Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Winter Wood, Greenhow Burton

Greenhow Botton

On the old 1857 O.S. map, this area is named as Greenhow Burton. Half a century later, it is mapped as Greenhow Botton. Such is the evolution of names over time. Or perhaps different surveyors misinterpreting the local dialect. The second word of the name derives from the Old Norse ‘Botn’ meaning a hollow.

Off the old railway track from Bank Foot, an old area of wood pasture provided some welcome contrast with the residue of last year’s snowfall.

Turning to climb the incline, the clag closed in. At the gate, halfway up, I took the directissimo route up Greenhow Bank aiming to rediscover some graffiti I had come across many years ago. The mist by now was as thick as the proverbial pea-souper.

It was still there, hidden at the back of a small recess below an overhang. It would be wrong to call it a ‘cave’ but it would certainly provide some shelter in a storm.

Graffiti, Greenhow Bank
Some graffiti in a ‘cave’ on Greenhow Bank.

The only word I could make out is ‘FOXHUNTERS’ and the initials ‘IC’, ‘RC’, ‘FW’ and ‘WW’. No date but I suspect a good 70 years old judging by the attempt at putting serifs on the letters. Just pretty clumsy scratchings really. It even looks like the writer misjudged the size of the word ‘FOXHUNTERS’ and resorted to continuing around the edge of the rock.

But at least a little bit of interest on an otherwise dire outing.


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3 responses to “Greenhow Botton”

  1. John avatar
    John

    I have visited the ‘cave’ myself. First became aware of it in 2000 when it got a mention in Harry Mead’s book ‘A Prospect of the North York Moors’.
    HM suggests it probably commemorates a particularly memorable hunt, most probably the Bilsdale Hunt. There are 7 sets of initials all ending in W, C or G which he conjectures are probably Wood, Cook and Garbutt surnames, all well established Bilsdale families.
    There is a picture in his book with an application of water used to help highlight less distinct areas of the engraving. Directly under the ‘HUN’ of FOXHUNTERS is the date, 1775.

  2. John avatar
    John

    If you fancy another inscription try NZ 6392606229. Never seen it referred to anywhere and I don’t thing it has any connection to the organisation whose motto it is. Also if you go there keep an eye out for a hefty piece of WW2 ordnance which is usually on the rocks or in the heather below them. It’s been fired judging by the grooves in the brass driving band.

    1. Fhithich avatar
      Fhithich

      Thanks, John. Didn’t spot the date but I wasn’t hanging around. Too cold. Your other snippet is a good excuse.

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