It seems Spring is upon us. I rushed home from work today, changed into my old clothes and headed to Holestone with Mark. We've tried to find it a few times and were unsuccessful but finally we navigated our way to the ancient site. It involved a lot of twists and turns, and a few false starts, until we finally reached the stone. We had to pull over on the side of a country lane and climb over the farmer's gate. The stone is much tinier than I expected, and it is also perched on top of a rocky mound, yes, it involved more climbing!
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.
