Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The London Stone, a granite obelisk dated to 1836, marking the southern boundary of the City of London's conservancy jurisdiction on the River Medway

Monument Types

• OBELISK (Post Medieval to Unknown - 1836 AD)

Full description

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The London Stones were placed to mark the boundaries of the jurisdiction of the City of London over the River Thames and part of the River Medway from the 12th century to the mid-19th century. "In the early 19th century two new obelisks were ereceted alongside the existing stones at Upnor and Southend-on-Sea, perhaps in a reassertion of rights in the face of criticism from a parlimentary select committee" (2). The stones were the subject of an archaeological report by English Heritage in 2014 (2), following the wider Hoo Peninsula Historic Landscape Project.


From the National Heritage list for England:

"Summary of Building

The London Stone, a granite obelisk dated to 1836, marking the southern boundary of the City of London's
conservancy jurisdiction on the River Medway.

Reasons for Designation

The London Stone (New London Stone), an obelisk erected in 1836 in Upnor to mark the southern boundary
of the City of London's jurisdiction over the River Medway, is listed at Grade II for the following principal
reasons:

* Historic interest: as a boundary marker of the City of London's conservancy jurisdiction along the River
Medway and as a memorial to significant points in the landscape along the River Thames and Medway where
the excitement and ceremony of the Mayoral septennial customs was experienced;
* Design/Aesthetic interest: as a prominent intact obelisk and commemorative civic structure within the
surrounding landscape and riverfront at Upnor. The obelisk design may have been symbolic in adding legality
and permanence to the City's claims of jurisdiction;
* Group value: for its functional and aesthetic relationship with the other London Stones in this part of the
River Thames and Medway which served to mark the southern and eastern river jurisdiction boundaries of
the City of London.

History

Commemorative stones denoting the position of events which have otherwise left no visible trace on the
landscape are to be found throughout Britain. One such obelisk stands in the village of Lower Upnor in the
parish of Frindsbury Extra. It is dated to 1836 and was erected in front of an earlier C18 boundary stone. Both
stood on the foreshore below Cookham Wood, now Cockham Wood, in Upnor and marked the City of
London's jurisdiction over this part of the river (Howe, G.W, 1965, p. 285). The stones now stand on dry land
between the Arethusa Venture Centre and the River Medway, close to the riverfront in Lower Upnor. Historic
sources indicate the stones may have been moved to dry land for protection. The boundary stone is marked
on late C19 OS maps as 'The London Stone' in the same vicinity as present. The City's rights of control were
originally purchased from Richard I in 1197 and concerned control of fisheries and tolls along the River
Thames and part of the Medway. The legal position on the capital's ownership was never clear and the City's
jurisdiction was frequently challenged. The obelisk and its earlier boundary stone were the focus of periodic
visits by the Lord Mayor of London and other officials to assert the City's conservancy jurisdiction. These river
trips included ceremonies undertaken at the stones, pomp and excitement with spectators rewarded with
beer, wine and newly minted coins: "The Sword of State and City Colours were laid on each stone and the
stones circled three times. Wine and beer were made available and after drinking a toast to the City of
London some of those present were “bumped” on the stones. Money was also thrown amongst the poor
which along with the bumping and general excess was for the purpose of keeping the City’s Claims in
recollection” (Anon 1796, 3).

All of these served to instil the course of such boundaries in the minds of those who needed to observe them.
These visits became social events with dinners and balls held in either Rochester or Southend-on-Sea close
to another London Stone called the Crow Stone at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex (Howe, G.W 1965, pp. 282-287;
Anon 1816, 3; Anon 1836, 3).

City of London obelisks were erected at Upnor, Leigh and Yantlet Creek to reassert these rights following a
government select committee held in 1836. This concluded that London should lose its jurisdiction over the
Thames and Medway due to laxity in carrying out its duties (Weinreb & Hibbert 1995, p. 883). The choice of a
taller obelisk may have been symbolic in adding legality and permanence to the City's claims of jurisdiction.
Historic sources indicate the lower C18 London stone at Upnor was still in use for ''bumping'' during 1849
ceremonies at the obelisk (Anon 1849).

The City lost control of these rivers to the Crown in 1857 under The Thames Conservancy Act. These stones
have therefore become memorials to the points in the landscape where the boundaries of London's reach
were along the Thames and Medway. They are memorials to points in the landscape where the excitement
and ceremony of the Mayoral septennial customs was experienced. This is evident from an inscription dated
1980 on the 1836 obelisk at Upnor. This Mayoral visit to commemorate the former jurisdiction of the City of
London is recorded in Rochester City Council's charters and customals, 1974, no 2
(http://www.cityark2.medway.gov.uk).

Details

The obelisk dated to 1836 stands in front of the earlier boundary stone. It is taller in height and made from a
single pillar of granite stone, of square section with a pyramidal top. The lower part is partially subsumed in
the tarmac of the pavement and hidden behind a kerb stone. The obelisk is carved with the arms of the City
of London and inscribed with the names and dates of Mayoral visits.

The front inscription reads: "RIGHT HON. WILLIAM/ TAYLOR COPELAND/ LORD MAYOR/ JOHN LAINSON
ESQ.ALD/ DAVID SOLOMONS ESQ/SHERRIFS/ 1836/ SIR JOHN PIRIE BART/ 1842/ 1849/SIR JAMES
DUKE/ 1856.
The side inscription reads: THE RT.HON/ THE LORD MAYOR/ OF LONDON/ SIR PETER GADSDEN/ GBE.
MA. DSC. F. ENG/ 19TH JULY 1980"

<1> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<2> English Heritage, 2014, The London Stones: Marking the City of London's Jurisdiction over the Thames and Medway (Bibliographic reference). SKE31435.

Sources and further reading