Ponden Kirk - Haworth & Stanbury in Bronte Country
The word 'kirk' for 'church' is common in the north of England and Scotland.
The word 'kirk' for 'church' is common in the north of England and Scotland.
There is no evidence for there having been a church on the site, no one is certain how or why the word Kirk has has been associated with Ponden.
According to tradition, if a maiden passes through the holed stone then they shall marry within a year.
According to tradition, if a maiden passes through the holed stone then they shall marry within a year.
The hole created naturally, is approximately 17 inches wide by 24 inches high.
It has been suggested that Ponden Kirk is the Peniston Crag in Emily Brontes "Wuthering Heights" she writes:
"The abrupt descent of Peniston Crag particularly attracted her notice; especially when the setting sun shone on it and the topmost heights, and the whole extent of landscape besides lay in shadow. I explained that they were bare masses of stone, with hardly enough earth in their clefts to nourish a stunted tree."
"This bed is the fairy cave under Peniston Crag, and you are gathering elf-bolts to hurt our heifers; pretending, while I am near, that they are only locks of wool. That's what you'll come to fifty years hence: I know you are not so now. I'm not wandering: you're mistaken, or else I should believe you really were that withered hag, and I should think I was under Peniston Crag; and I'm conscious it's night, and there are two candles on the table making the black press shine like jet."
"This bed is the fairy cave under Peniston Crag, and you are gathering elf-bolts to hurt our heifers; pretending, while I am near, that they are only locks of wool. That's what you'll come to fifty years hence: I know you are not so now. I'm not wandering: you're mistaken, or else I should believe you really were that withered hag, and I should think I was under Peniston Crag; and I'm conscious it's night, and there are two candles on the table making the black press shine like jet."
