ICLOK
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15 years ago
Remembering a wonderful story called "The Weird Stone of Brisingamen" set on Alderley Edge that I read as a child, I thought it might be nice to share the original myth on here as I now know it by its proper name of "The Iron Gates". A lovely version of this myth can be found in the 1st ed of John Timbs 1870 book "ABBEYS, CASTLES AND ANCIENT HALLS OF ENGLAND AND WALES" from which the extracts below are taken... I found this 1870 book in a Church sale for 15p... its a classic and wonderful read..
๐Ÿ”—Personal-Album-856-Image-46069[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-46069[/linkphoto][/link]
๐Ÿ”—Personal-Album-856-Image-46070[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-46070[/linkphoto][/link]
๐Ÿ”—Personal-Album-856-Image-46071[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-46071[/linkphoto][/link]
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
mistericeman
15 years ago
I grew up with that book after being read it by a particularly good teacher ,at the age of about 7.

As such, and not living far away from Alderley Edge it has always had (and still does) a very special place in my reading pleasure ,even several years later ๐Ÿ˜ž .

Interesting to read the above post and the original "Myth"

nice post :thumbup:
ICLOK
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15 years ago
The Weirdstone was a great book indeed and used the myth really well! I still have a copy in the loft and it will always stay with me! :thumbsup:
Might be needing those Knights the way the countries going! ๐Ÿ˜‰
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
mistericeman
15 years ago
Only if they are fitted with gritters ::) .

Spent many a happy evening up at Alderley (carefully avoiding halloween though )
As stated in the wierdstone ,you seldom hear much in the way of "boyds" tweeting .......odd place
ICLOK
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15 years ago
It is indeed... I used pass thru the area regular and stop off for evening walks... but I like places like that!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
Mr.C
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15 years ago
"ICLOK" wrote:

The Weirdstone was a great book indeed and used the myth really well! I still have a copy in the loft and it will always stay with me! :thumbsup:
Might be needing those Knights the way the countries going! ๐Ÿ˜‰


They, or the Knights of Arthurian ledgend might be our only hope, thanks largely to the last few usless showers in power ๐Ÿ˜ž
I'll look out for them now, whenever I go go through Monks Heath lights!
We inhabit an island made of coal, surrounded by a sea full of fish. How can we go wrong.......
Cat_Bones
15 years ago
It's a nice story ๐Ÿ™‚ I find it really interesting how it has so much in common with other British legends. The connection to the Arthurian legends is obvious, and there are other stories from around the country that are very similar, ie, warriors slumbering underground until their country needs them, such as the Wild Edric legend from Shropshire. It also has a lot in common with the old-school faerie stories, which often feature lone travellers being invited into some sort of weird underworld... usually in those stories though, the traveller usually suffers in some way for the privillege!

ICLOK
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15 years ago
Thats wonderful Cat_Bones! Thats just what I wanted to hear... so I wonder how many underground myth armies there are in GB!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
Edd
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15 years ago
Aparently the legend of Alderley Edge can be traced back further than the legend of Robin hood.

If your ever in wilmslow take a look at the wall of Sainsburys. The Legend has been put into a murial on the side of the building :)

P.S we have been poking around underthere for years and still not found Arthur yet ๐Ÿ˜ž
'I started reading it with full intention to read it all and then got bored and went and got beer instead!'
christwigg
15 years ago
I've heard the very same legend applied to Freebrough Hill close to where I live in North Yorkshire

http://www.yorkmoors.com/ekd0488.htm 

The Sleeping Knights of Freeborough
One legend suggests there is a deep pit shaft running directly from the summit into the depths of the earth, and that this was used to bury hundreds of dead soldiers and horses after bygone battles.
Some say it contains the bodies of those who died during the black death: indeed a grave was found on the side of the hill during the last century. This was made of whinstone blocks, which had been carried three or four miles to this site, thus indicating a grave of some importance.
The is the legend of Edward Trotter who lived in a small holding in Dimmington.
When chasing a lost lamb he found a large hole the size of a badger sett. On crawling inside the hole he found a tunnel running deep into the hill. The tunnel grew larger as he passed through it. He then came across a huge chamber with a heavy oak door studded with iron with a large iron handle.
On entering the door, Edward encountered a man in chain mail with a long spear in one hand and a sword in the other.
The man awoke and stopped Edward from running away.
The man commanded Edward to be quiet. Edward notice that there were more men in similar dress all asleep and seated at a round table.
The guard informed Edward that "we are King Arthur and his Knights of the round table, we are sleeping until our services are again required.
He then swore Edward to secrecy and told him to leave.
lochcoulter
15 years ago
Loved the books as both a kid and an adult. Do the tunnels and mines mentioned in the Alan Garner books actually exist?
Edd
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15 years ago
yes they do. Well to a point he links mines that arent linked but thats all part of the book ๐Ÿ™‚
'I started reading it with full intention to read it all and then got bored and went and got beer instead!'
Cat_Bones
15 years ago
"christwigg" wrote:

I've heard the very same legend applied to Freebrough Hill close to where I live in North Yorkshire

http://www.yorkmoors.com/ekd0488.htm 
The guard informed Edward that "we are King Arthur and his Knights of the round table, we are sleeping until our services are again required.
He then swore Edward to secrecy and told him to leave.



So he didn't do a very good job of keeping it secret then presumably? I hope King Arthur gets him.
ICLOK
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15 years ago
Blimey ... thats a lot of knights! ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!
Cat_Bones
15 years ago
Also, just out of interest, the "knights coming to the aid of the country" thing is sometimes associated with the "Wild Hunt", which pops up in a variety of places and has various connections with other aspects of folklore. I find it fascinating how many of the old traditions and stories inter-connect, presumably through years of re-telling and refinement.
toadstone
15 years ago
The Legend of the Wizard

Who is he?-He
Who, beneath the Holy Well
Where secrets dwell,
Can tell
Where the Iron Gates are hid:
Who, when the time is ripe, will bid
Them to expand and show
Their treasure heap,
And, striking with his wand,
Awake from sleep
Steeds and an armed band,
The which for England's safety 'tis decreed
Will issue forth when in her utmost need:
He, who on the heights of Alderley awaits
The coming of the day:
He, who is seldom seen by mortal sight,
And seen, seen only in the gloom of night
On Milk-white steed:
He is the Wizard, whom the Fates
Have bid to do the deed,
Strike with his wand the Iron Gates,
And wake the armed band!


Visit "The Ledgends of Alderley Edge" http://www.alderleyedge.org/  for more.........
ICLOK
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15 years ago
Cool, wondered if you'd see this... Nice link :thumbup:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

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