Re: Wallington stone | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Hob Apr 26, 2005 22:24:03

Replying to StoneLifter

They're not carved, but they may have once been used for axe grinding/smoothing, but if so, I think it was before they were stood up.

You're right SL, the Wallington stone was moved from about 6m NE of the Poind. I suspect Middleton was originally nearer the Poind too, but only got half way before the romany stone-shifters realised they weren't going to be paid extra. The Trevelyans of Wallington were pals with the Swinburnes, and robably felt they needed an 'Ancient British menhir' to keep up with the Joneses. They hung about with Pre-Raphaelites, which probably didn't help.

A couple of other snippets that may interest you in your ponderings:

1) A bit of literal trans from Bede implies that 'Poind/Poond' may have referred to the stars known today as Libra. (Apparently. I don't speak Saxon, so don't take my word for it)

2) It was that Capability Brown character who was responsible for the destruction of Nunwick circle.

wideford Apr 26, 2005 23:57:16

Replying to Hob

"Star Names Their Lore and Meaning" says about Libra "the Anglo-Saxons said Waege and Pund".

rocknicker Apr 27, 2005 08:16:16

Replying to Hob

>>Capability Brown

Really? Bugger.

StoneLifter Apr 27, 2005 09:09:20

Replying to Hob

At the Poind and her Man there was previously a rectangular enclosure in stone that was removed sometime during agricultural improvement. It's suggested that the term was Pound originally and that it referred to this now-lost rectangle. I prefer the explanation that the name refers to the shapely mound and was 'poond' a colloquial term for the Mound of Venus.

Tomlinson, I'm fairly sure, recounts that there were two men beside the poond, not long before his time, and that one was removed to (and this is what I remember) the front of Hallington Hall. My summer fieldwork at the Knar, starts two weeks today, will take all my time until well into October. Every ounce of my physical strength will go into building that structure known to Google as Line!! and in recording that work.