I guessed these stone mushrooms must have a proper name, but I’ve only just found out they are called staddle stones. As you can see, they are used on farms to elevate a wooden building and because of the shape of the ‘mushroom’ cap, rodents and other creatures can’t get into the structure and eat whatever is within. They also allowed air to circulate beneath the wooden floor and so avoid damp and problems of grain or hay or whatever was within from spoiling. At any time spoiled produce is costly, but in bygone times without all the appliances we have now, it was even more important – matter of life or starvation in many cases.
There may have been a time when a wooden ‘foot’ was used instead of a staddle; that in turn could be prey to insects, rodents and damp. Staddles could also be used for beehives, and smaller ones could serve to elevate larders. More often these days you might find staddles as ornaments in a garden…. next time you see one (or maybe you have one) then think of their original purpose, and how really useful they must have been!
This staddle at Hauser & Wirth gardens and galleries i Somerset, must be very old,; look at the beautiful pattern of lichen on it!
Lois Elsden 