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outside of the temple an area had been set up using one of the stone structures as an altar, decorated with flowers and candles-and seating in the form of straw bales covered in cloth, which was where the actual ceremony took place. A novel idea, seemed very Pagan to have a wedding at the Druid ' s Temple on Beltane weekend( or May 4th as evidenced by the later Star Wars theme blasting out of the speakers), however otherwise it seemed like a very " normal " wedding with some dubious taste in decor! So our expose to the site was indeed quite surreal. After a little while the wedding party moved on to and we had a chance to explore the temple.
The Temple and surrounding site is a folly created by one William Danby. William Danby( 1752-1832) was made High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1784. He created the temple to generate work for the local population who were paid 1 shilling a day. The structure sits deep within a private forest and includes a large stone table, a sheltered cave and an altar stone. The before going a bit mad. I must say the cave in question was rather teeny for living purposes. temple is approximately 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, with some of the stones standing over 10 feet high. A salary was offered for someone to live at the Temple as a hermit for seven years. I am unsure if anyone did stay the full seven year term, but I believe someone stayed for five years
It is a spectacular and curiously fascinating site. The temple itself has all the components of an ancient temple but somehow reduced in size- it would have been cosy indeed to actually hold any ceremonies in there, although I am sure some have tried. The big stone slab looks rather sacrificially ominous but I must say I sat in various places within the temple and it was oddly comfortable and warmly welcoming, not what I expected from a foreboding stone structure at all. There is a bemusing juxtaposition of the supposed seriousness of the theme of the project, and the humour with which it has actually been constructed. I felt as though it ought to hold a reverence which I just didn ' t really feel- it just felt... quite friendly.
The site has a number of configurations as well as the temple which involve various stackings of very large stones, and a sunken stone circle / fire pit. There are various walks and stunning views over the valley and river.
Well worth a visit, although, I can ' t guarantee it will be as outlandish as ours was!
Sadly the site seems to be undergoing some development which, for no good reason that I can see, involves chopping down and burning much of the surrounding forest. There was a holiday camp of luxury yurts near the entrance and while that in itself quite appeals I do hope they don ' t detract too much from the original character of the place.
Jean D, Cook