July 1, 2023 – Thornthwaite, Cumbria, UK
Any time I read a title like this my inner nine-year-old makes an appearance. In this case, it led to a good story.
In 1783, the newly appointed Bishop of Derry was visiting the town of Thornthwaite in Cumbria. The bishop had a few pints at The Swan Inn one evening and made a lethal wager. He vowed that he could ride his horse up the steep slope of a local mountain called Barf. On attempting the feat, the horse foundered half-way up and tumbled down the slope, killing both horse and rider.
The bishop was buried near the site and a large stone on the hillside was painted white, in deference to him.
Locals have continued the tradition by keeping a fresh coat of paint on the stone ever since. The white stone at Thornthwaite is called, …
… The Bishop of Barf
The “bishop” is the white dot half-way up Barf Mountain.
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