Boundary Stones
Boundary Stones
By Hugh C-J
Since lock keepers Ann and Hugh uncovered two boundary stones at Blunder Lock, Robin and Andrew at Newtown Lock have also found two stones, one lying on the ground, and a third example was found later. One further stone is believed to be buried near Pike Lock. The stone in the picture is at the lower end of Blunder Lock, being a particularly good example with fairly clear initials standing for Stroud Water Navigation. The stones at Newtown Lock do not appear to have any inscriptions
These stones were evidently installed when the canal was built to show that the small area of land on the off-side of each lock belonged to the Canal Company. Along most of the canal, the Company did not own any land on the off-side, and the canal bank itself was the boundary. At thelocks, the Company needed to own a little land on the off-side so that the bargemen could have access to open and close the lock gates.
This suggests that such stones may once have existed at all of the locks, but there is another factor . The owner of the land adjoining Newtown, Blunder and Pike Locks was Ellis James, who was very particular about his property, and it is possible that the boundaries with his land were given special treatment. It will be interesting to see if any more such stones are found at other locks. One other stone with initials is in store at Brimscombe, but its original location is not known, and it
may not have come from a lock, as the records show that such stones were used wherever a boundary needed to be clarified.
