An intriguing name and 'a very pleasant area to live'

THE CHARM OF STONE CHAIR WHICH 'CAN BE TWO DEGREES WARMER' THAN NEIGHBOURING AREAS

- By ANDREW ROBINSON

YORKSHIRE is full of quirky and interesting place names, from Wetwang to Crackpot, a village in North Yorkshire.

In Calderdale, travellers may come across offbeat places including Catherine Slack and the intriguingly-named Stone Chair at Shelf, near Halifax.

Stone Chair has a big metal road sign to prove it is a real place, with many a driver scratching their head after passing the Stone Chair roundabout, near to Stone Chair Variety Club. Even locals think it's a rather strange place name, although its origin is perfectly straightforward.

The area gets its name from an unusual milestone which acts as a seat and dates back to 1891.

The original stone chair was put up in 1737. The stone slabs form a little seat, albeit a damp and chilly one. The structure is Grade II-listed and can be found opposite The Duke of York pub.

Local dog walker Jane, 66, says Stone Chair has become "quite select" over recent years, with rising house prices due to, in her view, people fleeing city centres for some rural peace and quiet.