Abbot Hag Wood

The Ionic Temple at Rievaulx Terrace.

Late 18th or early 19th century bridge. Link

About 3km after crossing Rievaulx Bridge with its opportunity to gaze at the majestic abbey, the Cleveland Way crosses a concrete road at Griff Lodge. Here the National Trail bears left to Helmsley avoiding Duncombe Park. The concrete road is a reminder of the military presence during WW2 at Duncombe Park. Following it through Park Plain Wood reveals more evidence. Hidden among the mature beech trees are concrete and brick foundations for the Nissan huts. A solitary hut remains, “a steel rib from the roof survives, though not in situ”. In Blackdale Howl Wood, I found a brick sump which I assume to be associated with sewage treatment. The camp was occupied by the 11th Armoured Division when it was formed in 1941. There is surprisingly very little history available online about the camp. A photo in the Imperial War Museum is captioned “… the Prime Minister inspects Valentine tanks and crews of 11th Armoured Division at Helmsley …” which has been identified as Duncombe Park. There is a couple of interesting oral histories at the Imperial War Museum which confirms Duncombe Park and point to other types of tanks being stationed there: Covenanters, Crusaders, Comets, Cromwells and Centaurs. At some time later in the war, the 22nd Dragoons were stationed there, and later still Canadian troops. When these had left, they were followed by the Polish 4th Armoured Regiment and the 2nd Warsaw Armoured Brigade. For further info. see my blog: Out and about ... (2021). Duncombe Park Army Camp. [online] Available at: Link [Accessed 12 Dec. 2021].

The benchmark is cut into a right hand cornerstone adjacent to a wooden post. The building looks as if it may have been a chapel previously.

There is a benchmark cut into a right hand cornerstone adjacent to a wooden post. The building looks as if it may have been a chapel previously.

The benchmark is cut into a right hand cornerstone of the wall at the rear of the church.

There is a benchmark cut into a right hand cornerstone of the wall at the rear of the church.

There is a benchmark cut into a right cornerstone of the farmhouse. The picture shows a very clear horizontal cut line about 3 stone blocks up from ground level.

There is a benchmark cut into a right cornerstone of the gable end of the farmhouse. The cut mark is about 3 stone blocks up from ground level. Rievaulx Abbey can be seen in the background.

The surveyors' bolt mark is on the north-east parapet of Rievaulx bridge, and is cut into the 2nd course of stone and at the apex of the bridge.

There is a surveyors' bolt mark on the north-east parapet of Rievaulx bridge, and is cut into the 2nd course of stone and at the centre of the bridge. This is the River Rye.

The benchmark is cut into a right hand cornerstone, to the right of the drainpipe.

There is a benchmark cut into a right hand cornerstone, on the front of the farmhouse and on the road facing wall.

The benchmark is cut into the window sill of the property.

There is a benchmark cut into the window sill of the property.

The benchmark is cut into the back wall of the ruined abbey.

There is a benchmark cut into the back wall of the ruined abbey, and is about 5 foot above ground level. It is located to the left of the first arched doorway.

The benchmark is cut into the gable end of Beck House.