The Stones of Lamentation

One of the contenders for the most iconic landmark of the North York Moors must be the Wainstones – a rock-climbing wonderland adorned with jumbled columns of Middle Jurassic sandstone, once the ocean’s ancient bed. Legend has it that the name ‘Wain-stones’ might have derived from the Saxon word ‘wanian,’ meaning to howl, and hinted at the ‘stones of lamentation.’¹‘Turkey Nab: A Steep Climb | Northern Weekly Gazette | Saturday 20 June 1903 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003075/19030620/029/0004> [accessed 21 July 2023]

Now, the Wainstones themselves are quite an enigma – shaped by the wind, rain, and ice, which have tirelessly attacked the vertical joint lines without the blocks tumbling away. As softer layers of rock yield to these forces more willingly than their harder neighbours, the spectacular sight of sculptured pillars emerged standing tall like sentinels.

The soft sandstones of the Wainstones have always attracted graffiti artists. One inscription which I’ve never found is reputably to be a love token: “RO WOOING TD 1712,” first mentioned in the Rev. John Graves’ book ‘History of Cleveland’ of 1808. Alas, the good reverend was left puzzled, until nine years later, when George Young deciphered the lettering in his own ‘History of Whitby.’ Did Young get it right? One day I must make the effort to look for it.

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  ‘Turkey Nab: A Steep Climb | Northern Weekly Gazette | Saturday 20 June 1903 | British Newspaper Archive’. 2023. Britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk <https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003075/19030620/029/0004> [accessed 21 July 2023]