Barnby, West

"The monument includes a motte and bailey castle situated at the head of the valley of the Sandsend Beck, overlooking its precipitous gorge from the north side. The Barnby Beck, major tributary of the Sandsend Beck, issues over a series of waterfalls from a slack, while a minor tributary flows in a steep-sided gully along the western edge of the monument; because of its location the castle has good natural defences on its south-western side. The motte is an artificial mound, 50m in diameter at the base and surrounded by an 8m wide, 2m deep ditch. The mound is 4m high, the flat top being 40m in diameter and partially surrounded by a 0.5m high rampart bank. There are various low earthworks on the top of the mound, some of which will contain the foundations of buildings such as the fortified tower which once stood on the motte while other features are the result of a small-scale excavation reported to have been carried out prior to 1817. To the north-east of the motte and running at a tangent to it is a ditch which links the gully of the small stream to the west with the edge of the precipice to the south; the ditch is 5m wide and 1.5m deep at its north-western end but becomes 10m wide and 3m deep at its south-eastern end. The motte is flanked by two enclosures, or baileys. Of these, the northern one is triangular, measuring 60m by 30m across, bounded by the ditch on its north-eastern side and by the steep, 5m high scarp of the east bank of the stream at the west. The southern bailey is larger, measuring 65m long by 40m wide, bounded by the ditch to the north-east and by the precipice to the south and west. The castle was founded in 1072 by Nigel Fossard and abandoned about 1200 when Robert de Turnham built Old Mulgrave Castle, its stone successor, 700m to the east." Historicengland.org.uk. (2012). Foss Castle: a motte and bailey, precursor to Old Mulgrave Castle, Lythe - 1008286 | Historic England. [online] Available at: Link [Accessed 11 Dec. 2021].

The benchmark is cut into the west facing gable end of the farmhouse. It is well hidden from view with shrubbery growing from the base of the wall.

There is a benchmark cut into the west facing gable end of the farmhouse. It is well hidden from view with shrubbery growing from the base of the wall.

Looking towards Runswick Bay.

Looking SW.

Looking south.

This is another image of the ford at East Barnby. A photograph from a previous visit can be viewed at: Link

This byway ford is found on the Scarhill Beck below Ferndale Farm near West Barnby.

Water pump and bench at the western end of Mickleby.

Landfill site to the North West of Mickleby village. The area is mostly very scenic, but we all make rubbish!

Widgey Toft is the area named on the 1:25000 OS map as just off to the left of the photo. The view is looking north with the white houses of Runswick Bay just poking above the wooded spur.

To quote from English Heritage's website: "A Bronze Age standing stone, originally one of two, the other no longer survives. It is roughly cut into rectangular shape which tapers slightly towards the top and leans a little to the north west. It is 1.5 metres high and 0.7 by 0.5 metres in section. On the south face the letters JS and ES have been inscribed. The monument is scheduled. There is another possible "Wades Stone" at NZ 81 SW 2." I believe this latter reference means NZ830130.

Taken after sunset at the junction of the no through road to Low Farm.

Taken from where it joins Broom House Lane.

Not really a 'gate' but an access point through an electric fence. Looking back along the right of way to Mickleby Low Grange which can be seen in the distance.

Espyke Farm can be seen right of centre while the farm to the left is Birk Head.

Barnby Beck goes under the crossroads and as evident by the depth gauge frequently floods.