UKC

Slipstones - A Crag with History

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FH 02 Jul 2004
Tucked away in a corner of probably Yorkshires quietest dale, Colsterdale, is Slipstones, one of England premier bouldering venues.

But this sleepy back water has a few interesting facts.

1. The Bradford pals were trained here before going of to the trenches of the first world war. There is a hold on Rock On Left Hand that is described as a bullet hole. I'd like to think it came from a stray bullet from one of the Tommys before he went off to france.

2. In the second world war a Halifax Bomber crashed there, I've been told it was shot down! The crew were all killed and there is a touching small memorial, a stone inscription and wreckage with poppys. Few see it as it's below the crag in the heather. (there is a photo on yorkshiregrit.com)

3. In recent years preserved human remains were discovered in the heather, at first thought to be somthing along the lines of Ludlow man it turned out to be the last resting place of a tramp, he had died some 20 yrs previously.

just think about this next time you go.
 lummox 02 Jul 2004
In reply to FH: ta for the info. Now it is returning to relative obscuity (no more magazine articles please), it should be a magic,guiet spot once again.

Also the site of a couple of big cat sightings, btw.
FH 02 Jul 2004
In reply to lummox:

I was wrong about the Halifax.

http://www.allenby.info/aircraft/slips.html
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/lait/site/Halifax%20DT578.htm

Also the site of a couple of big cat sightings, btw.
I'll take my Diana .177 rifle next time.
OP Bokonon 02 Jul 2004
In reply to FH:

Didn't the FA of one of the routes use wreckage from the bomber as a point of aid?
keith @ work 02 Jul 2004
In reply to FH:
> (In reply to lummox)
>
> I was wrong about the Halifax.
>
> http://www.allenby.info/aircraft/slips.html
> http://web.ukonline.co.uk/lait/site/Halifax%20DT578.htm
>

I've seen the crash site on Great Whernside several times, when staying at Hag Dyke Scout Hostel. The story goes that the crew's bodies were laid out at Hag Dyke before being taken down to Kettlewell - and some kids have seen their ghosts in the night..... :O
 lummox 02 Jul 2004
In reply to keith @ work: didn`t one of the crew survive and crawl down to either Hag Dyke or one of the farms int`valley?
 richardh 02 Jul 2004
In reply to lummox:

supposedly he followed a fox down, hence there's a brass foxes head on the monument, so i was told.
 Simon Caldwell 02 Jul 2004
In reply to richardh:
That's a different crash, on Buckden Pike.
http://www.buckdenpike.co.uk
 Rubbishy 02 Jul 2004
In reply to richardh:

There is a brass foxes head on the memorial on Buckden Pike. A few of us weent up there on the VE Day anniversary and left some flowers.
 lummox 02 Jul 2004
In reply to John Rushby: always thought it was a pretty poignant memorial. I`ve stopped for a moment on a few occasions,when out for a run over Buckden and Gt Whernside.

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