Guidestone formerly near Bawhead

This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement 16 September 2024 to update name, address, add Historical Note and reformat the text to current standards

SD 94 NW 4/117

EARBY SCHOOL LANE Guidestone 10m south of the Old Grammar School

(Formerly listed as COLNE ROAD Milestone in Sough Memorial Gardens)

II

Guidestone. C17 or early C18 (pre 1738). Approximately 2ft high. Inscription in relief with no spacing between word reads TOSKIPTON/ TOCOLN (the ‘n’ of Skipton and the second line being in mirror writing).

Historical Note: taking into account that the right side of the stone is also inscribed ‘TO/ BLAC/ KBURN’ (the N being reversed), Earby History Society believes the original location was on Long Lane, near to a now-lost settlement called Bawhead. The stone was discovered in the 1920s by workmen installing benches , and used as the base for a sundial at Cowgarth Farm until 1936 when it was moved to the council yard on Victoria Road in Earby. After the Second World War it was erected at the memorial gardens in Sough. However it was felt to interfere with Remembrance services, and in 1997 it was moved to its current location. No distances are provided, making this a direction stone or guide stone rather than a milestone. After 1738 distances were mandatory on new stones.

Listing NGR: SD9067846951