How much do you notice when you're wandering around? There are so many details we take for granted, that give so many clues to the past. Here are a few of my favourites - do say where you've spotted them.
Date stones and initials over old houses and buildings - what's the oldest you've spotted?
Curved walls like this one in a narrow lane in Dent, as self-preservation against knocks where there were lots of carts. You might also notice spur stones at the base corner of a building, to protect the wall from vehicle damage
Mounting blocks - two or three steps leading to a flat surface to help a rider mount their house, often found outside pubs, grander houses or stable blocks
Boot scrapers - usually iron curves set into the wall by the front door of smart houses, so visitors could scrape off the mud from their boots before entering
Small openings at the bottom of bulidings, often at the back - for deliveries or coal, beer or other goods
Lines on buildings indicate a different roof line - sometimes old houses in the Yorkshire Dales were covered with ling heather (like thatched houses), and then the roof line was changed and built up when covered with slates or tiles