principal stone in the circle is now one of the marks of boundary between Whitby Strand and Pickering Lythe. This, no doubt, was the temple, and those numerous blocks of stones, therefore, formed the avenues and protected the sacred ground appropriated to the religious rites and solemnities of druidical worship. Not far to the west from this spot, is one of those singular clusters of pits, described by Mr. Young, called Dry-heads, and which he considers, very rightly, to have been an ancient residence; there cannot, I should imagine, be two opinions on the subject; and I merely notice that place, as it is in some degree connected with the ground I have just described; and the name I think is evidently a corruption of Druids. So numerous indeed are the remains on these moors that the mind becomes absolutely bewildered among them; at every turn, fresh objects present themselves, for examination, and for the curious to ponder over; and which may be compared to the pages of a history in hieroglyphics.

I had proceeded thus far, when an opportunity offered to give Hulleys another short visit; and if any thing could exceed the pleasure I experienced on my first examination, it would be the satisfaction that I now felt, at having obtained something like proof of what I have

4

4

already advanced: that Hulleys, as it is now called, has been the residence of an ancient people. I cannot but deem myself fortunate, in establishing that fact, which I think is beyond the reach of doubt. Among the ruins of Hulleys, I procured several fragments of coarse unbaked pottery, parts, I imagine, of funeral urns; within another square I found, at a few inches below the surface, several thin strata of char-coal; the soil is what may be called 'made soil;' and the charcoal appeared to have been deposited at different periods, upon new surfaces. 1 was accompanied in my last visit, by Mr. Cole, who is very desirous of preserving the local antiquities of Scarborough and its neighbourhood, both by his publications and research; to him, therefore, I have given those specimens of the pottery, I could spare. Thus I conclude my " tedious brief" account, and I should experi· ence great satisfaction if my observations should draw from obscurity an interesting relic, that, on more minute examination, may throw a light on the dark period of the early history of the County of York.

I am, Sir,

Yours, &c.,

W. ATKINSON,

(London.)

J. Cole. Printer, Scarborough,

As the Druids were enthusiastic admirers of nature in all her luxuriancy and tranquillity, we may reasonably imagine that they would not inhabit a situation so entirely destitute of wood, as the moorlands now appear to be, and in some measure as corroborative of the fact of its having been a wooded spot, is the circumstance of old oaks being occasionally dug up in the contiguous vale. That Scalby once possessed a wood of considerable extent is, I think, clear from Burton's Monasticon, as quoted p. 8. And where, let me ask, throughout the whole extent of this large county, could a more inviting and commanding spot be found, particularly when adorned with trees, as a residence for the mysterious Druids, than Scalby. The scenery viewed from the elevated spot where now stands the church of that village is, if I may so speak, purely of a druidical character, and it is no unlikely imagining to suppose, that upon the very site of that church might have been a temple of these venerable sages. But I must not stray from among my good solid foundations of Hulleys, where I am well fortified. I must, like my good friend the describer, keep on terra firma; with whom I perfectly agree in the idea that Hulleys has been a place of great importance. It possesses some very peculiar and striking features— an immense sacrificial stone-large altar ones—a small tumulus within one of its enclosures-and an immense cairn in its immediate environs, which has probably been both a sepulchral one and a tumulus of memorial, commemorative of one of the chiefs of the bold Brigantian race. Besides two small druid

ical temples. A learned Antiquary, who has corresponded with me on the subject, seems of opinion that Hulleys may be a corruption of the word hollows, as such collections of foundations of huts, generally depressed and round, are called by the country people pits, hags, hollows, &c. That of Egton grange is called the Holey intack, from the nnmerous holes in the ground, where the ancient huts had stood. That in Godeland is in like manner called the Killing Pits.

It has forcibly struck me as being derived from the celtic word-Thullah, expressive of rising ground, where have been habitations.

Since the examination described in the foregoing letter, another druid's circle of small dimensions but in good preservation, has been discovered in the immediate neighbourhood of Hulleys, by John Wharton, Esq., of Scarborough.

RIPLEYS. About a mile from Cloughton is a Farm-house, called Ripleys. At the time of its being built (about 50 years since) many foundation walls were discovered. It might possibly be a residence of the "Sages of ancient time," and a counterpart to Hulleys.

HAYBURN WYKE.

In pointing out to strangers, the pleasant morning rides near Scarborough, we cannot omit to mention the one to Hayburn Wyke, a sheltered recess or inlet on the rocky sea coast, near Clough,

ton. After you have travelled about one mile and a half beyond, or to the north of that village, and on the high road towards Staintondale and Robin Hood's Bay, the road to Hayburn Wyke leads' through a farm of that name, belonging to John Woodall, Esq. The entrance to the farm is marked "To Hayburn Wyke," on the gate of a field on the east or right hand side of the public highway, and is opposite to a long plantation, consisting chiefly of firs.

From this gate the private road leads, for the length of one hundred yards, to the brow of the hill, and then downwards,* along the side of it, to the north-west termination of a valley of small enclosures; on the farther bank side whereof, are situate the present small farmhouse, garden, orchard, &c. now tenanted by Robert Tindall.

It is proper not to take horses or carriages, further than this termination of the valley, as the carriage road at right angles from thence downwards, through the Hayburn Wood, to the seashore or wyke, is difficult in some parts, and is only used by the tenant or others, in case of necessity, for getting up sea-weed, &c.

On entering this wood, visitors will determine whether they will pursue the main or carriage road downwards, or will take the newly made or shady

To avoid the steepness of the lower part of this road, a branch from thence is forming on the right hand side, half way. down the hill, and will lead at an easy slope diagonally through the plantation, to and from the Farm-House only.