Ilkley Moor
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2012) |
Ilkley Moor | |
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Marilyn | |
Geography | |
Location | West Yorkshire, England |
OS grid | SE114452 |
Topo map | OS Landranger 104 |
Ilkley Moor is part of Rombalds Moor, the moorland between Ilkley and Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. The moor, which rises to 402 m (1,319 ft) above sea level, is well known as the inspiration for the Yorkshire "county anthem" On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at (dialect for 'on Ilkley Moor without a hat').
Geology
During the Carboniferous period (325 million years ago), Ilkley Moor was part of a sea-level swampy area fed by meandering river channels coming from the north. The layers in the eroded bank faces of stream gullies in the area represent sea levels with various tides depositing different sorts of sediment. Over a long period, the sediments were cemented and compacted into hard rock layers. Geological forces lifted and tilted the strata a little towards the south-east, producing many small fractures, or faults. Since the end of the Carboniferous period more than a thousand metres of coal-bearing rocks have been completely removed from the area by erosion. During the last million years, Ice Age glaciers modified the shape of the Wharfe valley, deepening it, smoothing it, and leaving behind glacial debris.[1] The
History
To the north, where the moor drops steeply towards the village of
Ilkley Quarry is the site of the famous "Cow and Calf", a large rock formation consisting of an outcrop and boulder, also known as Hangingstone Rocks. The rocks are made of
According to legend, the Calf was split from the Cow when the
In July 2006 a major fire on the moor left between a quarter and half of it destroyed.[2]
The BBC Television series Gunpowder (2017) used Ilkley Moor as a location.[3]
Swastika Stone and other antiquities
On the Woodhouse Crag on the northern edge of Ilkley Moor is a swastika-shaped pattern engraved in a stone, known as the Swastika Stone,[4] also referred to as a fylfot. The image at the bottom-right of the picture is a 20th-century replica; the original carving can be seen at the bottom left.
This stone is just one of many carved rocks on the moor; well-known others include the 'Badger Stone', 'Nebstone', and 'St Margaret's Stones'. These are earthfast boulders, large flat slabs, or prominent rocks that have cups, rings, and grooves cut into them and that are thought to date from either the late Neolithic or the Bronze Age. While some carvings consist of simple cups, others, such as the Badger Stone, Hanging Stones, and the Panorama Rocks, have a complex series of patterns (or motifs) combining many different elements. Rombald's Moor has the second-highest concentration of ancient carved stones in Europe, with carvings as far away as Skipton Moor. There is also a small stone circle known as The Twelve Apostles.[5]
"The Ilkley Moor Alien" sighting
On 1 December 1987, Phillip Spencer, a retired policeman,
Conservation
The moor forms part of the South Pennine Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[8] It also forms part of the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
The Friends of Ilkley Moor group was founded in 2008 and works with partners to preserve the moor.[9]
Grouse shooting controversy
In 2008, Bradford Metropolitan District Council leased the grouse shooting rights for Ilkley Moor.[10] This move led to controversy because of concerns about its impact on wildlife, walking, leisure and local tourism. In January 2018, the majority Labour group on the Council resolved not to renew the rights, and the grouse shooting ceased in April 2018.[11][12]
References
- ^ Information courtesy of David Leather of the Wharfedale Naturalists' Society; in leaflet literature from Bracken Hall Countryside Centre.
- ^ Greaves, Amanda (3 August 2006). "Aftermath of moor fire will be felt for years". Ilkley Gazette. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- Creative England. Archived from the originalon 4 May 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Swastika Stone". Megalithic Sites in England. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Historic England. "Twelve Apostles stone circle, Burley Moor (1011763)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "The Ilkley Moor Alien". ufocasebook.com: Alien Contacts Index. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ Pope, Nick (29 June 2011). "Top 10 UFO incidents in the UK". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ^ "SSSI citation" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ^ "About Us". Friends of Ilkley Moor. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "Bradford Council Scrutiny Review of Ilkley Moor Sporting Rights Deed" (PDF). Bradford Council. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "Protesters aim to put a stop to Ilkley Moor grouse shooting". Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ Wilde, Claire (3 February 2015). "Vote could end grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor". Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
External links
- "Ilkley Moor", Ilkley-town.co.uk
- Friends of Ilkley Moor web site, Ilkleymoor.org