What is a guard stone?
A guard stone, also called a jostle stone, spur stone or wheel guard (Dutch: schamppaal or stootsteen), is a post of stone, sometimes cast iron, placed against or just in front of the corner of a building. It protects that corner from damage by passing traffic: carts and carriages in the past, cars and vans today.
Its defining feature is the slanted position. A wheel that runs too close to the corner rides up against the angled stone and is pushed away, so even a protruding axle does not hit the wall. The driver immediately felt he was cutting it too fine and kept his distance. Round, ball-shaped guard stones exist too, as do examples made from reused cannon barrels.
Application
Guard stones are found mainly on street corners, at narrow points in a street and at the entrances to gateways, warehouses and courtyards. In historic town centres they are a valued part of the streetscape.
Tips for owners and DIYers:
- Keep rather than remove: an old guard stone often still does its job, especially at narrow entrances. On listed buildings, removing one may need consent.
- Repair: reset a loosened stone on a solid base (a concrete footing, for example) and keep its original angle.
- Responsibility: if the stone stands on public land, contact the local authority before doing any work yourself.
- Modern options: for a new driveway or garage corner, a steel corner guard or a concrete bollard works well. A pavement bollard mainly protects the pavement, not the building corner.
Related Terms
- Quoin
- Natural stone
- Facade
- Bollard
- Gateway
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