Interesting Chessboard

Story from the press.co.uk Can anyone explain this ‘chessboard’? 9:28am Wednesday 3rd December 2008 By Reader's letter » MY ATTENTION was recently drawn to what appears to be a chess or draughts board carved into the well trodden paving flags on the city wall near Victoria Bar. The black squares are indicated by a cross. It is quite neatly done and must have taken some time to inscribe. Despite being in a job where I have access to quite historically knowledgeable people, no one has been able to explain, with any confidence, why the board is there, or who put it there, or when? I am hoping that one of your readers will be able to supply the answers. Richard Aitken, Alness Drive, Acomb Park, York. Answers: Hieronymous, York says...10:06am Wed 3 Dec 08 I suppose the romantic answer to the question would be that a couple of bored soldiers scratched it on the walkway in order to pass the time on a long watch during a period of inactivity. However, it is in such remarkably unworn condition that I doubt it has been in it's present position for much more than the thirty years or so in which I've been aware of it. (Note how part of the design is superimposed on a section which has flaked off!) Perhaps it was found elswhere and repositioned. Alternatively, since the style of carving is pretty modern-looking, perhaps it's a piece of erudite Victorian graffiti! old_geezer, york says...12:37pm Wed 3 Dec 08 I was told it came from the condemned cell in the former prison, now Castle Museum. But why it was moved if so, no idea.