A]:)AMSON : 'J'HE YORKSHIRE BOULDER COMMITTEE. 



Cjranite, and is 250 ft. above sea-level. Isolated ; some beds of 

 gravel not far off. Embedded, 1 think, deeply in the soil, which 

 is heavy clay. 



No'i'K. — Another smaller boulder is lying to the left of the walk, 

 leading to Cliffe Hall, about a mile west of the other. It is rounded, 

 and about 3 ft. long, with long axis E. and W. It has probably been 

 moved by those who made the path near which it lies. 



THE 'STRANGER'S STONE,' NEAR BARNARD CASTLE. 



R. TAYLOR MANSON, M.R.C.S. 



It is on the bank of Deepdale Beck, a small stream running into 

 the Tees from the Yorkshire side, a little above Barnard Castle. 

 I should think the stone is a mile up the stream from where it flows 

 into the Tees. It is on the north bank. It stands about 8 ft. high, 

 and has a circumference of 22 ft. None of it is embedded. 

 It stands on a flat bed of rock at the edge of the stream. It is 

 semi-oval in shape as seen from the land side ; from the bed of the 

 river, its outline is that of a blunted plough-share. It is smoothed. 

 It is long-shaped, longest axis N.E. and S.W. This boulder may 

 have been situated on the higher ground above the river and been 

 sent crashing down to where it is. This supposition is founded on 

 the fact that on the south-end face are seen two holes filled with 

 lead, as if for insertion of iron hinge-hooks for a gate. I don't know 

 any reason why three holes should have been drilled and filled with 

 the block in its present position, as the gate or whatever was attached 

 would hang over the river. No groovings upon it. It is Shap Fell 

 Granite, and is known as the ' vStranger's Stone,' which may be a cor- 

 ruption of the ' Strange Stone,' alluding to the peculiarity of its 

 differing from others in mineral character. Near it is a board with 

 the following painted inscription :— 



I'ray whence coni'st thou, a stranger in the land? 



What stopped thy progress in this pleasant dale? 

 Wert thou from Shap, and l)rought by fairy hand. 



As felspar crystals mark thee from that Fell? 

 How cam'st thou here — what l)ore thee on thy way? 



Wert thou by water or by glacier driven ? 

 I'm now thy Icjrd, and here thou long shall stay. 



To raise our thoughts and praise the God of Heaven. 



It is 550 ft. above sea-level. It is isolated, but other smaller blocks 

 are observable in the river bed. It rests on Mountain Eimestone 

 forming the bed of the river. 



Jan. 1888. 



