Verbeia
Verbeia, Goddess of the River Wharfe, is documented on an inscribed stone found under a set of steps in Ilkley by William Camden, a visitor to Ilkley, in 1528.
Another altar stone can be found built into the church of All Saints Parish Church. It shows a woman, wearing pleated skirts and a headdress, and holding two snakes, one in each hand. The two snakes converge at the hip.
From folk tales from the area around Ilkley, we know that the Goddess of the notoriously dangerous Strid, a fast flowing channel between vertical rock walls found higher up the Wharfe, manifests as a White Horse,just before she claims a victim. The Goddess of the Wharfe is wild and dangerous, as well as nurturing and life-giving.
Another altar stone can be found built into the church of All Saints Parish Church. It shows a woman, wearing pleated skirts and a headdress, and holding two snakes, one in each hand. The two snakes converge at the hip.
From folk tales from the area around Ilkley, we know that the Goddess of the notoriously dangerous Strid, a fast flowing channel between vertical rock walls found higher up the Wharfe, manifests as a White Horse,just before she claims a victim. The Goddess of the Wharfe is wild and dangerous, as well as nurturing and life-giving.
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Cup marks on stones on Rombalds Moor, Ilkley
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