Detail from Wenceslaus Hollar's An Orthographical Designe of Several Views Upon Ye Road, in England and Wales (1660)Detail from Joan Blaeu's map of Gloucestershire (1662), showing the "Shire Stones"
The J. R. R. Tolkien Society claims that the Four Shire Stone inspired the "Three-Farthing Stone" in J. R. R. Tolkien's book The Lord of the Rings. In that work, the Shire, the homeland of the hobbits is divided into four farthings, three of which meet at the "Three-Farthing Stone".[10][11]
2022 restoration
The failing state of this unique bit of local history inspired James Hayman-Joyce, a local, semi-retired chartered surveyor, to do what he could to restore it. He formed the Four Shire Stone Restoration Committee with the aim of raising £20,000 to restore the Four Shire Stone to its former glory. The project comprises restoring and repairing the stonework, replacing the railings and enhancing the engravings on all four sides of the pillar.[12]
↑ Abingdon, Thomas (1897). "Evenlode". In Amphlett, John (ed.). A survey of Worcestershire. Vol.2 Pt.2. Oxford: James Parker for the Worcestershire Historical Society. p.68.
↑ "Gloucestershire". Ordnance Survey Miscellaneous Boundary Maps. Vision of Britain. 1967. Retrieved 3 May 2018.; "Oxfordshire". Ordnance Survey Miscellaneous Boundary Maps. Vision of Britain. 1966. Retrieved 3 May 2018.; "Warwickshire". Ordnance Survey Maps of England and Wales. Vision of Britain. 1900. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
↑ "Gloucestershire". Ordnance Survey Sanitary Districts, showing Civil Parishes. Vision of Britain. 1888. Retrieved 3 May 2018.; Elrington, C. R., ed. (1965). "Parishes: Lower Lemington". Gloucester. Victoria County History. Vol.6. London: British History Online. pp.216–220. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
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