Description and History of Site:-
Thus is perhaps the best preserved of all the limestone boulder pit delphs between the Wharfe and the Washburn valleys. It extends over an area at least 100m x 100m and the hummocky nature of the hills (waste heaps) and hollows (the pits) is clear to see despite thick undergrowth.The cobbles were usually converted to lime with the boulder pit sites. The site of one here (SE 1888 4733) is visible as a tell-tale hollow with some sandstone rubble remaining from its structure. It is clear that it was a very small, squat kiln; the loading ramp to the rear of the bowl is just discernible. Nothing is known of its early history but it was marked on OS First Edition mapping.

Further Reading and References:-
Johnson, D. 2010. 'Hushes, delfs and river stonary: alternative methods of obtaining lime in the gritstone Pennines in the early modern period' Landscape History 31, pp. 37-52.

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Key Words :- limestone boulder pits glacial till

Viewing the Site :- a public footpath runs through the site

Address :- Clifton, Otley, North Yorkshire, LS21
Grid Ref :- SE 1888 4733
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.921768 , Long -1.714007
Local Authority :- Harrogate Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Earthworks only
Record Date :- 25 January 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © David Johnson