Monument record MDO7872 - The Harp Stone, Hurpston Coppice, Steeple

Standing stone, possibly Bronze Age, on the bank of a stream within the valley of the Corfe River. It is a limestone block 1m by 0.75m and 1.7m high.

(SY 92168057) Stone (NR) <1>

Known as the 'Harp Stone', by which name it should be described on OS plans. <2>

The Harp Stone (NR) <3>

The Harpstone, a limestone monolith, stands on the bank of a small stream just inside the west edge of Hurpston Coppice.

It is 7 1/4 feet high with a jagged and uneven top and has a maximum width of 3 3/4 feet east-west by 3 feet north-south. The four faces are largely disfigured by vertical grooves and hollows, the result of weathering. Its origin is unknown.

The place-name 'Herpston' (1340) may refer to the stone, which stands on the bank between Herpston and Hyde manors and flanks the ancient road from Creech to Kimmeridge. <5>

SY 921805. The Harp Stone. Scheduled 735. <6>

The Harp Stone, an undated monolith, probably ancient. Scheduled. <4>

The Harp Stone, a weather-worn standing stone, as described.

Published 1:2500 survey correct. <8>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1929 (Map). SWX1540.

<2> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 04-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2.1> Historic England, Historic England Archive, J B Calkin (Index). SDO14738.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

<4> Department of the Environment, DOE (IAM) Ancient Monuments Record Form, DOE(IAM) Record Form 1968 (Index). SDO17347.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 515, No 27 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘Single stones: most of the uninscribed, unshaped stones can be regarded as markers; some like Portesham (60–1) may be relatively recent, but others like the 'Harpstone', Steeple (27), apparently old enough to have given a name to the mediaeval manor, may be Saxon or prehistoric. The very numerous mere or boundary stones, particularly in the limestone areas, are all post-mediaeval. All the surviving examples associated with strip fields are described in the parish inventories (Corfe Castle (177), Kimmeridge (15), Portland (95), Swanage (79)) as are representative examples of those marking parish boundaries (Church Knowle (26)) or manor and estate boundaries (Studland (26)). … (27) The Harpstone (SY 98 SW; 92168058; Plate 217), monolith, of limestone, stands 1,180 yds. E.S.E. of St. Michael's Church, on the bank of a small stream and just inside the W. edge of Hurpston Coppice on ground falling gently N. to the Corfe River in the marshy valley bottom. It is 7¼ ft. high with a jagged and uneven top and has a maximum width of 3¾ ft. E.-W. and 3 ft. N.-S. The four faces are largely disfigured by vertical grooves and hollows, the result of weathering. Its origin is unknown. The place-name Herpston (1340) may refer to the stone, which stands on the bank between Herpston and Hyde manors and flanks the ancient road from Creech to Kimmeridge. (Hutchins I, 609; Fägersten, 136.)’

<6> DOE, 1977, Scheduled Monument Notification DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 1977, 69 (Scheduling record). SDO17495.

<7> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 196 (Index). SDO147.

‘Monolith stands within a narrow tract of land in deciduous woodland flanked to E. & W. by ley pasture. 1/2/B.’

<8> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, F2 MJF 30-APR-86 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<9> English Heritage, English Heritage Schedule Entry, 01/08/1996 (Scheduling record). SDO17387.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 100/K/13A (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: LIMESTONE MONOLITH, HEAVILY WEATHERED ON ALL FACES ORIGIN NOT KNOWN. Scope & Content: Photographer: UNKNOWNDonor: UNKNOWNCopyright: UNKNOW.

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA72/01790 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: LIMESTONE MONOLITH, HEAVILY WEATHERED ON ALL FACES ORIGIN NOT KNOWN.
Scope & Content: Photographer: UNKNOWNDonor: UNKNOWNCopyright: UNKNOWN.

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, F52/39/1 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: LIMESTONE MONOLITH KNOWN LOCALLY AS "THE STONE MAN". VIEW EAST.

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS52/F39/1 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: STANDING STONE FROM WEST.

<15> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456947 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 10 2024 4:13PM