RYE. 87 



magnificent view over part of Cleveland to Rosebury Topping. 

 The scenery about Bievaulx is bold and well-wooded ; the hills 

 forming terraces on the east side, which continue round toward 

 Helmsley. 



The Cistercian Abbey, an early English structure (1151), of 

 wonderful beauty, under a finely wooded hill, must be ranked 

 among the noblest ruins in Yorkshire. Helmsley Castle a 

 fragment of the early English fortress, erected by De Roos, and 

 the mansion of Lord Feversham, built by Vanburgh, with its 

 pictures and sculptures, add to the attractions of Ryedale. 



In its eastward course from Helmsley the Rye receives the 

 Dove, which has previously added the Bran to its current. The 

 scenery on these rivers is much like that on the Rye, but not so 

 extensive. On the line of the Bran, and 30 feet above its level, 

 is the celebrated Cave of Kirkdale, from which so large a collec- 

 tion of the bones and teeth of hysena, elephant, rhinoceros, ox, 

 stag, &c., were gathered by Mr. Gibson and Mr. Salmond, and 

 described by Dr. Buckland (see the Museum at York). In the 

 same valley is the curious old church of Kirkdale, with its dial, 

 constructed in the days of Edward the Confessor (about 1060). 

 The first accurate copy of this remarkable inscription which I 

 have seen is given in the ' History of Whitby/ by the late Dr. 

 Young (vol. ii. p. 743). 



The design is arranged in three compartments: the central 

 one contains the dial, on a semicircular plan, divided into eight 

 hour spaces. The writing on the upper line of this compart- 

 ment is 



PIS IS D^GES SOL MERCA (This is day's sun-mark). 

 Below it on the semicircle 



^T ILCUM TIDE (at every time). 



And at the bottom quite clearly 



i-AND HAWARD ME WROHTE AND BRAND PRS (And Haward 

 me wrought, and Brand Priest). 



