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Egbert's Stone in Sheffield, Yorkshire

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Herewordless (U14549396) on Friday, 16th September 2011

  This wonderful landmark upright stone at Dore (Sheffield), obviously not the original, is sited on the village green off the top of Dore Road, near private houses.
  
  The name clearly stems from a commemoration stone dedicated back then to King Egbert of Wessex (802-839ad), grandfather of Alfred the Great, who marched north to here with an army through a subdued Mercia to the northern-most border (of Mercia) with enemy Northumbria, to receive the submission of his foes.
  
  Someone local claims to have been shown several more border stones near "a cairn" by a ranger, semi-buried in ditches beneath undergrowth;-
  
  
  
  
  
  He said "You see the line between the writing and the symbol in the second pic, i was told this is the boundary line, with the symbol to the left being the mark of one (for want of a better word) tribe, whilst the text to the right of the line being the mark of the other tribe."
  
  So borders were possibly delineated by several of these stones, but no historian or scholar I've read mentions them, as far as I'm aware?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Caro (U1691443) on Friday, 16th September 2011

  Hello Hereword,
  
  I spent quite a few months in Sheffield and we went through Dore but didn't see this or ever hear about it. Though I suppose if it is not an original it mightn't be considered worth visiting. Are you sure these are border stones and not some sort of decorative milestones?
  
  We tended to go along the Hathersage Road rather than through Dore mostly, but I will seek this out next time we are there. Alwasy good to have new things to look for, though it is amazing how many historical things of interest there are round Sheffield that are mentioned in books. I do remember driving somewhere west of Sheffield, maybe near Clowne or Worksop, and finding the stone ruins of some small castle or tower, just sitting on private property. You seem to be allowed on pivate property in England so we got out and had a brief look, but didn't go close since we saw a young couple canoodling there. But I was very taken with the thought that you could just come across something like this out of the blue. Not mentioned anywhere but there.
  
  Cheers, Caro.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Jak (U1158529) on Saturday, 17th September 2011

  It's strange that this stone does not appear to be marked on any of the old Ordnance Survey 1:2500 plans of Dore (the O.S. were usually pretty hot on recording "antiquities"). It isn't even shown simply as "Stone" or "Monument" - which it surely would be if it was at all prominent.
  
  Could it be that it is a very recent addition to the landscape?

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• Message 4

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  Posted by anitamo (U5717936) on Saturday, 17th September 2011

  Hi Hereword, I am from Sheffield and actually went to King Ecgbert School in Dore, The history of King Ecgbert was told to us on entry to the school and a huge mural depicting the King was on the wall of the hallway. I can't remember anything about cairn stones but I would be happy to call in to the central library and find out for you. The alternative spelling was drilled into us.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Herewordless (U14549396) on Saturday, 17th September 2011

  Jak, I'm unsure if they are original (or what they represent?) or more recent, but a ranger apparently showed the person who posted about them in return for being a nearby remains of a stone curcle, of which he was unaware?
  
  They are overgrown, buried almost and obscure in ditches, etc.
  
  Anitamo, yes I used to spell the name as Ecgbert. I moderate on a forum whose admin is a Sheffielder, his post about something similar inspired me to post this topic!
  
  If you could find out about the stone/s, that would be great, thanks!

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• Message 6

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  Posted by anitamo (U5717936) on Monday, 19th September 2011

  Hello again Hereword, I am off on holiday in a couple of days but when I get back I will pop into the central library and see what I can find out.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Herewordless (U14549396) on Monday, 19th September 2011

  Thanks, anitamo!
  
  Someone else suggested that the stones might have been painted ceremonial stones dedicated to Egbert or a Wessex successor? Was this part of the submission?
  
  I think a border of some type is likely? Anyway, Bon Voyage!

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