DESPITE compiling this column for many years, I continue to be surprised by information I uncover during my continuing researches. I can achieve much through my own library of newspaper and magazine cuttings steadily built up over the years, or I can turn to my library of reference books and now of course, I can research via the internet.

By far the most interesting means of finding out more about this fascinating and historic region is to go out and visit locations; checking the current situation is often more interesting than anything stored in a library, and when I do venture into the wilds of this part of Northern England, I usually find something or some place I never knew existed.

For example, recent exploration of the North York Moors National Park revealed four places called Kirkdale, all within fairly close distance of each other. The two elements of that name provide clues to its origin – Kirk is a very old word used in the North of England and Scotland to indicate a church or chapel. It dates to Old English, Danish and Nordic origins and appears in many regional place names. Inevitably, an old kirk (church or chapel) features in the dales in question. Dale is also derived from similar origins and is a Northern word that refers to a valley.

Kirkdale therefore indicates a valley with a church and so it is with all the four to which I refer – except that one has had its name changed. Three Kirkdales retain their original name while the fourth has been anglicised to Church Dale. This new name means the same thing, albeit abandoning our earlier language and local dialects.

Perhaps the best known of the Kirkdales is near Kirkbymoorside (that town’s descriptive name also indicates a church), while Kirkdale still has its ancient pre-Reformation church of St Gregory the Great which is a major tourist attraction. Known as Kirkdale Minster, the former Catholic church is fascinating due to its age and probably has Saxon origins. Its location close to a renowned cave is also an attraction but also because the minster bears a very famous inscription on a sundial above the main door.

The inscription dates from 1060, before the Norman Conquest, and tells how Orm Gamal bought the church when it was broken down and rebuilt it from the ground. Its text also refers to a priest called Brand, and Tosti, the Earl of Northumbria, who was killed during the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 when the legendary Seven Feet of English Soil was his reward in death.

The famous Kirkdale Cave overlooks the minster and it was here in March 1821 that a man quarrying in Kirkdale discovered the mouth of a cave in the cliff face several feet above ground level.

Upon looking inside, he saw countless old bones, many of which he threw away. Some were incorporated in new roads being built in the locality. Fortunately, the remainder were noticed by John Gibson, who was on holiday in Helmsley, and he recognised their importance. He contacted Dr John Harrison and other antiquaries, including the leading palaeontologist, the Reverend Dr W Buckland.

Expert examination showed many bones dated from some 70,000 years ago when this part of English enjoyed a sub-tropical climate. Among the bones were those of animals no longer found in this country – lion, tiger, hippopotamus, bison, giant deer, straight-tusked elephant and slender-nosed rhinoceros, but also the remains of many native animals.

It was thought the bones were from animal carcases dragged in by hyenas which then occupied the cave. At that time, the cave would be on the shores of Lake Pickering, a deep lake that disappeared centuries ago. It is difficult to imagine a lake lapping the entrance to this cave, now so high above ground level.

The second Kirkdale extends into the North York Moors to the north of the A170 road not far from Scarborough. It is between the villages of Ebberston and Allerston and is in a small valley extending from Ebberston Hall with the ancient church of St Mary at its foot, along with its hilly graveyard with some tombtones in precarious positions.

The church was closed when I called but has Norman origins along with some fascinating stonework. On the moors behind is the legendary King Alfred’s Cave and Scamridge Dykes, where legend says King Aldfrith (Alfred) of Northumbria was laid after being stabbed to death hereabouts. Aldfrith is reputed to have attended the Synod of Whitby.

To the east, also along the A170, is Thornton-le-Dale and just north of that village is a narrow road leading to the quiet hamlet of Ellerburn. Stretching north from Ellerburn is a tiny dale known as Kirkdale Slack, slack being a local word for a small valley or hollow. At its foot is the ancient 11th century church of St Hilda, very small but very fascinating, with some Norman remains and what looks like a stunted bell tower.

The fourth Kirkdale is deep within the moors, an off-shoot of Eskdale and a mile or so north of Glaisdale railway station, and west of Egton village. It was the location of the family home of the martyr Nicholas Postgate but is now known as Church Dale – and it has an ancient church of St Hilda overlooking the dale; it is now called Egton Mortuary Chapel.

The area is depicted as Kirkdale on a map dated 1636 and seems to have undergone its name change as the Ordnance Survey map makers were researching the locality for the first of their local maps, probably in the early 19th century. When I contacted Ordnance Survey, I was told that no records existed of the name change or the reason for it, as the files had been destroyed by a German bomb during the Second World War.

Snowdrops lead the way

February is often known as Gateway to the Year because new life is appearing both in our gardens and in the countryside. Leading the race will be snowdrops, whose fragile white flowers are able to withstand the wintry weather that can appear during this shortest of months.

Not surprisingly, they are sometimes known as snow piercers, but also Fair Maids of February. Believed to blossom on or around February 2, they were widely regarded as emblems of purity and in the past, young girls would pick the flowers and wear them as such a symbol.

The reason was that February 2, widely known as Candlemas Day, with its rich selection of weather lore, was also the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as Groundhog Day, Cradle Rocking Day, Wives’ Feast Day and the day for planting broad beans.

Recalling the weather of this year’s Candlemas last Monday, its lore is well known but worth repeating:

“If Candlemas be fair and bright, winter will have another flight;

If Candlemas be cloudy with rain, winter will not come again.”