Cold Moor

In spite of the blue sky and sunshine over upper Bilsdale, Urra Moor was decidedly gloomy and showery this afternoon. Ahead is Garfit Gap, the col between the Wainstones and Cold Moor. The farm below the gap to the left is Whingroves where Jack Garbutt, the Bilsdale Bombardier, grew up as a child. He was killed on the Western Front in 1918. To the right of the gap, nestled in a combe on Hasty Bank is Garfitts, a farm which has some history. There is no mention of Bilsdale in the Domesday Book but there are indications of pre-Norman settlement. Perhaps William the Conqueror did indeed get lost on the moors above Bilsdale and told his legati not to bother with the dale when ordering the survey of his realm. But the thinking is that medieval Bilsdale consisted of a number of scattered hamlets, and one of these was Garthwait, the ‘clearing with an enclosure’, situated where Garfitts farm is today. Interesting too, and probably completed unconnected, is that ‘garfits’ is an 18th-century Yorkshire ‘provincialism’ for garbage. For links and references see my blog Link

Cold Moor waymarker, a standing stone set close to a track across Cold Moor. Bilsdale Midcable parish. Marked as a ‘stone’ on old Ordnance Survey maps. Milestone Society National ID: YNHA_BIMI04

The Carlton to Chop Gate road seen here dropping gently into Raisdale. Steep wooded slopes of West Bank in the distance, rising to Noon Hill.

This must have been a managed hedge at one time, but is now reduced to a line of straggly small trees. The farm at Staindale in the distance.

Looking up towards Urra Moor.

For some reason, this area of Explorer OL26 often has the words 'Foot Bridge', instead of the acronym 'FB'.

According to the 1913 map there is a benchmark cut into the wall to the north-west of the farm entrance. Nothing was found.

According to the 1913 map there is a benchmark immediately to the east of the farm entrance. The cutmark is likely to be in the gatepost or wall. Nothing was found.

According to the 1913 map there is a benchmark cut into a gatepost at this location. The field entrance and gateposts have gone.

According to the OS benchmark database there is a rivet benchmark cut into the wall on the left of the entrance. Nothing was found.

Little used path, leading uphill from the B1257. It was quite overgrown to the west of this point.

Looking towards the second and third tops from the first top on a west-east traverse.