Aiggin Stone

Heritage Site in Lancashire / Yorkshire

England

Aiggin Stone

Pennine Way, Blackstone Edge Taken just to the south of the trig pillar. Looking out over littleborough and Rochdale.
Pennine Way, Blackstone Edge Credit: michael ely

Aiggin Stone is a historic heritage site located on the border of the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Situated near the town of Todmorden, this ancient stone monument holds great historical and cultural significance.

The Aiggin Stone is a large standing stone, approximately 2.5 meters in height, believed to date back to prehistoric times. Its origins and purpose remain shrouded in mystery, adding to its allure and intrigue. The stone is composed of millstone grit, a type of sandstone commonly found in the region.

Over the centuries, the Aiggin Stone has gained various folklore and legends. Local folklore suggests that it was used as a place for ancient pagan rituals, such as fertility rites and ceremonies related to the changing seasons. The stone's distinctive shape has also led to beliefs that it was once a boundary marker or a place for ancient astronomical observations.

Today, the Aiggin Stone attracts visitors from all over who are fascinated by its enigmatic history and captivating surroundings. The site offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the rolling hills and valleys of both Lancashire and Yorkshire. It also serves as a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts, with several scenic walking trails starting from the stone.

Although there are no visitor facilities at the site, the Aiggin Stone is easily accessible by foot or car, with nearby parking available. It stands as a testament to the ancient heritage of the area and provides a unique glimpse into the mysteries of the past.

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Aiggin Stone Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.653/-2.038 or Grid Reference SD9717. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Pennine Way, Blackstone Edge Taken just to the south of the trig pillar. Looking out over littleborough and Rochdale.
Pennine Way, Blackstone Edge
Taken just to the south of the trig pillar. Looking out over littleborough and Rochdale.
Blackstone Edge trig pillar On the Pennine Way at 472 metres above sea level.
Blackstone Edge trig pillar
On the Pennine Way at 472 metres above sea level.
Bog trotting on Rishworth Moor On the concessionary path leading to Green Withens. It's been one of the wettest winters on record and the peat is saturated.
Bog trotting on Rishworth Moor
On the concessionary path leading to Green Withens. It's been one of the wettest winters on record and the peat is saturated.
Fingerpost at Green Withens
Fingerpost at Green Withens
Broad Head Drain
Broad Head Drain
The old road towards Blackstone Edge Moor
The old road towards Blackstone Edge Moor
Bridge over Castle Clough
Bridge over Castle Clough
Approaching Blackstone Edge Reservoir
Approaching Blackstone Edge Reservoir
Black Castle Drain
Black Castle Drain
Black Castle Drain
Black Castle Drain
The White House and Blackstone Edge Reservoir from the Pennine Way Looking north from the Pennine Way on Blackstone Edge Moor. The white building is the White House pub and behind it is Blackstone Edge Reservoir.
The White House and Blackstone Edge Reservoir from the Pennine Way
Looking north from the Pennine Way on Blackstone Edge Moor. The white building is the White House pub and behind it is Blackstone Edge Reservoir.
Wind Farm View from the Pennine Way Looking west from the Pennine Way on Blackstone Edge Moor, towards the wind turbines on Scout Moor and Knowl Moor.
Wind Farm View from the Pennine Way
Looking west from the Pennine Way on Blackstone Edge Moor, towards the wind turbines on Scout Moor and Knowl Moor.
Blackstone Edge Moor, Broad Head Drain
Blackstone Edge Moor, Broad Head Drain
Stone Bridge over Broad Head Drain, Blackstone Edge Moor
Stone Bridge over Broad Head Drain, Blackstone Edge Moor
Blackstone Edge Moor
Blackstone Edge Moor
Pennine Way, Broad Head Drain
Pennine Way, Broad Head Drain
'Roman' Road over Blackstone Edge Blackstone Edge Long Causeway also known as Blackstone Edge Roman is a cobbled ‘road’ surface crossing the bleak moorland for about 2 miles along Blackstone Edge on the Lancashire-West Yorkshire border. The road has a deep groove running down the centre. 

It is a Scheduled monument (List entry Number: 1003746 <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003746" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003746">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>  Historic England). Initially thought to be of Roman Origin, this road is still marked on Ordnance Survey maps as a ‘Roman Road’ but many historians have argued over whether or not the paved road over Blackstone Edge was built by the Romans, with no firm conclusion ever being reached but nowadays the most widely accepted theory is that it is an early turnpike road from circa 1735. Indeed, in 1965 James Leonard Maxim reported the discovery of a medieval pack-horse track that passed under part of the road and that therefore must pre-date it (Maxim, James L., A Lancashire Lion, J.L. Maxim Trustees: Leeds 1965). 

Others believe that it may be even more modern being constructed in connection with stone gathering or quarrying activity on the moor. It is, however, likely that a Roman road did once cross the Pennines hereabouts before the medieval pack-horse tracks and the 1735 turnpike road were constructed.
'Roman' Road over Blackstone Edge
Blackstone Edge Long Causeway also known as Blackstone Edge Roman is a cobbled ‘road’ surface crossing the bleak moorland for about 2 miles along Blackstone Edge on the Lancashire-West Yorkshire border. The road has a deep groove running down the centre. It is a Scheduled monument (List entry Number: 1003746 LinkExternal link Historic England). Initially thought to be of Roman Origin, this road is still marked on Ordnance Survey maps as a ‘Roman Road’ but many historians have argued over whether or not the paved road over Blackstone Edge was built by the Romans, with no firm conclusion ever being reached but nowadays the most widely accepted theory is that it is an early turnpike road from circa 1735. Indeed, in 1965 James Leonard Maxim reported the discovery of a medieval pack-horse track that passed under part of the road and that therefore must pre-date it (Maxim, James L., A Lancashire Lion, J.L. Maxim Trustees: Leeds 1965). Others believe that it may be even more modern being constructed in connection with stone gathering or quarrying activity on the moor. It is, however, likely that a Roman road did once cross the Pennines hereabouts before the medieval pack-horse tracks and the 1735 turnpike road were constructed.
Broad Head Drain, Blackstone Edge Moor Looking back from the pack horse road over Blackstone Edge.
Broad Head Drain, Blackstone Edge Moor
Looking back from the pack horse road over Blackstone Edge.
Show me another place!

Aiggin Stone is located at Grid Ref: SD9717 (Lat: 53.653, Lng: -2.038)

Division: West Riding

What 3 Words

///perkily.tycoons.gobblers. Near Littleborough, Manchester

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 53.653,-2.038
Aiggin Stone
Description: Big old stone pillar marking a boundary
Man Made: survey_point
Lat/Long: 53.6501963/-2.0418564
Boundary Stone
Historic: boundary_stone
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 53.6509177/-2.0405266
Boundary Stone
Historic: boundary_stone
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 53.6530971/-2.0385074
Boundary Stone
Historic: boundary_stone
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 53.6519373/-2.0396093
Boundary Stone
Historic: boundary_stone
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 53.6553133/-2.0365864
Boundary Stone
Historic: boundary_stone
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 53.6510601/-2.0395403
Boundary Stone
Historic: boundary_stone
Source: OS 1:25k
Lat/Long: 53.6572675/-2.0357998
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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