THE MYSTERY OF THE DUMB  STEEPLE

This mysterious obelisk can be found in the small village of Grange Moor between Huddersfield and Wakefield (West Yorkshire, UK). All that can be said of it for certain is what is recorded on the inscription on its south face.
Rebuilt
By:Richrd:
H:Beau~~
mont
Esq:r
1776

(Richard H. Beaumont was the local landowner)

The use of the word ‘rebuilt’ in the inscription implies that the Dumb Steeple had a predecessor. Sadly, we have no idea what this might have looked like nor why it was thought necessary to rebuild it.

The problem is that nobody can come up with a suitable explanation for what function the Dumb Steeple served. The best guess is that it served as a boundary marker of some sort but nobody seems to be really certain.

Nor is there a credible explanation for the name. Maybe it’s ‘dumb’ because, unlike a church steeple, it has no bells. Therefore it cannot make a noise.

To make matters more confusing there is a second Dumb Steeple at Cooper Bridge just a couple of miles away. Again no satisfactory answer to the problem of its name and function can be found. It might be a boundary marker, a sanctuary stone or just a signpost. It is after all situated near a busy road junction.

And finally there seems to have been a third Dumb Steeple at Sandal Magna on the outskirts of Wakefield. It is mentioned in ‘Legends and Traditions of Huddersfield (Paat V)’ by Philip Ahier but I have seen no other reference to it. If anyone can supply any information, I would be glad to hear it.

I find this object intriguing. Can anyone think of any parallels?

I’ve never known quite what to make of this obelisk at Grange Moor. Can anyone think of anything similar?