FOCUS ON….Staddlestones
Staddlestones have been used as decorative pieces in gardens for many years. The hand-carved bases and distinctive mushroom shaped tops are an attractive centre piece, particularly when positioned in groups.
But did you know that staddlestones also had a practical and very important use in the 18th and 19th Centuries?
Harvested crops left in barns on the ground were vulnerable to water damage and vermin. Raising up the base of the building on a grid of stone stilts provided protection against water damage and allowed air circulation, but mice and rats were still able to climb them. Adding a simple mushroom shaped top was an obstacle that they couldn’t overcome, so barns sitting upom staddlestones became a vital part of the agricultural landscape and a practical solution for protecting crops that would otherwise have been lost.
Carved by stonemasons or labourers, each was unique with seperate tops and bases and the stone varied according to what was available locally. Here in the Cotswolds they were typically created from local limestone which, over time, weathered taking on individual patina and colouring.
Advances in building design mean that Staddlestones don’t have a practical use Today, but they are in great demand for gardens where their rustic appearance and natural moss and lichen covering bring character and a little bit of history to your home.
At Winchcombe Reclamation, we have a wide range of reclaimed staddlestones in stock. Please feel free to call in and take a closer look.