Panty Oon Stone
A mysterious ore-grinding stone
The Panty Oon Stone (also called the Sam Oon Stone) is in a field immediately adjacent to Low Far Side and only feet away from the Sam Oon Level. Gill Beck separates Low Far Side from that field. The Panty Oon Stone is made of gritstone and stands roughly 5' x 8' x 3' high. In its center is a rough bowl about 18" deep and 42" in diameter. On the north side, a 10" deep 16" wide rectangular cut probably was connected to an outfall channel which leads to Gill Beck. An excavation in the 1960s discovered this outfall channel as well as pottery dating back to 1450 - 1600AD.
The Panty Oon Stone has been believed to be an "ancient" ore-grinding stone, or played a role in baking, or stone-grinding for local glass-making but it is difficult, today, to find a definitive basis for any of these. The site of the stone and Low Far Side with the availability of lead ore, fresh running water, the reliability of winds for flues, and a level place for buildings would suggest one of the best situations on Greenhow Hill. The Sam Oon Level dates from the early 1600s but no documentation was found that would connect the two, other than the similarities in name and proximity.