An interesting piece of history sits un-noticed on the hillside in open view above Bellhagg Barn. Most people wont see it, and even those who go these specially to see it may not find it.
The Alphabet Stone is situated on the west facing hillside above Bellhagg Barn, on the road which links Rowlee Farm to Lockerbrook.
The Alphabet Stone is a boulder of Millstone Grit which has a planed face on which the English alphabet and the numbers 1-10 had been carved. It was probably made in the early 1800s and the text is now in poor condition with some of it barely decipherable.
The part bearing the number 1-10 is missing, probably when the stone was vandalised.
The local shepherd is thought to have carved the alphabet and numbers onto it, in the early 1800s. He taught local children from the nearby farms and was able to keep an eye on them from the windows of Bellhagg Barn when he had other tasks to carry out.
It was used as a Sunday School in the early 1800s.
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Writings and photographs courtesy of Mike Browell.