Devil's Arrows

The Devil’s Arrows are a trio of ancient standing stones, or menhirs, arranged in a line just east of the A1(M) motorway, near Roecliffe Lane in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire. They lie close to the point where the A1 now crosses the River Ure, with the full alignment stretching roughly 660 feet (200 meters). This remarkable site has been protected as a scheduled monument since 1923.

The stones were recorded by the antiquarian John Aubrey, who visited and sketched them in 1687. The name “Devil’s Arrows” is rooted in local folklore, with a legend dating back to at least 1721. According to the tale, the Devil stood atop nearby Howe Hill and hurled the stones with the intent of destroying the neighboring town of Aldborough. As he threw, he cried out, “Borobrigg keep out o' way, for Aldborough town I will ding down!” But the stones fell short of their mark and instead landed at what is now Boroughbridge.