The Mysterious Stanage Pole

Stanage Pole

We were back to full strength for this trip to see Stanage Pole. Geoff had last visited this in 1962 with his wife Margaret and his dad. Geoff produced a black and white pic that he had taken while half way up the pole!!!
We set off at 6:30 and arrived at the Hollin Bank car park about an hour later. The trek up to the edge took us across bracken covered land and then through some woods before getting onto the ancient pavers up to the edge.
Some cracking views on the way up and at the top. We had a rest then pressed on to the Stanage Pole.
The light was really good so we took a load of pics while the sun was out. We stayed there for our breakfast had a chat to a couple that were walking by. Geoff got this black and white photo out from 1962 to compare with the scene today. The forest on the left has sprung up  but the pathway is virtually still the same.
After a couple of snaps we headed back to the edge and walked along for a few hundred meters then returned back down towards the car via a slightly different route.

Hollin Bank Car Park

Up through the woods

This huge rock is in the middle of the woods

Stairway to heaven

No this is not the Pole its just a tree stripped of its branches

Final trek up to the edge

Geoff

Rob & Ike

Track went straight to the pole

Ike, Rob & Geoff

Stanedge Pole (grid reference SK2468784429) is a famous landmark on Hallam Moors close to Stanage Edge in South Yorkshire, England. It marks the border between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, standing at a height of 438 metres (1,437 feet), it can be seen for several miles around.

A pole has existed on the site since at least 1550, many initials have been carved into the rock that supports the pole and five of these can be identified as initials of the Parish Road Surveyors who renewed the pole when needed. "T.C. 1550", "H.W. 1581", "T.M. 1631", "H.H. 1697" and "F.N. 1740" are all marks of the Parish Surveyors along with the date that the pole was renewed..^[1] The pole is a way marker on a medieval packhorse road known as the Long Causeway or Long Causey ^[2] which runs west from Sheffield.^[3] It was also used for centuries as a boundary marker between the parishes of Sheffield, Hathersage and Ecclesfield

Ike setting up his camera for a group pic.

Breakfast stop

Rob & Ike heading back to the edge.

Geoff  in the same spot as the pic below. Just note all the trees on the left.

Photo from 1962 with Geoff's dad and Geoff's wife Margaret

Looking north along Stanage Edge.

Geoff photographing the scene

Geoff coming down towards the car park

This looks as though it may have been an old track

Stanage Edge in all its glory.

This was a lovely bright morning for a walk up to the Derbyshire edges, the scenery was brilliant and a nostalgic trip back in time for Geoff.
See you next week.