Warren Wood

Public House.

This squeeze stile is out of place in Cleveland, as these are normally found in Wensleydale and Swaledale.

Information board at Handale Abbey.

An Orchard at Handale Abbey.

The base of a cross.

Looking NW.

Near Grinkle Park.

A medieval tomb lid at Handale Abbey.

On the north side of the A172 at the west end of Easingtom is another of the elaborate 'rose' castings forged by F Mattison & Co. Bedale. Their foundry was actually in Leeming Bar (Bedale parish) on land leased from the railway company. It was operative between 1851-1937. They cast anything from mill machinery to oven doors including three styles of milepost.

This milepost at the west end of Easington on the A174 is almost at the slight bend where The Tiger Inn is. No more mileposts have been found north of Easington although Saltburn, Redcar and Guisborough were in the North Riding until 1974.

"Writing in 1888, Rev Thomas Parkinson in his 'Yorkshire Legends and Traditions' gives the following account of the death of the Handale Serpent. 'In ancient times these quiet woods were infested by a huge serpent, possessed of most singular fascinating powers, which used to beguile young damsels from the paths of truth and duty, and afterwards feed on their dainty limbs. At this time there lived in these parts a brave and gallant youth named Scaw, who felt greatly incensed at the ravages which the serpent made among his fair acquaintances, and he determined to destroy the vile monster, or perish in the attempt. Therefore, amid the tears and prayers of his friends and sweethearts, he buckled on his armour, and proceeded to the serpent's cave. Striking the rock with his sword, the reptile immediately issued from his den, breathing fire from his nostrils, and rearing high his crested head to transfix the bold intruder with his poisonous sting. Nothing daunted, the young hero fought bravely, and after a long and severe contest succeeded in killing the monster. Young Scaw forthwith married an earl's daughter found in the cave, and, by his valour, rescued from a cruel death. By this marriage he obtained vast estates. The wood where he slew the serpent is called Scaw Wood to this day, and the stone coffin in which he was buried is yet shown near the site of the priory.' [Rev Parkinson cited an article named 'Serpent Legends of Yorkshire' that appeared in 'Leisure Hour' May 1878, as his source of information] St Mary's Priory at Handale Handale (also known as Grendale) priory was founded by William de Percy, (son of Richard de Percy) in 1133. It housed a small community of Benedictine nuns sent here from Rosedale Abbey as a penance, though four centuries later, by the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries 1539, when the priory was closed, the ten remaining nuns were Cistercian (It had been Cistercian from at least 1504). There is very little left of Handale Priory itself. For a while the buildings were used for the manufacturing of cotton which one source suggested stopped in the late 18th and early 19th century with the lack of demand during the Napoleonic War. In 1808 it is said the remains of the west end of the chapel was still present and in 1846 the remaining buildings were demolished with the stone being used for the nearby Handle Abbey Farmhouse and Handale Abbey Walled Garden which is now Grade II listed and marks the location where the nunnery once stood. In 1830 sixteen human skeletons were found at the priory which then linked it with Scaw and the legend of the dragon. The exact details of what was found is slightly unclear and differs depending upon the source you read. Essentially though the finds included a stone coffin, a stone pedestal of a font or cross and a sword which measured either 4' or 5'. The skeleton with the sword was associated with Scaw. One source suggested the stone coffin lid had a sword carved on it and 'snake slayer'." Quoted from "Handale Priory, Scaw and the Serpent", Mysterious Britain & Ireland, see Link retrieved 23 March 2016.

For most of its length, Ridge Lane certainly lives up to its name as the narrow road runs along a narrow wooded ridge top, in places hardly wider than the road. This section is the last through woodland before the ridge widens and there are fields to either side.