Information for record number MWA3814:
The Four Shire Stone

Summary The Four Shire Stone, a boundary marker, dates from the Post Medieval period. It is located 550m south east of Leamington Heath Coppice.
What Is It?  
Type: Boundary Marker, Boundary Stone
Period: Post-medieval (1540 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Little Compton
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 23 32
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: II)
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 A square obelisk of oolitic limestone c.12 feet high. The base has a moulded pedestal with plinth and the obelisk rises to a moulded cornice surmounted by a ball finial on top of a corncrete cube enclosed in modern times by railings. Each face has one of the counties; Oxon, Worcs, Glos, Warks, carved on it, the boundaries of these counties met at this point until the reallocation of 1931. In 1931 Evenlode parish was excised from Worcestershire causing that county to recede and the Fourshire stone lost some significance.
2 A Mr Quinnell reported in March 2016 that the railing on the Warwickshire side needed some maintenance and repair and that the monument could do with a clean.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 16/275
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Photo of the Four Shire Stone
Author/originator: Mr P. Quinnell
Date: 2016
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
 		back
source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
more -> 		back
period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
more -> 		back
period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
more -> 		back
monument BOUNDARY STONE * A stone that indicates the limit of an area or piece of land. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument OBELISK * A tall, tapering pillar with a pyramidal top, generally square on plan. Used in England from the late 16th century as a public, funerary or garden monument. back
monument PEDESTAL * A concrete, cylindrical pedestal on which a spigot mortar was mounted. The pedestal is often the only evidence for a Spigot Mortar emplacement to survive. back
monument RAILINGS * A fence or barrier made of metal or wooden rails. back
monument SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back
monument COPPICE * A managed small wood or thicket of underwood grown to be periodically cut to encourage new growth providing smaller timber. back
monument BOUNDARY MARKER * A marker of some form used to indicate the limit of an area or a piece of land. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record