Mystery
The Old Man O'Mow
A stone giant, sitting in the quarry.
Stand where it happened
- What's there
- A tall rock stack and a folly castle
- Legend from
- Local name; possible ancient cairn
- Best time
- Clear days
- Tone
- Watchful
From the right angle, the rock in the old quarry becomes a great old man, sitting and watching.
High on the ridge at Mow Cop, on the border between Cheshire and Staffordshire, a 65-foot rock pillar stands in an old quarry. It is called the Old Man O'Mow, because from some angles it looks like a figure sitting down. The spot is believed to be the site of an ancient cairn. Quarrymen worked the hill for centuries, cutting querns and millstones, and left the stack standing. Nearby is Mow Cop Castle, a sham ruin built in 1754 by Randle Wilbraham of Rode Hall. In 1807 the first Primitive Methodist camp meeting was held here. Both the castle and the Old Man are cared for by the National Trust.