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V. Mr. Pegge, on the Rudston Pyramidal Stone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

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Rudston, a village in the East-Riding of Yorkshire, on the Wolds, near Burlington, is thus noticed in bishop Gibson's edition of Camden, col. 901. “More inward into the “land, is Ruston, where, in the church-yard, is a kind of “pyramidal stone of great height. Whether the name of the “town may not have some relation to it, can be known only “from the private history of the place; but if the stone bear “any resemblance to a cross, rod in Saxon doth imply so much.” This cross, as the bishop calls it, and I think not improperly, is a very curious monument; and, no doubt, of very remote antiquity. I am not aware that it has ever been engraved, and therefore I here present the Society with an accurate drawing* of it, which I received A. 1769, from the friendly hand of Mr. Willan, whose account I shall take the liberty to subjoin. “This stone stands about four yards from the North East “corner of Rudston church, which is situated on a high hill. “Its depth under ground equal to its height above, as appeared “from an experiment made by the late Sir William Strickland. “All the four sides are a little convex, and the whole covered “with moss. No tradition in this country of any authorrity, either concerning the time, manner, or occasion of its “erection.”

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1779

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References

page 95 note * See plate V.

page 96 note [a] He rates Portland stone at sixteen cubical feet to the tun, and marble at twelve.

page 96 note [b] Mr. Drake, in his Eboracum, p. 26, 27. observes it is the same sort of stone with that near Borough-Bridge, coarse rag stone or milnstone grit. If so, it is neither so hard, nor so heavy as marble.

page 96 note [c] See the last note.

page 96 note [d] I may add Brancastle in Cumberland. Camd. col. 1029. Plott, Nat. Hist. of Staff. p. 432. and this at Rudston. The devil's arrows at Borough-Bridge I conceive to be of a different nature.

page 97 note [e] This last is mentioned on the authority of Dr. Plott, Hist. of Staff. p. 432. for when I was there ten or twelve years ago I could not find it.

page 97 note [f] Drake, Eborac. p. 591. 610. Burton, Mon. Eborac. p. 238.

page 97 note [g] It means red both in Brit, and Sax. Rhûdd and Rude, . the French, Rouge.