English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Four Shire Stone

Early-attested site in the Parish of Evenlode

Historical Forms

  • The Shire Stones 1607 M

Etymology

Four Shire Stone, 1690 M, The Shire Stones 1607 M, so called because it marks the point at which the counties of Gloucester, Oxford, Warwick, and Worcester once met. In 969 (12th) BCS 1238 the bounds of Evenlode include four stones at this point (to þane stane , to þan oþeran stane , to þan þriddan stane , to þan feorðan stane ); cf. Wo 124.