Cain and Abel Gates

These have been mentioned in many texts over the years. Here is recorded an interesting comment shared with me a week last Sunday during a walk around 'the castle' area. The commentator was a lady of considerable age [80+ years] who; accompanied by her husband of similar fine vintage, plied me with tales of the past at Stainborough - WAS it you? - I would like to know so that I can credit the tale to you.

She said that the gates or the statues on them or both, were 'down' and 'lying on the ground' for the whole of her childhood, and that as children they played on them climbing over them.

What she seemed to be describing is that they were in a state of disrepair, perhaps having been dismantled and abandoned, or maybe vandalised.

The available pictures of the gates - that I have seen - have all shown them in their closed and erect form. These images may not represent the truth.

It has been said that the gates were moved - and lost - when the work was undertaken to build the M1 motorway, and that the site where they were located is at present under the motorway - not far from Rockley Forge.

Some years ago - whilst travelling in the midlands with her husband - the lady saw what she thought were the very gates in some sort of place selling architectural fittings. Her husband, who also knew the gates from earlier years, thought that originally such items were made in multiples and that they had seen but another set of the same gates.


So here is a question or two for you readers, please try to answer them after asking around your contacts.

Is anything said above incorrect?

How do you know it is incorrect?

Do you have any information or theories as to what happened to the iconic gates?

The Editor