones are in their original positions still.... but the Twelve Apostles ARE a Scheduled Ancient Monument listed in the Bradford and District SMR.

Don't be surprised if you never get a reply from English Heritage... they don't care much if it's not a money spinning manor house!

Andy H

[Nigel]

Tim -
Heritage Action needs YOU ! and vice versa
http://www.heritageaction.org

Nigel

[bellthecat]

kozmik_ken, on 1 June 2004, 13:41, said:

However, the Twelve Apostle have been a mess for quite some time. When I first visited the circle in the early/mid 1980s, half of the stone were down then. When Arthur Raistrick visited it in the 1920s, he supposedly found all of the stones fallen and the circle surrounded by a rubble bank. It is also said that Walter Hawksworth (a 17th C freemason, responsible for much strange doings on the moor), re-set the stones during his lifetime.

Isn't the shallowness of a stone's footing a classic sign that it is not a true ancient site?  

But I suppose even if it is a creation of a 17th century eccentric, it is still worthy of protection.

[Shropshire Traveller]

You ought to see the state of this site now

See David Raven's posting on The Portal:
http://www.megalithi...le.php?sid=1327

This site is facing an accelerated death, I reckon.

Very concerned

Tim

[Diego]

Shropshire Traveller, on 24 September 2005, 21:54, said:

You ought to see the state of this site now

Sadly, it's in a dreadful condition.
See also the new description on Heritage Action website.
Below, an image of one of the recently smashed stones:

Photo courtesy David Raven

[kozmik_ken]

bellthecat, on 30 August 2004, 12:41, said:

Isn't the shallowness of a stone's footing a classic sign that it is not a true ancient site? 

But I suppose even if it is a creation of a 17th century eccentric, it is still worthy of protection.

Many of the stones were re-erected during the 17th C (and again in the 1970's), but the site itself is believed to be genuine.