Central length of the row. View from north west.
A single stone row measuring 490.6m long, including about 83 visible small, medium and large-sized stones situated on a south facing slope with a sea view reveal at the upper end. Excavations confirmed that the row had been partly incorporated into a later field bank. One stone has a small cross carved on it, perhaps an attempt to Christianise the row. The row is orientated north to south and stands in an area with several cairns.
Location
| England | North Yorkshire | North York Moors | NZ 64532 12444 |
| Lat 54.5032277 Long -1.00496872 | |||
Map showing the location of North Ings stone row.
Plan of North Ings stone row (Source: GPS survey by Sandy Gerrard). Click on the plan to open a higher resolution version in a fresh window.
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 490.6m |
| No. of stones: 83 | Size of stones: Small, medium and large |
| Orientation: 5° | Altitude: 306m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Cairns | |
| Notes: Stone alignment incorporated into later bank. Excavated. Stones are earlier. | |
Identification
Category: Plausible. Excavation and field observation indicate that the stones are earlier than the earthwork bank which has incorporated some parts of the row. The sea view reveal at the upper end of the row together with a prehistoric context strongly supports a prehistoric interpretation.
Typology
This stone row is of Type S12. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
The lower part of the row at NZ 64504 12003. A small cross has been carved into one stone. Perhaps an attempt to Christianise the stones. View from north east (Scale 1m).
The southern end of the row. View from south (Scale 1m).
The southern end of the row. The stones at this point are not associated with an earthwork bank. View from south (Scale 1m).
Looking south along the row at NZ 64505 12014 (Scale 1m).
Along much of the row the stones protrude through an earthwork bank with a western ditch. View from south (Scale 1m).
The stones are not equally spaced. In places they are almost touching. View from east (Scale 1m).
Stones forming part of the row at NZ 64533 12254. View from south.
Stones forming part of the row at NZ 64533 12254. View from south. The sinuous form of the row is very marked at this point. Click on image to open a higher resolution version.
Stones forming part of the row at NZ 64533 12254. View from south (Scale 1m). A cairn not visible from the lower end of the row is now clearly visible on the skyline.
Stones forming part of the row at NZ 64533 12254. View from south.
A pair of stones at NZ 64533 12254. This is reminiscent of the pair of stones at the single row at Sharpitor West on Dartmoor. View from south (Scale 1m).
A pair of stones at NZ 64533 12254. View from north (Scale 1m).
The earthwork bank is very obvious at NZ 64535 12269.
Two closely spaced stones. View from north east.
Well preserved length of row at NZ 64535 12269. View from north east (Scale 1m). Click on image to open a higher resolution version.
At this point towards the top of the row the bank is situated a short distance to the west of the stones. This relationship indicates that the stones and the bank are not contemporary and excavation has demonstrated that the stones were raised before the bank. View from the south (Scale 1m).
As you walk up the row the nearby cairns appear one by one on the nearby skyline.
Row in the foreground with the Hob on the Hill cairns on the skyline beyond.
The sinuous form of the row is obvious from this angle. View from north.
Looking north along the row.
A line of stones with a purpose. View from south east.
Sea View Reveal
Landscape views from the lower part of the row are very restricted. As you walk up the row one cairn after another appears on the skyline before finally at NZ 64534 12411 the North Sea suddenly appears 30m from the northern end of the row.
For much of the length of the row views of the nearby sea are blocked by rising ground. View from south (Scale 1m).
At NZ 64534 12411 the sea suddenly appears.
A few steps further and more of the sea comes into view. View from south.
The sea comes into full view at the northern end of the row. From this point the distant land at Whitburn forms what looks like a pronounced headland. The row builders may have be interested in this also.
Access Information
Car parking is available at NZ 65681 10501. From here follow one of the footpaths leading north to the row.
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: National Park |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal PastScape Doc Brown
Timeline
VISITED:- 15th September 2017
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 13th Februrary 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 14th January 2020
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 