The Village Stone
The Village Stone, is estimated to weigh between 3-4 tonnes and was found in the 1800's in a pit on the “High Field”, between the Shropham and Harling Roads, which was land owned at the time by Walter Kerridge of North Farm.
The Hockham Stone has for years been referred to as calcareous sandstone and recent geological analysis by the British Geological Society, has proved this to be correct. It has now been accurately identified as Glauconitic Spilsby Sandstone having many years ago travelled south during a glacial period from Lincolnshire, finally being deposited in Hockham. Commonly referred to as “an erratic”, (a boulder that was deposited during the ice age) the stone itself is around 100 million years old.
There is at least one other local large stone of similar structure, which can be found at Merton.
The Village Stone was dragged three quarters of a mile to the Village Green, by John Pinner in about 1880.
Here is a picture of John Pinner taken outside his shop (Pinners Bakers & Grocerys, hence the apron) on the Watton Road.
The stone was first turned in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (apparently with the assistance of two horses with chains or ropes). In 1902 it was turned for the end of the Boer War and then again for Edward VII‘s Coronation in the same year.
Since then the Stone has been turned on several occasions: 1911 - King George V's Coronation , 1937 - King George VI's Coronation, 1977 - Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee (filmed by Anglia TV), 1995 - 50th Anniversary of VE Day, 2000 - Millennium Celebrations....
The Village Stone being turned in 1995 (Silver Jubilee)
Some of the contents of the Time Capsule that were under the Village Stone in 1995
The last turning took place on April 13th 2008, to mark the Village winning their battle against the Forestry Commission's proposals for turning Hockham Woods (316 acres of forestry and woodland) into a quarry and subsequently landfilling it. Watch the HAWITAGE video "A Celebration" turning the stone in the Links section...
The next scheduled turning is likely to be for the Queens Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 as it has been confirmed that we will get an additional Bank Holiday in 2012 (June 4th & 5th will be public holidays) to celebrate as a nation.
BBC Radio Norfolk’s Treasure Quest came to the Village on Sunday 28th September 2008.
Christine Woodsford, Chris Garrod & Sophie Price (BBC Radio Norfolk) pictured after finding the Treasure Quest clue under the Village Stone
Treasure Quest is a weekly challenge which this time saw BBC Radio Norfolk's reporter Sophie Price hunting out a clue hidden under the Village Stone, ably assisted by David Clayton in the studio. The Village Stone was the 1st clue in their hunt, listen to this episode again (courtesy of BBC Radio Norfolk) via the audio player below and view the other photos here.
Treasure Quest Sept 28th 2008
(copyright BBC Radio Norfolk)
The Village Stone was discussed again on BBC Radio Norfolk on January 22nd 2010, on the David & Becky Show when they (David Clayton & Becky Betts) interviewed Chris Garrod. Listen to this again (courtesy of BBC Radio Norfolk) via the audio player below.
The David & Becky Show Sept 22nd 2010
(copyright BBC Radio Norfolk)