Could you help to discover more stone stiles in Gloucestershire
Stone stiles are found in many areas of the country and we have some good examples around the CHEQS villages, including the ones shown on this page.
For centuries stone stiles have provided access to people walking along pathways, whilst preventing sheep and cattle from straying. Despite their historic value, scores of these stone stiles have been abandoned and some now lost forever.
In 2020, Peter Wilson launched the Stone Stiles Project, working in association with CPRE and the Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club. Peter’s aim is to produce a record of every remaining stone stile in Gloucestershire… but he needs your help.
To help record any local stone stiles, download a form from the CPRE website https://www.cpreglos.org.uk/creating-a-record-of-gloucestershire-stone-stiles/ and take a photo of the stile – from both sides, ideally. Please give as much information as possible before emailing the form and labelled photos to peter.wilson@woodchestervalleyvillage.co.uk Any duplicate stiles recorded are welcome, as you may take a better photograph than the one already on file. Ideally, Peter is looking for background notes (history, geology and the landscape setting) of each stone, as well as its precise OS location.
Since the project was launched, over 500 stiles have been recorded by 175 people in Gloucestershire. Peter believes that there are up to 100 stiles in the county as yet unidentified. The stile you come across may be one of those!
It is hoped that the information received will be used to develop an interactive app – not only for the enjoyment of everyone who loves the countryside, but also to help wheelchair users, people with mobility scooters and families with children in buggies to plan their walks, and avoid difficult obstacles.
Margaret Stranks – Editor
CHEQS Archive can be found here.
