Photograph
Submitted by and Copyright of Matt Waine
Standing
high
on the crest of hill on the moors and overlooking Nidderdale, a Mr.
John Yorke of Bewerley built these tall piers of stone, "the
stoops" to give some paid work to the unemployed during a time
of great financial depression.
They
were built sometime around the early 1800's. Originally there were
3 of these pillars but the third, and the largest, collapsed in a
furious gale during the night of November 17th 1893. Now beautifully
ruined, one may wonder if these pillars were in fact at one time connected
by an arched top, as eye catcher arches were very popular designs
for the folly builders at the time.
John
Yorke paid his workers fourpence each per day and they were also given
loaves of bread for their labours. He lived to the ripe old age of
80 so it is very doubtful to whether he was still alive to see his
greatest pillar collapse.