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HANGMANS'
STONE. SU320812
A marker stone on the hillside above Lambourn where two tracks cross, one leading down the Seven Barrows. It looks as if it may have been split at the back. It stands by the side of the track and so far has not been otherwise damaged. The folklore tale that is attached to almost all hangman's stones concerns the thief, carrying off a stolen deer or sheep, who falls over the stone. He is accidentally hung by the carcase which remains the other side of the stone. People surmise that hangman's stones mark the local gibbet but in an ordinary British village hanging must have been very rare indeed, I would have thought. For more detail and a list of hangman stone sites consult Notes and Queries, 12S, X1, July 15 l922. |
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HANGMANS'
STONE. SU 436741
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At the junction of the parish boundaries of Boxford, Leckhampstead and Welford. This stone has been split in half and restored but it now sited where it should be safe from passing farm vehicles - possibly slightly away from its original position. Although it is not at a modern road junction, it is at the junction of a byway. The Hundred court met by this stone, according to Notes and Queries, 12. X1. July 15 1922. |
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MISSING
HANGMANS STONE [BACK
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Hangmanstone on the borders of East and West Ilsley, between Gore Hill and Woolvers. There is a boundary stone, possibly this one or one other, marked on the Ordinanace survey, which I cannot find. In Notes and Queries, x1, July 15, l922, it is suggested the stone may have been at the junction of the parish boundaries and the road between East and West Ilsley. There is an hump here which was overgrown when I visited it. |
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THE
TARRY STONE, COOKHAM. SU 898 855 [BACK
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The Tarry Stone, a large sarsen which formerly marked the boundary of the grounds of the Abbot of Cirencester. Having been removed to a private garden, it was in 1909 restored by Sir George Young to the parish and re-erected near its old site then moved again to the correct boundary site in l937. Medieval rather than prehistoric but of interest to me because village games, possibly church ales, were held here before 1506 - see my book "The First Ever English Olimpicks" for more information about early games. |
Hangman's Stone
Missing Hangman's Stone
Tarry Stone