The "Written Stone" Longridge

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iBase ID

270831

Reference identifier

ENE20150621015

Title

The "Written Stone" Longridge

Place

Longridge

Personal names

Ralph Radcliffe

General notes

This large sandstone block is dated 1655 and the inscription says it was laid by Ravffe Radcliffe. Local folklore has tales of a curse which is said to have been laid upon it.

It has been suggested that the stone originated on the fells to the northwest, where it may have formed part of a stone circle, and was possibly a pagan altar stone; another suggestion being that it was a lintel stone from above a doorway, and yet another theory being that it was an outlier.
The Roman road linking the forts of Ribchester and Lancaster intersects with Written Stone Lane.

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