I am guessing that the stone is also used for pagan rituals because there were wilted roses and holly wreaths laying at its base. I wonder why?
Here is some info about the stone itself: "Near Parkgate is a holestone with the hole being about 5 cm in diameter at its narrowest and situated around waist height in the stone. It is associated with marriages, where the bride and groom would hold hands through the hole during the ceremony. There is an old legend regarding a black horse that inhabits the field in which the holestone is situated. According to this legend a young couple were married at the stone, but the groom committed an act of adultery on their wedding night. For this act he was cursed by the stone to spend eternity as a horse, never dying, and never able to leave that field unless the gate is left open."
But according to local history, in the early 1800s the holestone became a cesspit of society where numerous shanties were built and were used as brothels. Hmmm. I also read that many paupers are buried around the stone, also. It is a very interesting place.
Since the Holestone is associated with marriage, maybe pagans are holding weddings there? I know that pagans hold rites at Stonehenge and Avebury in England.
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