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18. A circular Commondale walk - part 1 - Commondale village to Hob on the Hill The pictures illustrate the 1st part of Walk 58 "Hob on the Hill" from "Walks on the North York Moors" Book 2 by Jack Keighley You can start the walk in the centre of Commondale Village.
As you walk out up the Kildale/Stokesley road you pass one of the fine houses built of the characteristic Commondale red brick, once made a few hundred metres behind the house at the Cleveland Fire Brick and Pottery Company between 1860 and 1950. Little trace of the great brickworks survives.
Having turned right of the road you head for the first stone trod or causeway near Whiteley Beck.
The first paved trod and heading up towards the war memorial after crossing the beck.
The First World War Memorial. Remembrance to Guardsmen Robbie Leggott killed in action 1916 and Alf Cockerill died of wounds on duty in 1914.
Looking down passed the war memorial back towards Commondale, Castleton and Westerdale. Finding the faint track up to Hob on the Hill isn't easy, but if you go to far along the track after the 1st WW1 memorial stone, don't worry, you can find a prehistoric stone alignment (see below) that takes you up to a bit to the left of the Hob on the Hill stone. This is worth looking out for on its own merit.
The boundary stone engraved 'S Hob on the Hill' stands in the middle of an excavated tumulus (bronze age burial mound). 'Hob' or 'Hobs' is frequently used in names and is derived from folklore witchcraft. A 'hob' was often described as a hairy ugly dwarf inhabiting moorland farms. OS grid ref. 646 124
On the reverse of the stone it is inscribed with RC 1798. The RC refers to Robert Chaloner Esq. Lord of the Manor.
The late Bronze Age stone alignment below Hob on the Hill. You need to deviate ~ south-west from Hob on the Hill i.e. from the walk instructions, to view this marvellous stone and earthen bank boundary which is much more impressive than the orthostats above Westerdale.
The stones of the 'boundary wall, which are set in a low embankment, and one of the lower stones is engraved with a cross - presumably to indicate 'now under new spiritual ownership' in medieval times!
Hob on the Hill is a fine picnic spot with wonderful 360o views. Looking south from Hob on the Hill towards Castleton Village, with Danby Dale beyond and Westerdale on the right.
Looking north from Hob on the Hill down to the sea.
Looking west from Hob on the Hill towards the Cleveland Hills.
From Hob on the Hill (OS grid ref. 646124) you initially head in the direction of the coast in a north-east direction to find a track which leads to a line of boundary stones that goes almost due north to Hob Cross ....
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