Devil's Arrows facts for kids
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| Location | near Boroughbridge and Harrogate |
|---|---|
| Region | North Yorkshire, England |
| Coordinates | 54°5′34.53″N 1°24′13.25″W / 54.0929250°N 1.4036806°W |
| Type | Standing Stones |
| History | |
| Material | gritstone |
| Periods | late Neolithic or early Bronze Age |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | largely intact |
The Devil's Arrows are three very old, tall stones called menhirs. They stand in a line about 200 meters (656 feet) east of the A1(M) motorway. You can find them near Roecliffe Lane in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, England. They are also close to where the A1 road crosses the River Ure. These ancient stones have been protected as a special historic site since 1923.
About the Stones
These huge stones were put up a very long time ago, in prehistoric times. Rain has carved grooves into them over thousands of years. The tallest stone is about 6.85 meters (22.5 feet) high. This makes it the second tallest menhir in the United Kingdom! Only the Rudston Monolith in Yorkshire is taller.
The other two stones are 6.7 meters (22 feet) and 5.5 meters (18 feet) tall. Experts believe there might have been up to five stones originally. A writer named William Camden wrote about four stones in his book Britannia. He noted that one was taken down by people hoping to find treasure. Another stone was apparently moved in the 1700s during a failed treasure hunt. It was later used as part of a nearby bridge.
The stones are made of a type of rock called millstone grit. This rock likely came from Plumpton Rocks. This area is about two miles south of Knaresborough. It is also about nine miles from where the Devil's Arrows stand today.
The outer stones are 110 meters (361 feet) and 60 meters (197 feet) away from the middle stone. They form a line that runs almost straight from north-northwest to south-southeast. Some people think they were placed to line up with the southernmost summer moonrise. The Devil's Arrows are part of a larger group of ancient sites. These sites are found on the Ure-Swale plateau and include the Thornborough Henges.
Why the Name "Devil's Arrows"?
The name "Devil's Arrows" was first mentioned by John Aubrey. He visited and drew the stones in 1687. There is a fun legend about how the stones got their name. This story dates back to 1721.
The legend says that the Devil threw the stones. He was aiming for the nearby town of Aldborough. He stood on Howe Hill and shouted a warning. He said, "Borobrigg keep out o' way, for Aldborough town I will ding down!" This means he wanted to knock down Aldborough. However, his aim was off! The stones fell short and landed near Boroughbridge instead.
