One or some of you walkers out there will surely answer me this.

Keep on the main road towards Owler Bar from the ' Cross Scythes ' at Totley.
On the right is the Refractories building. Just passed there on the left is Moorwood Lane.
Opposite this junction there is an opening in the hedge, which if you follow eventually leads up to a prominent cairn on Brown Edge. What a panoramic view, with Lincoln Cathedral visible with a compass bearing and binoculars.

How long has the cairn been there ? Has it any significance ? Have you been up there when weather conditions have been favourable enough to see a good distance and if so what could you pick out on the horizon ?

Sorry Running Man-i'm an ignorant walker :) - but amazed you haven't had an answer yet :o
Regards

One or some of you walkers out there will surely answer me this.

Keep on the main road towards Owler Bar from the ' Cross Scythes ' at Totley.
On the right is the Refractories building. Just passed there on the left is Moorwood Lane.
Opposite this junction there is an opening in the hedge, which if you follow eventually leads up to a prominent cairn on Brown Edge. What a panoramic view, with Lincoln Cathedral visible with a compass bearing and binoculars.

How long has the cairn been there ? Has it any significance ? Have you been up there when weather conditions have been favourable enough to see a good distance and if so what could you pick out on the horizon ?


I have long wanted to know the actual reason for the cairn being erected.

Because It over-looks ‘ Storth Lodge on Moorswoods Lane where G.H.B.Ward use to live I’ve often thought that it was erected as a memorial to him by friends. That is only a possibility.

It also marks the summit of a little used former bridle way that ran from Chesterfield, Dronfield, Moorwoods Lane, Up the hillside to the cairn, then skirting to the right-hand side of Totley Moor summit, emerging a little above the Fox House Inn and hence onto Hathersage.

Over the years I’ve noticed that, occasionally the stones are rebuilt, but I don’t know who does this or ever seen anyone re-building them.

At the break of Dawn on midsummer morning, I have seen a religious group carry out a service at the point on Brown Edge. If they use it, I don’t know.

During World War 2. The area was a prohibited area.
This was because the area not only was a firing range, It was also acted as a Bombing decoy for the City and a great number of bombs were dropped on this moorland area.

Aircraft bomber crews, flying initially overnight, then later at anytime, to European bombing raids also used it as a navigation aid.

If I is a monument to a aircraft crew who gave there lives for each one of us.
That’s a possibility.

The area is on a flight path away from the former United States Air Base at Warrington, where on our behalf, hundreds of sorties were flown from.

It should always be remembered that the crews of those planes were born and lived in either in Canada, Australia, Rhodesia, South Africa, New Zealand and the United Staes of America, and each crew member could have lived in safety, thousands of miles away across the Ocean's.

Many did not return from a mission. They were killed.

Today, one thing that is certain, that it is a perfect orientation point for Peak District maps, which we have all got the freedom to enjoy.

I sincerely hope those who can add to this do so.

Hi Albert and thanks for a very informative reply !

Hi Albert and thanks for a very informative reply !

I still don't answer your question though.

So if anyone on the Forum, or off the Forum, knows:-

' Why the cairn on the moor, above Pickford Hollands Brickworks was erected '.

Please let all of us know. Thank you

(Runningman. Have you ran the Blackamoor chase? or is it still being organised and ran?
I planned the first run in June, 1977. It start and finish was at Totley Brook Open Space.).

Hi Albert and apologies for the delay in replying to your message re Blacka Moor Chase.
Yes I have run the chase on a number of occasions, but not for perhaps 4 years now.
First ran it probably around 1983 and my lads and the wife ran also in a minor race from as you mentioned the open space off Totley Brook Road.
I can see the cairn from where I live at Beauchief and occasionally run from here via Twentywell Lane, Queen Victoria Road, Green Oak Road, Moneybrook, up the road leading to the firing range, on the track past the chimney ( Sheffield Way ) and then over the moor to the cairn. What an amazing panoramic view ! Return down to the main road, on Moorwood Lane, left then left again down to Horseley Gate and then down to to Mickley Lane at the side of the Shepley Spitfire. Return home the way I came out.
The location on top of the moor would I think have a very long historic connection.
Watching the sun rise from there on a summers morning hundreds of years ago when there was no atmospheric pollution must have been quite an experience.
The cairn would also have been a prominent point for travellers before the days of maps and guide posts/stoops.
I am always saying it, but one evening, particularly if the forecast is for a slight wind to blow away the ' crap ' in the air and a cloudless sky so the air is rising, I will spend a few hours up there just looking round with a good pair of binoculars and taking it all in !

This may help a little, best i could do i'm afraid :huh:

Also known as totley circle ?

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6197/browntop.htm

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/8551/images/brown_edge.html?stream=site

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1732/brown_edge.html

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?mapref=SK288790

This may help a little, best i could do i'm afraid :huh:

Also known as totley circle ?

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6197/browntop.htm

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/8551/images/brown_edge.html?stream=site

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/1732/brown_edge.html

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?mapref=SK288790

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?mapref=SK288790
The above may well prove to be the answer. I'll have a better idea the next time that I go up.
Has the cairn been built over what is normally seen today, to protect the original stones?
(from the natural activities of some of those people who were born after 1950!!)
The rebuilding of the cairn, that I've previously noticed. Could have been done by groups of people, who after viewing the stone(s), cover them up as a very effective protection and create a useful map reference marker. It would also serve as a use for the religous groups activities that I've noticed.

Thank you - Niklek.

I've taken photographs of this about 5.30 this afternoon on my casual stroll from:- Hathersage, Padley (Grindleford) Longshaw, Totley Moors, Home.
Please see them at :-

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12241&l=38697&id=645681893


The cairn as been re-built recently - Does anyone have any information regarding this?

I read somewhere, That these ( religious ) cairns should be or had to be in sight of ' Whirlow '.
Can anyone confirm this and say Why?

Would anyone with a GPS or such like, Which reads to give more than a eight figure reference please have a walk up to the cairn and verify its actual accurate position.

I've still got a feeling that the the stone circle (or whatever it is) is situated at a lower elevation on part of Brown Knoll.

Thanks

You learn something each and ever day - Unless you have a head made out of Concrete!!