Freebrough Hill

This hill has been a familiar landmark for travellers on the Guisborough to Whitby road for generations. Its near perfect symmetry and isolation has led many to the belief that it must be the work of man. Or gods. Or giants. The giant was Wade, who worked overtime shaping these moors. His name occurs frequently.

The most famous legend originates from the 14th century. A local farmer by the name of Edward Trotter was checking his sheep on the slopes when he stumbled upon a tunnel leading down into the hill. He crawled inside and as he got further the tunnel got higher until he could walk. Eventually he came to a oak door and inside were several men sleeping around a table. They were dressed in chainmail and armed with swords and spears. One man awoke and explained they were King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and were sleeping until their services were needed. He swore Edward to secrecy and allowed him to go. The next day he tried in vain to find the entrance again.

It is now accepted that the rocks in the hill was laid down during the Jurassic period and the hill formed as a glacial outlier during the last ice age which ended 20,000 years ago.