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TWELVE APOSTLES STONE CIRCLE: ROMBALDS MOOR A tourist’s guide to interesting archaeological sites in

The Twelve Apostles stone circle on Rombalds Moor The ranging rod in the foreground is one metre long. This gives a good idea of the size of the stones.

Description of the site The Twelve Apostles on Rombalds Moor is perhaps West Yorkshire’s most visited prehistoric site. It is also one of its most damaged. The circle as seen today contains a dozen uprights of just over a metre in height. They are now evenly spaced without an obvious entrance to the ring. However, descriptions from the 19th century suggest there may once have been as many as twenty. They also mention an earthen bank surrounding the stones which would give an overall diameter to the monument of about 22.0m but little trace remains today.

Even the stones which are now visible may not be in their original places. Writing in 1946 local archaeologist Eric Cowling noted that all the stones were recumbent at the time. It is not clear who re-erected them, nor when.

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Dating evidence Although the site has been surveyed on a number of occasions, no formal excavation work has been carried out at the Twelve Apostles. Therefore the date of the original moment can only be inferred from comparisons with similar sites elsewhere. Some circular ritual moments such as the Blackheath Barrow (Todmorden) have produced Bronze Age cremation urns but there is no record of a burial at the Twelve Apostles.

How to get there The easiest way to find the Twelve Apostles is to follow the Dalesway Link footpath which runs between White Wells (off Wells Road) on the northern slope of Moor and Dick Hudson’s, a well-known public house on the Hawksworth to Eldwick road. The Twelve Apostles lies to the east of the path at what is almost the highest point of the moor.

Suitable clothing and footwear are essential if you plan to visit this site. Areas of the moor are boggy throughout the year and there is no shelter if the weather changes for the worse.

When walking out in the country, please follow the Country Code

This guide was written by Dave Weldrake (© WYAAS 2011)

More information on the WYAAS Later Prehistoric Research Agenda website

External links Pastscape features detailed information on the site from English Heritage.

Location The Twelve Apostles stone circle is situated at SE 1261 4506 between Ilkley and .

NB: There is more information about the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle and other historic sites in West Yorkshire held within the West Yorkshire Historic Environment Record (HER), Contact us via 01924 306797 or [email protected]. Alternatively search our records online via the Heritage Gateway website - www.heritagegateway.org.uk

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