[1] According to folklore in the Channel Islands, these small ledges were used by witches to rest on as they fly to their sabbats.
Traditional vernacular architecture in Jersey is in granite and such witches' stones can be seen protruding from many older houses.
The real origin of this architectural feature is to protect thatched roofs from seeping water running down the sides of the chimney stack.
When thatch began to be generally replaced by pantiles in the 18th century, and later by slates, the witches' stones were left protruding prominently from the chimney stack.
[citation needed] The force of tradition can be seen in a number of newly constructed houses in vernacular style that sport witches' stones despite never having had a thatched roof.