The story of Keighley’s ancient boundary stones

WHERE the boundary of the ancient manor of Keighley ran across open moorland convenient boulders were used to mark it.

These were more often than not glacial erratics that had been deposited as the ice sheets retreated at the end of the last Ice Age.

The boundary between Keighley, Cowling and Steeton at the Hitching Stone. Pictures: Robin Longbottom

Many of them were named and marked with the initials of the lord of the manor.

In the case of Keighley the lordship was held by the Cavendish family, later earls and then dukes.

The Maw Stones boundary with Cowling are marked WC with D added after 1618

The stones are marked both WC for William Cavendish and WD after 1618 when he was created Earl of Devonshire.