1 FEBRUARY 1919, Page 16

HEADMAN'S HILL.

Ito THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] Rte.—"G. W. P.'s" paper on Deadman's Hill in Nidderdale is interesting, and the story of the murdered paekman is inane form or another well known is me, I having shot over the Deadman's Hill and surrounding grouse moors for a couple of

w agons. What truth there may be in the story of Maggie Thomson and her son being the murderers I cannot say. I do oat recall their names among those of criminals tried and hanged at York on the capital charge. But I question the assertion that Deadman's Hill derived its name from any such gruesome occurrence. Perhaps the whole story was invented to account for the name, which is more probably derived from llodd (Stand.), a hill with a round top—e.g., Dodd Fell (Cumberland) and Dodmaen (tine round stone) in Cornwall, popularly called Dolman ar Headmen's Point.

Middlesmoor is an old moorland parish, the registers of whose church contain the entry of the marriage of Eugene Aram and Anne Spence (in 1731.2 I believe). A little lower down the valley is the pretty village of Ramegill, the birthplace of Eugene Aram.

Caper Nidderstale is very beautiful in all seasons— well worth the attention of folk who desire to know the fhstnesses of their own country. The Yorke Arms at Rams- gill and .the Crown Hotel at Lofthouse are two comfortable hostelries. A light railway runs from Pateley Bridge to Loft- house, with eonnexion from and to Harrogate.—I am, Sir, Ac., Lingst. CanswEtt. The Hall, BurfeLoin-Wharfedale, Forks.