Blackstone Edge
Blackstone Edge | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,549 ft (472 m) |
Coordinates | 53°38′24″N 2°02′35″W / 53.64°N 2.043°W |
Geography | |
Location of Blackstone Edge in Greater Manchester | |
Location | Littleborough, Greater Manchester, England |
Parent range | Pennines |
OS grid | SD977163 |
Blackstone Edge (/ˈblækstən/ BLAK-stən) is a gritstone escarpment at 472 metres (1,549 ft) above sea level in the Pennine hills surrounded by moorland on the boundary between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire in England.[1]
History
Blackstone Edge contains evidence of prehistoric activity with the presence of three cup marks on an outcrop of rock 150 metres (490 ft) north west of the (later) Aiggin stone identified by Archaeological Services WYAS.[citation needed]
Crossing the escarpment is Blackstone Edge Long Causeway, also known as Blackstone Edge Roman Road, a partially paved road on the Greater Manchester side, becoming a
The Aiggin Stone, a gritstone pillar, possibly a way-marker, stands alongside the road, which may also have seen later use as a packhorse route, and marks the county boundary. The stone has a cross and the letters I and T cut into it. Its name is said to derive from the French aiguille for a needle or aigle for an eagle.[6]
Much of the surrounding area was within the ancient parish of
Sport
Blackstone Edge is frequented by walkers and rock climbers who use its
From the summit one can see
Halifax Road, which goes up towards Blackstone Edge reservoir, provides a popular cycling ascent. With 240 m (790 ft) of ascent from the centre of Littleborough, at an average gradient of 5%, it is recognised as a category 3 climb on Strava.[12]
References
Notes
- ^ Greater Manchester (including: Wigan, Bolton, Salford, Trafford, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester, Tameside and Oldham), Natural England, archived from the original on 27 March 2012, retrieved 17 January 2011
- ^ Roman Roads, Lancashire County Council, archived from the original on 2 October 2013, retrieved 29 September 2013
- ^ Heritage Gateway search results: Blackstone Edge Road (Roman Road 720a), West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS), retrieved 26 July 2021
- ^ Historic England. "Blackstone Edge Roman road (see also West Yorkshire 32) (1003746)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Blackstone Edge Roman road (see also Greater Manchester 5) (1005819)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ Aigin Stone, Calderdale Council, retrieved 2 October 2013
- ^ Broxap 1973, p. 9
- ^ "The parish of Rochdale", A History of the County of Lancaster, vol. 5, British History Online, 1911, pp. 187–201, retrieved 2 October 2013
- ^ Chartism, Calderdale Council, retrieved 2 October 2013
- ^ Blackstone Edge, UK Climbing, retrieved 2 October 2013
- ^ Blackstone Edge – Gritstone, Peak District Bouldering, retrieved 2 October 2013
- ^ "Blackstone Edge". Strava. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
Bibliography
- Broxap, Ernest (1973), The Great Civil War in Lancashire, 1642–1651, Manchester University Press, ISBN 9780719005398