Bygate Hill Standing Stone

Image: © Andrew Curtis Taken: 29 Jul 2016

A standing stone of Bronze Age date, situated on the highest part of Bygate Hill now within a forest plantation. The stone, which is much weathered in appearance is 1.1 metre high and 0.6 metres by 0.65 metres wide. It is fashioned from a large block of stone which is square in profile and leans slightly to the south east. If it wasn't for the dense forest plantation in which the stone is now embedded, the hilltop location would command extensive views in all directions, including north to the Simonside Hills. Pastscape: http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=20718 https://web.archive.org/web/20170223114618/http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=20718 The standing stone is a Scheduled Ancient Monument https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1015843 Antiquarian reports from 1827 suggested that a double stone circle once stood on Heddon Hill (now Bygate Hill). The inner circle was described as being 60 yards in diameter with an outer concentric circle 15 to 20 yards from it. At the centre was a standing stone over 3m high. The stone circles and central stone were said to have been broken up for gateposts and walls. However, later descriptions suggest that the 'stone circle' was in fact the remains of a prehistoric settlement, including possible hut circles. Traces of an earth bank were later reported close to the highest point of the hill, but detailed investigation couldn't be carried out as it was covered by a dense fir plantation http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/collections/nsmr03abstracts/10236.html Megalithic Portal: http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7073 Modern Antiquarian: http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3342/bygate_hill.html

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