Churn Milk Joan Artwork

 I previously posted the picture Churn Milk Joan in April 2021 and provided the following information alongside it,

Churn Milk Joan is a standing stone upon Midgley Moor overlooking the Calder Valley. Also Known as Churn Milk Peg and Nelmires Stoop it reaches a height of approx 7ft and is thought to have been erected as a boundary marker, having been recorded as early as the 17th Century.

The stone is thought to have been given the name Churn Milk Joan in the early 19th Century, as a tribute to a milkmaid who froze to death whilst crossing the moor from Peckett Well to Luddenden during a heavy snow storm. Some of the legends said about the stone include leaving a penny in the depression on top of the stone is said to bring you good luck, it is also claimed that the stone spins 3 times on New Years Eve when the sound of the St Michaels Church bells, Mytholmroyd can be heard around it, the stone is thought to predate the church by a couple of hundred years.

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Churn Milk Joan, A Moorland Mystery

Standing sentinel on Midgley Moor, overlooking the breathtaking Calder Valley, is a stone steeped in history and legend. Known by many names – Churn Milk Joan, Churn Milk Peg, and Nelmires Stoop – this imposing 7ft monolith has watched over the valley for centuries, its origins shrouded in time.

First recorded in the 17th century, the stone is believed to have served as a boundary marker, a silent witness to the ebb and flow of life across the moors. But its more colourful name, Churn Milk Joan, didn't appear until the early 1800s, and with it came a tale as chilling as the moorland wind.

Local legend whispers of a milkmaid, caught in a ferocious snowstorm, who tragically froze to death while crossing the treacherous moor from Peckett Well to Luddenden. They say the stone was named in her memory, a poignant reminder of the harsh beauty and unforgiving nature of the landscape.

But Churn Milk Joan isn't just a monument to tragedy. It's also a source of local folklore and superstition. Legend has it that placing a penny in the hollow atop the stone will bring you good luck. And if you're brave enough to venture to the moor on New Year's Eve, you might witness a truly magical spectacle. They say that as the bells of St. Michael's Church in Mytholmroyd echo across the valley, the stone itself spins three times! A captivating thought, especially considering the stone predates the church by a couple of hundred years. What secrets has it witnessed in its long vigil?

So, the next time you find yourself exploring the Calder Valley, take a detour to visit Churn Milk Joan. Stand in its shadow, feel the wind whipping across the moor, and let your imagination wander. Is it just a boundary marker? A memorial to a lost milkmaid? Or a magical stone with the power to grant good fortune? Perhaps it's a little bit of all three, a testament to the rich tapestry of history and folklore woven into the very fabric of the Yorkshire landscape.

The picture was taken on the 5th April 2021.

Clicking the image should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked, higher resolution version on Clickasnap.

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