HANGMAN’S
STONES, HILLS, AND LANES
All large scale maps show a series of places called either Hangman or Hanging. The names have two quite different meanings.
“Hanging” is often applied to the visual look of a place – where the area seems in some way hanging in the air. Thus there are Hanging copses and hanging meadows. Hanging stones (mostly but not always) refer to stones in some way airborn – ie part of a inland cliff perhaps.
Hangman’s lanes, hills, and stones, however, probably refer to the place where a gibbet was erected. This in turn may be the site of early medieval courts, where both trial and hanging took place and the body would be displayed on the gallows as a warning.
The stones associated with these places may be boundary stones which then, from association with the court held at the parish boundaries, become Hangman’s stones. They are found in many counties, but, alas, are rarely valued or looked after. One in Hereford, for instance, has vanished according to “Ancient Stones of Dorset” by Peter Knight (Power Publications l996).
When hanging becomes centralised, and is taken over by county courts, then the stones lose their accompanying gibbet. Folklore, however, then takes over. The usual tale is that a thief steals a sheep or deer, and in carrying it slung over his shoulder, the rope catches on the stone. The thief is then hung by the rope, indirectly by the stone itself.
BERKSHIRE
All large scale maps show a series of places called either Hangman or Hanging. The names have two quite different meanings.
“Hanging” is often applied to the visual look of a place – where the area seems in some way hanging in the air. Thus there are Hanging copses and hanging meadows. Hanging stones (mostly but not always) refer to stones in some way airborn – ie part of a inland cliff perhaps.
Hangman’s lanes, hills, and stones, however, probably refer to the place where a gibbet was erected. This in turn may be the site of early medieval courts, where both trial and hanging took place and the body would be displayed on the gallows as a warning.
The stones associated with these places may be boundary stones which then, from association with the court held at the parish boundaries, become Hangman’s stones. They are found in many counties, but, alas, are rarely valued or looked after. One in Hereford, for instance, has vanished according to “Ancient Stones of Dorset” by Peter Knight (Power Publications l996).
When hanging becomes centralised, and is taken over by county courts, then the stones lose their accompanying gibbet. Folklore, however, then takes over. The usual tale is that a thief steals a sheep or deer, and in carrying it slung over his shoulder, the rope catches on the stone. The thief is then hung by the rope, indirectly by the stone itself.
BERKSHIRE
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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. |
| HANGMANS'
STONE. SU 436741 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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HANGMANS'
STONE SX205909
Well signposted, well protected and set in paving this Hangman’s stone is a tribute to local authority care. It is on the Sidmouth to Colyton road on the right hand side. Like so many similar stones it is on the parish borders of Beer, Branscombe and Southleigh and at the crossroads of four roads and (according to Notes and Queries X1 July 15 1922) two other paths. According to web postings, this stone is close to an area known as Norman’s grave, so it is possibly a megalith from a prehistoric burial mound. Parish boundaries often use these are marker points. |
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HANGMAN¹S
STONE, HAMPNETT, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
SP 08761512 Hangman's
stone lies outside Northleach off old A40, where the road is crossed
by a footpath. It is broken, lying on its side against a stone wall
just near a radio mast. Like many standing stones it has a hole
in it. There is also a second stone set into the drystone wall like
a style. It is no 12 in Old Stones of the Cotswold by D.P. Sullivan.
I visited April 2000. It is on the boundary of several parishes
and may have been used as a marker when people were drawing parish
boundaries. |
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HANGING
STONE, WOODBOROUGH. SU 0996040
Like the Hangman’s stones in Gloucestershire, Berkshire and elsewhere, the tale is told of a thief who carries away a stolen sheep, secured by a rope over round his neck. The rope catches on the stone and the weight of the sheep hangs the thief. The other two Hangman’s stones are at track crossroads where parishes meet and where a gibbet might give its name to the stone. The Hanging stone may get its name from the fact that it is also within 100 yards of a parish boundary, and not far from where Hurst lane crosses a footpath. This doesn’t look like a crossroad to us, but would have been so when most roads were mere paths or tracks. Notes and queries (see the other stones) seem to have missed this one. |
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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GREY
HANGMAN’S STONE, OAKS IN CHARNWOOD. SK 4795 1665
Near a little oak wood, a field away from the footpath, this stone is not near any parish boundaries. But it is in the old forest which was not enclosed till the nineteenth century. A large oak stood near it – this has now fallen down though its husk remains visible. I was guided there by Bob Trubshaw, author of “Interactive Little-known Leicestershire and Rutland”(£14.95 from Heart of Albion Press, www.hoap.co.uk ) . The stone stands on a little mound, which Bob thinks is probably a field clearance mound. It is at this stone that occurred the death of the deerstealer John of Oxley, a sort of Leicestershire Robin Hood. Like most of hangman’s stones I have sen, this one is simply not large enough to hang a poacher, whatever the poem says. The Legend of the Hangman's Stone One shaft he drew on his well-tried yew, And a gallant hart lay dead; He tied its legs, and he hoisted his prize, And he toiled over Lubcloud brow. He reached the tall stone standing out and alone. Standing there as it standeth now; With his back to the stone, he rested his load, And he chuckled with glee to think That the rest of his way on the downhill lay, And his wife would have spied the strong drink, A swineherd was passing o'er great Ives Head, When he noticed a motionless man; He shouted in vain, No reply could he gain, So down to the grey stone he ran. All was clear: there was Oxley on one side the stone, On the other the down-hanging deer; The burden had slipped, and his neck it had nipped; He was hanged by his prize all was clear. |
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HANGMAN’S STONE, GRIMSTON SK 684 218 Unlike most Hangman’s stones, this one, glacial erratic, is on the village green. The tree next to it is a chestnut tree, an introduced species, so it can’t be a medieval gibbet tree. This might be the tree that replaced one used for hanging. A rotting pair of village stocks is next to the stone, suggesting a link between the stone and punishment. The stone seems to have a trig stone, a small stone used to help keep erect the larger one. |
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