Try this one for size, then.
 

This is a bit of a walk from the town centre but it is still within the boundries. But where is it and, more importantly, what is it?

:confused: :confused: :confused:

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Nice one Bob! Aint's a clue! Its obviously some very old stone, with writing on. My shot in the dark guess is ..... somewhere up Green Haworth!

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Nope. Try looking towards the east.

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Is it up the Coppice? Sure I've seen something similar up there when I've been out with the dog. Have no idea what it is though..

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Closer, but you need to go a bit further east. Perhaps 'The King's Highway' might help.

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Huncoat Stocks?

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This is a tough one Bob......offhand, it could be several things. it's obviously a large, flat, heavily-weathered stone, with inscription at an angle to the rectangular, resting in a grassy area and possibly covering a hollow of some form underneath..

1) A ripped-out milestone........but I doubt it. the lettering would be to the vertical, given the stone would be half set in the ground.

2) An old gravestone...........no, lettering wrong again.

3) Possibly a covering for a well.....and the writing suggests it could say "Mary Hug? Well"....(but my eyesights knackered, so I can't be sure)...I'd plumb for something like this.

Where it is, I have'nt a clue.............it's definatly not in Church so it must be over the far east of Accy somewhere.

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Hmmm.. I'm not so sure that is an 'official' inscription. Looks more like graffiti to me....?

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I'm more convinced it could be a well (just forgetting the inscription).....the type of grass surrounding the stone is the sort that does grow in the vicuinity of a pond or a stream..

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Hey. Tealeaf! You could have given a clue there. Are you listening Bob? IS IT SOMETHING TO DO WITH MARY HOYLE'S WELL??

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i wondered if it was a "moggy" grave

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I must admit, I've never heard of "Mary Hoyles Well"....but if it's for real, then I now suspect that this is it...the stone covers a spring outlet to stop any animals soiling the water....there's definatly a hollow underneath which I suspect would have been larger at some point in time.

Who was Mary Hoyle, anyway?

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Not up Hapton way is it?

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Inscription looks more like :-
MARY
HOLY
WELL
It looks like a spring coming from them thar hills.
If it is a spring then I would expect to see barbed wire for protection, rather than blue netting.

Without the aid of a safety net, a map or having lived in the area....could it be the source for the Hyndburn ?

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Ok, Ok. I reckon Tealeaf and Weary Tourist have to share the points on this one.
The Object is a well covering, The inscription does read 'Mary's Holy Well' The location is on the side of Hamildon near The King's Highway. Apparently it was the focus of May Day processions and, believe it or not, pilgrimages in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hence it's name of 'May Road Well'. I do not think any miraculous cures were recorded though. The spring which rises here has lost a lot of it's force in the last seventy years as a result of drainage work on the hillside.

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Hi Bob, Mary Hoyle Well was the common name by which the well was known locally, but has also been referred to as May Road Well, Mare Hole Well, Meare Head Well and St Mary's Holy Well. During the middle of the 19th centurey, a fair was held the first Sunday in May. Hundreds of people (mainly of the working classes) from Accrington, Padiham, Haslingden, Burnley and other local places came to the well on the slopes of Hambledon. (The local Sunday Schools must have been totally empty on this day!) They came simply from long custom and were out to enjoy themselves. Some gambled (maybe some of you have been to (Gamblers caves") - some played sports. There was eating and drinking, singing, dancing and rough "horse-play". A drink from the well was considered essential to many people, but it does not appear that there were any "medicinal properties" in the water! Shame! We could have been exporting bottled "Accrington Water"! The well was closed and water diverted because of damage done to neighbouring farmers' fences and property by these May Day revellers. Stones were knocked off walls, by people climbing over them. At first a large flag, just enough to cover it, was placed over the well, but this kept being removed by people visiting the well. Later a larger stone was placed there that was too heavy to move. Would you say this is the one in the photo? The water diverted found its way to the reservoir by way of the overflow.

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Well Hoyle Beef Hooked :rolleyes:

What a lot of name variations for one location. It looks less like a well, and more like a spring. I wonder if there was any tradition to dress it ?

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No, I don't think so. I rather fancy that it was yet another example of Victorian make-believe

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Those Victorians have alot to answer for in their cosy, romantic reinvention of history....but there's got to be some reason as to why hundreds, if not thousands of people, would head off miles into the hills every May Day sunday for the equivalent ay of one of todays "Raves"...........I must admit, I'd never heard of any of this until you put this piccy on here.