Datestone

A datestone
A datestone on Knypersley First School

A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt (with the old date stones intact) have been reported, or may in some cases be the date of a renovation or alteration.[1]

Specific locations have often been chosen for datestones, viz.

  • corbel
  • gable stone
  • Gatepost: a large upright piece of (usually) granite, usually set at the entrance to a driveway or a field.
  • keystone
  • lintel

See also

  • Marriage stone
  • Cornerstone

References

  1. ^ Lindop, Roy (1975). Stories of Turton Date Stones. Turton Local History Society. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-904974-01-7.

External links

  • Scotland's Marriage and Date Stones
  • The Societe-jersiaise
  • An essay on datestones (mostly in London)