Jew Stone - Outhgill, Cumbria, UK
Posted by: 
Superted
N 54° 24.533 W 002° 20.165
30U E 543091 N 6029218
On the village green in Outhgill stands a replica of the "Jew Stone", which was set up in 1850 by the eccentric William Henry Mounsey ( 1808 -1877).
Waymark Code: WM6Z5J
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/09/2009
Views: 3
William Henry Mounsey walked from the mouth of the River Eden, on the Solway Marshes to the river's source, arriving there on the Ides of March 1850. He erected a monument on Black Fell Moss, near the source to commemorate his achievement. William Mounsey was a solicitor in Carlisle, wore a long beard, and was known as the Jew of Carlisle. The stone became known as the Jew Stone.
The monument measures seven feet seven and a quarter inches by three inches and derives its name from the inscriptions in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. It is made of a limestone known as Dent Marble.
The Latin inscription translated reads:-
"William Mounsey, a lone traveller, commenced his journey at the mouth and finished at the source, fulfilled his vow to the genius and nymphs of the Eden on the 15th March, 1850"
The original stone once stood upon Black Fell Moss, a solitary testament to Mounsey's pilgrimage, until it was smashed by workers on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. Following World War II the broken pieces were taken to Kirkby Stephen by the local fell rescue team, where, it was hoped, it could be repaired, this however proved impossible due to the fact that the stone had begun to shale badly. The replica which stands at Outhgill today, is of a higher quality limestone but in all other respects identical to the original.
Outhgill is a small and scattered village, situated in the remote Mallerstang Dale and is situated about five miles south of the town of Kirkby Stephen. The village retains the Norse pattern of its original settlement: a series of small hamlets and isolated houses, with no village centre.
A book has been published about the stone called: William Mounsey and the "Jew" Stone a true story of mystery and detection from the Eden Valley of the Lake District by Charlie Emett.
Type of Historic Marker: Stone
Age/Event Date: 01/01/1850
Give your Rating: 
Historical Marker Issuing Authority: Not listed
Related Website: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please submit your visiting log with a picture of the object and include some interesting information about your visit.
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|