Difference between revisions of "Four shire stone"
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It is not a stone, but a nine-foot high monument, built from the local Cotswold stone. It is located a mile and a half east of the town of [[Moreton-in-Marsh]]. The existing structure was probably built in the 18th century, and is a grade II listed building.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Listed Buildings |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-305989-four-shire-stone-evenlode-gloucestershir |accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref> There was an earlier "4 Shire Stone" on or near the site in 1675.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ogilby, John | title=Britannia Atlas |year=1675 |location=Richard Nicholson of Chester, map dealer|page=Plate 44 |url=http://www.antiquemaps.com/uk/mzoom/29411.jpg |accessdate=1 October 2013 | authorlink=John Ogilby}}</ref> | It is not a stone, but a nine-foot high monument, built from the local Cotswold stone. It is located a mile and a half east of the town of [[Moreton-in-Marsh]]. The existing structure was probably built in the 18th century, and is a grade II listed building.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Listed Buildings |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-305989-four-shire-stone-evenlode-gloucestershir |accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref> There was an earlier "4 Shire Stone" on or near the site in 1675.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ogilby, John | title=Britannia Atlas |year=1675 |location=Richard Nicholson of Chester, map dealer|page=Plate 44 |url=http://www.antiquemaps.com/uk/mzoom/29411.jpg |accessdate=1 October 2013 | authorlink=John Ogilby}}</ref> | ||
| − | From the stone, one can go either east or west into Gloucestershire, north into Warwickshire, south-east into Oxfordshire, or south-west into Worcestershire. Most of Worcestershire is to the north-west of the stone. Thus the order of the four counties around the stone differs from what one might expect from a standard map. | + | From the stone, one can go either east or west into Gloucestershire (east into the detached part of Little Compton), north into Warwickshire, south-east into Oxfordshire, or south-west into Worcestershire (detached). Most of Worcestershire is to the north-west of the stone. Thus the order of the four counties around the stone differs from what one might expect from a standard map. |
It is claimed that the Four shire stone inspired the "Three-Farthing Stone" in Tolkien's books ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. In those books, ''The Shire'' is divided into four farthings, three of which meet at the "Three-Farthing Stone".<ref>{{cite web |title=Moreton-in-Marsh Tourist Information and Travel Guide |url=http://www.cotswolds.info/places/moreton-in-marsh.shtml |publisher=cotswolds.info |accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hooker |first=Mark T. |date=2009 |title=The Hobbitonian Anthology |publisher=Llyfrawr |page=98-99 |isbn= 978-1448617012}}</ref> | It is claimed that the Four shire stone inspired the "Three-Farthing Stone" in Tolkien's books ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. In those books, ''The Shire'' is divided into four farthings, three of which meet at the "Three-Farthing Stone".<ref>{{cite web |title=Moreton-in-Marsh Tourist Information and Travel Guide |url=http://www.cotswolds.info/places/moreton-in-marsh.shtml |publisher=cotswolds.info |accessdate=12 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hooker |first=Mark T. |date=2009 |title=The Hobbitonian Anthology |publisher=Llyfrawr |page=98-99 |isbn= 978-1448617012}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 12:30, 4 December 2014
The Four shire stone is a boundary marker that marks the place where the four counties of Gloucester, Oxford, Warwick and Worcester meet.
Boundary marker
It is not a stone, but a nine-foot high monument, built from the local Cotswold stone. It is located a mile and a half east of the town of Moreton-in-Marsh. The existing structure was probably built in the 18th century, and is a grade II listed building.[1] There was an earlier "4 Shire Stone" on or near the site in 1675.[2]
From the stone, one can go either east or west into Gloucestershire (east into the detached part of Little Compton), north into Warwickshire, south-east into Oxfordshire, or south-west into Worcestershire (detached). Most of Worcestershire is to the north-west of the stone. Thus the order of the four counties around the stone differs from what one might expect from a standard map.
It is claimed that the Four shire stone inspired the "Three-Farthing Stone" in Tolkien's books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In those books, The Shire is divided into four farthings, three of which meet at the "Three-Farthing Stone".[3][4]
References
- ↑ "British Listed Buildings". http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-305989-four-shire-stone-evenlode-gloucestershir. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ↑ Ogilby, John (1675). Britannia Atlas. Richard Nicholson of Chester, map dealer. p. Plate 44. http://www.antiquemaps.com/uk/mzoom/29411.jpg. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ↑ "Moreton-in-Marsh Tourist Information and Travel Guide". cotswolds.info. http://www.cotswolds.info/places/moreton-in-marsh.shtml. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ↑ Hooker, Mark T. (2009). The Hobbitonian Anthology. Llyfrawr. p. 98-99. ISBN 978-1448617012.
