Percy Mire Rock from Cotherstone - Romaldkirk Church - Eggleston Bridge

In the afternoon I went to Cotherstone crossed the Tees and climbed up towards Percy Mire Rock (see small blue arrow on map). We had a walk there a couple of years ago and the view from the edge is great. According to legend the last of the Earls was in pursuit of a white stag when he and his horse fell of the cliff. On photo #8 you can see a two crags in the distance on the left of the picture. I was sure they would be great viewpoints and decided to find out how to get there. One of them is Goldsborough Fell which I climbed on one of the following days. The descend back to Cotherstone was much easier and I spent some time at the small footbridge across the Tees to take some photos. After a good rest at the Rose & Crown at Romaldkirk I had a good look around Romaldkirk Church.

It has been known for centuries as the “Cathedral of the Dales”. Much of the building is Norman. A stone tomb effigy of Hugh Fitz Henry (who died on campaign with Edward I in 1305) in chain mail with his unfortunately decapitated dog at his feet. There is also a 12th century font with a 17th century wooden cover being on of the really nice features inside.

The most unusual feature is however the "Devil´s Door" photo #24. Before and during the Middle Ages, the north face of a church was considered to belong to the Devil. Churches were invariably built to the north of roads and tracks, to ensure their main entrance was on the south side. It was also common for them to be built on pre-Christian sacred sites. Such places were still considered sacred by their former worshippers, who would often continue to visit them. A doorway would often be inserted in the "heathen" north side of the church to allow them to enter and worship on the site. Because of the association of that side with the Devil, the name "Devil's door" became established.

A later, and more common, purpose (especially in Sussex where over 40 churches have such doors) was to allow the Devil to escape from the church. A widespread belief in the Middle Ages held that the Devil resided in an unbaptised child's soul; at the baptism, the Devil would be driven out of the child and had to be able to leave. Accordingly, a door was often built into the north wall for this purpose. These doors were often too small to have any real use, and were therefore only figurative. (Romaldkirk however is an exception in this respect since the door must have been quite big. Most of the doors that remain have been bricked up—reputedly to prevent the Devil re-entering (like the one at Romaldkirk).

On my way back to the cottage I stopped at a small lay-by just above Eggleston Bridge and climbed down to the River to take some pictures.