Staddle stones

The staddle stones lifted the granaries above the ground, thereby protecting the stored grain from vermin and water seepage.

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.

[3] Stone staddles were longer lasting and a more reliable means of supporting structures which were sometimes a considerable weight.

A fine example is the English Granary built 1731, supported on staddle stones, which can be seen in the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in West Sussex.

At Higher Farm in Heathfield, Tavistock, staddle stones are part of the substantial barns built by the Duke of Bedford in the 19th century.

[4] 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.

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.

[3] Beehives were often set on top of staddle stones to keep out predators and provide dry and airy conditions.

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.