The Giant's Grave - East Barnby

Wade's Stone - East Barnby

The hamlet of East Barnby is located four miles to the west of Whitby.

  A solitary standing stone known as Wade's Stone stands in a field to the north of the hamlet. Wade was a legendary giant who lived on the North York Moors, along with his wife Bell - who was also known as the 'Old Wife' in local folklore. The Standing stone is located on a low ridge which comes to a slightly raised and rounded end, 50m south of the stone. The stone itself is unusual in that it seems to have been a column of softer sandstone encased in 'Crow Stone' - a hard white flint (or Ganister), some of which still clings to the surface.

  The antiquary John Leland, writing in the late 1500's noted that ...

"Mougreve Castelle stondith on upon a craggy hille: and on each side of it is an hille far higher then that whereon the castelle stondith on. The north hille on the toppe of it hath certen stones communely caullid Waddes Grave, whom the people there say to have bene a gigant and owner of Mougreve."

Buckingham's Stone - Bilsdale

Buckingham's Stone (2020)

 Buckingham's Stone is located in Tarn Hole - a large valley on the edge of East Bilsdale Moor, two miles to the south-east of Chop Gate on the North Yorks Moors. (See end note regarding access.)

 The stone is said to be named after George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham, who died at Kirbymoorside in 1687, shortly after hunting in this area. The duke was a flamboyant and controversial character in the royal court, but in later life he retired to Helmsley, and formed the Bilsdale Hunt. Officially he died of Pneumonia after catching a chill while out hunting, however a letter from his friend at that time (lord Arran) indicates that he actually died from an infection and gangrene in his 'private parts', after falling from his horse.