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Whilst planning a walk this grade II listed monument caught my attention as “we” share the same forename! It is described as a possible boundary/marker stone.
It’s located on the verge alongside the B6306 Blanchland towards A68 Kiln Pit Hill junction (OS 0004-5493). South side of the road where a track heads north to Slaley Hall. (the map shows other BSs along this stretch)
The stone itself is only about a metre high. Other web sites suggest, due to the letters on the stone, it may be a boundary stone for the two adjoining estates or simply indicator to Slaley and Blanchland.
The Historic England web site names it but includes no info as to how it became so named. The H.E. site states a structure is “listed for its special architectural or historical interest.”
Does anyone know why this stone is listed and/or why it became known as Donald’s Grave. On the OS map the actual name is shown in the corner of the walled field immediately behind the stone. This field rises to a mound I think more likely to be the location of a grave. With the passage of time have the two things become “merged?”
Curious, as I thought it may be an interesting spot to spread my ashes! (hopefully not for a few decades yet though)No one really knows what Donald’s Grave was. The OS maps, from the first edition in 1860 onwards, all show it at the position of the marked stone you mention. From the lettering on the stone, and its position, it seems fairly certain that it is a boundary stone for Bulbeck Common – there is a whole series of them (mostly listed monuments) probably erected when the common was enclosed in the 1770s. Of course they may have simply used a conveniently placed older stone marking Donalds Grave and carved the lettering into it.
