Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Staddle stones

 

Virtually unchanged in design for many hundreds of years, Staddle Stones, (also known as mushroom stones) were originally used to raise barns and granaries off the ground.
This kept the produce from spoilage by damp, and also prevented mice and other vermin from interfering with it, as they couldn't climb past the staddle stone caps.
Due to regional influences,they come in various types of stone with slight variations of form. They are extremely popular as garden ornaments especially in rural areas such as The Cotswolds and The West Country (UK).

In Middle English staddle or stadle is stathel, from Old English stathol, a foundation, support or trunk of a tree.

1Staddle stones used as garden ornaments. Source here

 

3An old barn supported on several Staddle Stones at Boscombe, Wiltshire. Source here

 

5A building sitting on staddle stones, at the Somerset Rural Life Museum. Source here

 

6Granary, Weald & Downland Museum. Source here

 

2The store house in the garden of Sheldon Manor is built on staddle stones, designed to keep out the rats. Source here

 

4Granary on staddle stones, Lower Bottom House Farm, Chalfont St Giles. Source here

 

8A haystack standing on staddle stones. Source here

 

7Source here

 

12Assorted staddle stones Source here

 

9 A set of 6 staddle stones for sale. Source here

 

Nowadays these gorgeous ‘mushrooms’ are used as decorative garden ornaments.

16‘Mushrooms’ in the garden. Source here

 

15Staddlestones along the driveway. Source here

 

21Staddle stones as a garden fence. Source here

 

13Source here

 

10Source here

 

11Source here

 

Where to find staddle stones for sale?

2012-11-21_111354

Here are only a few addresses of so many to find in the UK.

Below Stairs of Hungerford

English Garden Antiques

MASco Architectural Salvage

Beeston Reclamation

Leominster Reclamation & Architectural Salvage

 

 

I wish all my American friends and readers a HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

784px-The_First_Thanksgiving_Jean_Louis_Gerome_FerrisThe First Thanksgiving (1621), painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863-1930)   source here

 

xx

Greet

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38 comments:

  1. How fabulous this post is I've seen these saddle stones but never knew what they were used for. I would have never guessed they were used as a foundation so thank you for the history.

    I hope you're having a nice week!
    XXX
    Debra~

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  2. I never knew they were used for this! How interesting!

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  3. Superbe Greet !
    Je ne connaissais pas ces 'pierres-champignons" !
    Bonne journée !
    Céline.

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  4. Wonderful post Greet! All my study of architecture and folkways and I still can learn new things. These are wonderful - no wonder people want them for their gardens. Thanks for the holiday wishes, family and food - much to be thankful for. Cheers!

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  5. Oh I would love to have them in a garden to use as they are in the photo, as a little group of seats in the shade of a big tree !
    Wonderful ! besos, C

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  6. All these years, and I had no idea that these "mushrooms" were saddle stones and had another purpose than just being decorative. I have a few in my courtyard and they look wonderful in the winter landscape.

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  7. I absolutely love those! Are they staddle or saddle stones? I will probably make my own as I am in the US and sadly can't just pop on over to one of the listed shops. I would probably need a freight-liner to bring back my finds:) Have a beautiful day and thank you for the inspiration.
    JoeyLea
    http://www.thelocustblossom.blogspot.com/

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  8. I never knew what these were -thank you so much for sharing -fascinating!

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  9. I love these - and I want them. Thanks for sharing details on the origin of the saddle stones. It's interesting to see how things serviced our lives in the past and are now a desired item for accent.

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  10. Wat een leuke post Greet, ik kende deze paddestoel stenen niet en wist ook niet voor welk doel ze werden gebruikt. Het heeft wel wat, een huisje op hoogte ;)!

    Een fijne avond! Lieve groet, Ingrid

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  11. Who knew? + I adore to learn new things-a day when you learn something new is wonderful. Happy Turkey day to you from SCA..xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  12. These are the first images that I've seen of saddle stones under a structure. Here in the States I've seen them used as garden elements. They do make wonderfully whimsical "mushrooms"!

    Greet, thank you so much for your thoughtful words about Leila's horseback riding accident. Of all my friends, I knew that you would understand. Like you, Leila will miss her horse for several months, but she will resume riding once her doctor gives her the ok.

    Tomorrow on Thanksgiving I will be thinking of you, Jan and Anthony. It has been a long time since our visit to your beautiful home, but I think of you often and value our friendship.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    xo
    Brooke

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  13. A fabulous post Greet...merci beaucoup.

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  14. Amazing! I love learning new things! They look so precarious but have endured for centuries. Oddly, the things made by machine do not last like the things made by the hands of mankind.

    xo

    Andie

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  15. Greet,

    I did not know how lovely. They'd make great seating around a table in the garden.

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  16. I love coming to your blog. Not only is it filled with beautiful images but I learn something every time.

    A great post and I loved seeing the stones supporting the structures.

    Simone

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  17. Interesting, in the areas of Spain, at the bottom of the Great Pyreenes,
    there are stone houses with 'mushroom's' for the same purpose...It would
    seem most of Europe has the same ideas used so long ago. Enjoyed your
    blog, brought back memories. Sel

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  18. Precious Greet, how gorgeous these are! And that first cottage is a dream. I hope you are well and that MANGO is doing well too! Anita

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  19. Greet,

    Who do I have a feeling some of of those staddle mushroom stools soon will be sitting in your beautiful garden?

    I am in Sweden visting with my family. No time for cyber land but I wanted to come over and say that I am thinking of you today and that I adore you a ton. You are a dear.

    Love to you.

    Mon

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  20. this anglophile has adored staddle stones, in their original use and as ornaments. my british friends father used to make them. after a season in the english garden they were adorned with moss and lichen.
    to make them he used a wooden form he made for the base. the top was crafted in the garden. he would dig a hole in the soil to the depth of the top and pat the soil into the relative shape then pour concrete into the hole. viola a lovely mushroom top! thanks for this happy reminder of the british countryside
    xoxo
    debra

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  21. Hi Greet,
    I never knew this about straddle stones. Very interesting.
    Thank you so much for sharing.
    Hope you have a lovely day,
    Liz x

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  22. Greet,
    I first learned about staddle stones while visiting England in 1985...oh, how I wanted to bring one home to California...can you imagine.
    This is a beautiful post and I love the images. I still wish I had one but I'll have to enjoy images rather than the real thing!
    Enjoy your weekend.
    Karen

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  23. How funny to find our photographs of the Staddle Stones here on your blog! They are amazing items, so much loved here in England and especially in Wiltshire where we live, and we treasure the one which we have in the garden of our old cottage. I am glad that my article on them, and photographs inspired you to write about them also. Thank you for including a link to us. best regards, Minerva ~

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  24. I've had very little time for blogging but just wanted to drop by and say hello as I had the chance and glad that I did...love this post...would enjoy one in my garden. Have a lovely weekend. Mona

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  25. What an inviting post. Learned something and fell in love with the old buildings.

    You are a bit of sunshine in my day!

    I usually read you in my Google reader but had to pop over to your blog to write today.

    Happiness to you,

    Rebecca

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  26. Hello Greet,
    Just read your post on staddle stones and, like always, you struck a chord with me. Have two of them in my garden, but would like about 22 more.

    By the by, Greet is this the week-end Walda Pairon's cottage is open? I just may plan on that for next year.
    Have a good rest of the week-end-
    b

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  30. So beautiful, and not just purely ornamental but to keep rats out as you mention, so they can't get in barns and granary buildings. I had not thought of that being an original use!

    ReplyDelete

  31. What a lovely and informative post! I have never seen Staddle stones before. Amazing! And thank you for the Thanksgiving greetings, we indeed had a wonderful celebration with lot's of friends!
    I am sure you are preparing slowly for the holidays! Enjoy the time!
    xoxo Victoria

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  33. Happy Thanksgiving back to you Sis! I know long time but with the house I am doing and the shop gearing up for xmas and hopefully some other things in the works.........I can't only commennt I am fiinding it hard to READ........ Just know ai have been thinking of you and jan and wish you happy holidays..... You going to M&O??????Jan......?xo Maryanne

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  34. thaks for your sensibility im restorer from Mallorca Spain ever im remember this fantastic finish in Sweden fine decoration

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  37. never knew this! thanks for the lesson. that is amazing seeing those structures on the stones. really cute too!

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