I came across a letter the other day in the Yorkshire Gazette dated 1st December 18211Interesting Notices, Anecdotes, &c. | Yorkshire Gazette | Saturday 01 December 1821 | British Newspaper Archive. [online] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000266/18211201/011/0003 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2022].. There are some words which were frustratingly unreadable because of the binding — I’ve included these as [?]:
Sir, — As your columns are often [with] classical notices, it cannot be doubted that [you will] readily admit the following instance of a high [?] literature and sentiment, in the neighbourhood [?] it occurs. It is an inscription in handsome [characters?] on a facing of the rock on the summit of [?] called Roseberry Topping, in Cleveland; [?] easily seen in descending two steps of the rock [?] W.N.W. side. The tablet occupied is about [?] square.
“Augustus 24, 1817.
“Super hic saxeus a reciprocus et [inseparab?] cordia de amicitia confirmatus inter JOHN [C?] GARBUT DIXON.”
According to Google Translate the Latin says “Over here rocky a reciprocal and inseparable hearts of friendship united in each other“.
I thought I would have a go at trying to find this 200-year-old Latin inscription.
A WNW face must be at the northern edge of the 1912 rockfall. There was another fall here about 20-30 years ago.
After 30 minutes or so exploring the tumble of boulders, I gave up hope. No doubt it’ll be lying face down.
I did find though several examples of Victorian graffiti. These compliment a previous example:
And there was a nice view of the summerhouse, from a slightly different angle and elevation than the usual from the summit of Roseberry.
- 1Interesting Notices, Anecdotes, &c. | Yorkshire Gazette | Saturday 01 December 1821 | British Newspaper Archive. [online] Available at: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000266/18211201/011/0003 [Accessed 30 Mar. 2022].
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