The Burley Peace, Milestone and "other" stones collection.
House date stones at the bottom of the page.
House date stones at the bottom of the page.
Volume 3 (2009) of The Journal of The Milestone Society has an extremely well researched and informative article by John Tybjerg and Michael Knight entitled "The 'Peace' stones of 1802 and milestone restoration in Burley, Hampshire", on pages 21-26, describing the 10 milestones around Burley, available for download here:-
www.milestonesociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Milestones-Waymarkers-Volume-3-Full-Issue.pdf
www.milestonesociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Milestones-Waymarkers-Volume-3-Full-Issue.pdf
Two of these stones erected by Thomas Eyre specifically relate to the "Peace Restored" in 1802, and another is dated 1802. A preliminary agreement between Britain and France was reached late in 1801 and various celebrations ensued including the issue of commemorative medals in October 1801. Eventually on 25th March 1802 the Peace Treaty between Britain and France was signed. Unfortunately by May 1803 the Peace Treaty had broken down and war with France recommenced - (Battle of Waterloo 18th June 1815). See "Treaty of Amiens".
1801 Preliminaries for the Treaty of Amiens commemorative medal (38mm diameter)
The Peace Stone by The Queens Head:
(note dated 27th March 1802)
This stone is also known as the Bread or Gift stone. Thomas Eyre's will, of 1829, directed that shoes, clothes and blankets should be distributed from this spot on the 23rd October (or if a Sunday, the day after) to twelve poor women and girls not less than 12 years of age (Hardcastle p 72).
These first 3 dated stones were presumably manufactured and erected in 1802 (as the peace had been "lost" by May 1803!).
All the stones are of Portland stone.
Peace Stone at "Copse Corner" Burley Street (Grade II Listed Building 21/6/1990) :
The 1802 Milestone opposite the Manor Gates (Grade II Listed Building 12/03/1987) :
This stone has, curiously, changed it's appearance considerably over the last 80 odd years!
Which, if any, is the "original" carving?
1936 1971 2016
Milestone on Picket Plain (Grade II Listed Building 12/03/1987) :
This stone has had the front face recut in 1999-2000 as part of the Millennium restoration project.
This stone, in the village centre, was originally from the Picket Post Service Station on the A31 prior to road improvements,
and was recut with new inscriptions for the 2000 Millennium (Grade II Listed Building 12/03/1987):
(The original inscription is, as yet, unknown)
The original position of this stone and a photograph taken in 2000 are available here (face of stone impossible to discern).
The Milestone at Burley Street (Grade II Listed Building 12/03/1987) :
Circa 1900, see enlargement - MS above and right of little girl's head!
Early 1930's 2020
December 19th 2020
Milestone at Clay Hill:
Milestone at Durmast crossroads (Grade II Listed Building 12/03/1987) :
Milestone at Vales Moor on the Crow Road (Grade II Listed Building (12/03/1987) :
Milestone on Moortown Lane:
Notice relating to Castle Hill at Black Bush:
(T Eyre 1823, and Recut 1934)
The curious carved stone which was unearthed in 1967 during a house renovation in Chapel Lane:
The stone measures 29.5 inches across and carries the Latin inscription:
PAUPERI THOMI CULMEN EYRE TUGURIUM
This is very similar to a line in Virgil's Eclogue 1, Line 68 - pauperis et tuguri congestum caespite culmen
Several translations are possible but it seems to imply: Poor Thomas Eyre Cottage Roof (or perhaps keystone or lintel).
It's purpose and previous location remains a mystery.
PAUPERI THOMI CULMEN EYRE TUGURIUM
This is very similar to a line in Virgil's Eclogue 1, Line 68 - pauperis et tuguri congestum caespite culmen
Several translations are possible but it seems to imply: Poor Thomas Eyre Cottage Roof (or perhaps keystone or lintel).
It's purpose and previous location remains a mystery.
A number of houses and cottages in Burley have/had dated stones incorporated in the building.
Date stones often just show the date, occasionally letters are added in a triangular pattern which sometimes, but not always, relate to the initials of a married couple. The lettering on this stone is discussed on p185 of Hardcastle. She rather confusingly interprets the letters as C, S and L and suggests that they possibly relate to John Cottman (not Coltman which is a typo) and his wife (unnamed), but then suggests the letters I and C relate to John Cottman.
Researching the Cottman family tree gives the following:
Roger Cottman (1650-1737) married Sarah Edridge (?-1718) on 7th June 1677 in Brockenhurst. They had two children Sarah (2/3/1678-21/3/1763) and John (1679-1753).
John Cottman (Snr) married (date unknown) Elizabeth, "Betty", (?-1756), and they had two children John (1725-1782) and Henry (1729-1778). On 3rd August 1768 John (Jnr) married Betty Wyatt (1745-?), and one week later, on 10th August 1768 Henry married Rebecca Gattrel (1744-1777), both marriages being in Ringwood.
The letters on this stone are more probably C, S and J. This could then fit with the stone commemorating the two Cottman siblings Sarah and John in 1732. Perhaps the house was built, or the stone added, in 1732 by the then widowed Roger Cottman for his two offspring - John, now with a young family, and also, perhaps, for his sister Sarah. Although it appears Sarah married a William Scammel (unconfirmed), and they had a daughter Sarah (Roger Cottman's grand-daughter mentioned in his will below) who married John Etheridge (yet to be confirmed).
Unless anyone has any alternative theories!
Researching the Cottman family tree gives the following:
Roger Cottman (1650-1737) married Sarah Edridge (?-1718) on 7th June 1677 in Brockenhurst. They had two children Sarah (2/3/1678-21/3/1763) and John (1679-1753).
John Cottman (Snr) married (date unknown) Elizabeth, "Betty", (?-1756), and they had two children John (1725-1782) and Henry (1729-1778). On 3rd August 1768 John (Jnr) married Betty Wyatt (1745-?), and one week later, on 10th August 1768 Henry married Rebecca Gattrel (1744-1777), both marriages being in Ringwood.
The letters on this stone are more probably C, S and J. This could then fit with the stone commemorating the two Cottman siblings Sarah and John in 1732. Perhaps the house was built, or the stone added, in 1732 by the then widowed Roger Cottman for his two offspring - John, now with a young family, and also, perhaps, for his sister Sarah. Although it appears Sarah married a William Scammel (unconfirmed), and they had a daughter Sarah (Roger Cottman's grand-daughter mentioned in his will below) who married John Etheridge (yet to be confirmed).
Unless anyone has any alternative theories!
Transcription of the Will of Roger Cottman 6th October 1733:
In the name of God, Amen I Roger Cottman of Moortown in the Parish of Ringwood in the County of Southampton Yeoman being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that all flesh must dye and the time uncertain do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in mannor and forme following (that is to say) principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it hoping in and through the merritts of Christ Jesus my saviour to have for pardon of all my sins and as touching such wordly Estate which God hath bestowed upon I give and dispose thereof as followith First I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Scammel the sum of Twenty Shillings to be paid by my Executor in one year after my decease I also give to my Grand Daughter Sarah Etheridge wife of John Etheridge the sume of Twenty Shillings to be paid by my Executor in one year after my decease All the rest of my Money Goods and Chattles whatsoever not already given I give and bequeath to my son John Cottman his Executors or Administrators by him or them freely to be possessed and enjoyed they paying my Debts Legacyes and funeral expenses and do herein nominate and appoint my said son John Cottman my only and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have herunto sett my hand and seal and published and declared the same to be my last will and Testament this sixth day of October in the seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord 1733
The mark of Roger X Cottman
Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Roger Cottman as his last Will and Testament in the presence of
Betty Rogers
Jane X Clasbey her mark
John Wagg
22nd October 1737 John Cottman the above named Executor was sworne to be the one Executor of this Will before me George Harris Vicar
The mark of Roger X Cottman
Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Roger Cottman as his last Will and Testament in the presence of
Betty Rogers
Jane X Clasbey her mark
John Wagg
22nd October 1737 John Cottman the above named Executor was sworne to be the one Executor of this Will before me George Harris Vicar
Transcription of the Will of John Cottman (Snr) 19th March 1753:
In the name of God, Amen I John Cottman of Moortown in the Parish of Ringwood in the County of Southampton Farmer being of sound mind and memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following ??? I give divide and bequeath to my beloved wife Betty Cottman and half of any stock goods and chattels and money that I am ??? off and the other half to my two sons John and Henry Cottman and I do appoint my wife to be sole executor thereof.
In witness I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 19th Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty three.
Witnesses Thomas Bolney, James Brown, Edmund Street
15th January 1754 The above named executrix Betty Cottman was this day duly sworn well and truly to ??? to the above Will before me.
John Maule. Vicar of Ringwood
In witness I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 19th Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty three.
Witnesses Thomas Bolney, James Brown, Edmund Street
15th January 1754 The above named executrix Betty Cottman was this day duly sworn well and truly to ??? to the above Will before me.
John Maule. Vicar of Ringwood