Staddle stones
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Staddle stones were originally used as supporting bases for granaries, hayricks, game larders, etc. The staddle stones lifted the granaries above the ground thereby protecting the stored grain from vermin and water seepage. In Middle English staddle or stadle is stathel, from Old English stathol, a foundation, support or trunk of a tree.
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[edit] Origins
The name itself and evidence from surviving vernacular buildings with wooden 'feet' suggest that at first the staddles or supports were made of wood, such as at Peper Harow granary in Surrey (Quiney 1995). Stone staddles were longer lasting and a more reliable means of supporting structures which were sometimes a considerable weight.
The name has become integrated into the landscape with bridges, houses, farms and other structures incorporating the name 'staddle'.
[edit] Design
The staddle stones usually had a separate head and base which gave the whole structure a 'mushroom' like appearance. Different areas in the United Kingdom had different designs. The base varied from cylindrical to tapered rectangular to near triangular. Flat topped cone shaped staddle stones are to be found in parts of the Isle of Wight. The tops are flat to support the beams, however some variation does exists, such as square tops, fluted designs, slate tops, etc.
A fine example is the English Granary built 1731, Supported on Staddle Stones, which can be seen in the Weald and Downland Museum in West Sussex, UK. Such structures were common in Southern England in the 18th century. At Higher Farm in Heathfield, Tavistock, Staddle Stones are part of the substantial barns built by the Duke of Bedford in the 1800's. The dressed granite stone bases have specially hewn slate tops.
The materials used depended on the stone available, giving rise to sandstone, red sandstone, granite examples, etc.
The Museum of Scottish Country Life at Wester Kittochside near East Kilbride has two 'Stathels', made in Edinburgh of cast iron. The structure is basically a cast iron version of a set of staddle stones with its wooden framework. These rare survivals are still in use.
[edit] Function
The tops of the staddles were usually circular and this made it almost impossible for a rodent to climb up and into the hay or grain stored above. The air could freely circulate beneath the stored crops and this helped to keep it dry. A wood framework was placed onto the tops of the stones, the staddles being arranged in two or three rows, giving sixteen or more stones. The hayricks, Tithe barns, granaries, etc. were built on top of this frame.
[edit] Granaries and Bee Hives
These were often constructed with wooden weather-boards such as at Blaxland Farm in Sturry, Kent, which has nine staddles, however if the grain was stored loose then the sides were filled in with brick nogging and light lath-and-plaster at the wall tops. Wooden steps up to the buildings were detachable and stored by hanging them up on the side of the structure. If stone or brick steps were built then the top step was not built, thus denying access to rats and other vermin. Some of these granaries had a 'cat flap' and others had a recess inside the steps which served as a dog kennel (Peters 2003).
Most granaries were used for the storage of two or three separate crops, having a capacity of 500 to 2500 bushels. The arrangement of the stones to support the structure and its weight when in use, required nine, twelve or sixteen staddles. The production of staddles was therefore a fairly significant local industry. Small granaries could make do with five, one being in the middle. The Upper Hexford granary in Oxfordshire uses thirty-six staddles (Quiney 1995).
Bee hives were often set on top of staddle stones to keep out predators and provide dry and airy conditions (Foster 1988).
[edit] Game Larders
Small staddle stones were used to support small roofed box-shaped larders which were used on the larger estates for storage of game, such as pheasant, brought back from shooting expeditions, etc.
[edit] Barns
Timber-framed barns raised up on staddle stones were sometimes found in the south of England. Apart from the usual benefits it seems that some correlation between this barn type and the builder being a tenant exists. Being on staddles such barns remained the property of the tenant (Peters 2003).
[edit] Landscape gardening
Staddles are often found in architectural salvage yards as they are attractive structures. They are also sold new, being made from moulded concrete. Chainsaws are used to produce wooden 'staddle stones' for use as garden seats or ornaments. In this context the staddle stones are often called 'Mushroom Stones'. They have become common targets for theft from remote farms, etc.
[edit] Conservation
Staddle stones are often well over a century old and have developed a good lichen 'patina' with slow and fast growing species adhering to the surfaces. They are better not cleaned therefore as the lichen flora is well worth preserving to add to the biodiversity of a garden scene.
[edit] Tolkien
In The Lord of the Rings, Staddle is the name of a village populated primarily by hobbits. The inhabitants made a living from light agriculture, of pipeweed, primarily. Staddle was on the south-eastern side of Breehill, sitting south of Combe and Archet. It was the only of the villages (other than Bree itself) visible from the Great East Road.
[edit] References
- Foster, A.M. (1988). Bee Boles and Bee Houses. Shire Publications. ISBN 0-85263-903-1. P.9.
- Peters, J.E.C. (2003). Discovering Traditional Farm Buildings. Shire Publications. ISBN 0-85263-556-7
- Quiney, Anthony. (1995). The Traditional Buildings of England. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-27661-7 P.174.
[edit] See Also
- The Lands of Cunninghamhead. An example of the rare Scottish Staddle Stone.
- Museum of Scottish Rural Life, Kittochside
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