One such boundary stone, known as 'The Old London Stone', stands in the village of Lower Upnor in the parish of Frindsbury Extra. In particular, the granite obelisk (New London Stone) erected alongside it.Ĭommemorative stones denoting the position of events which have otherwise left no visible trace on the landscape are to be found throughout Britain. * 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 soutern and eastern river jurisdiction boundaries of the City of London. The design may have been symbolic in adding legality and permanence to the City's claims of jurisdiction * Design/Aesthetic interest: as an intact boundary marker and commemorative civic structure within the surrounding landscape and riverfront at Upnor. * 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 The London Stone (Old London Stone), an C18 boundary stone in Upnor, erected to mark the southern boundary of the City of London’s jurisdiction over the River Medway, is listed Grade II for the following principal reasons:

'Buildings and Grounds-Boundary Stones,' University Archives Subject File Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.The London Stone, a single stone pillar, square, with a pyramidal top, erected in the C18, marking the southern boundary of the City of London's conservancy jurisdiction on the River Medway.

From September through November 4, 2007, one of the boundary stones was on exhibit (seen on flickr)at the Muscarelle Museum of Art. Two of the boundary stones, erected to mark the property, are part of the University Archives Artifact Collection. Since it was not on College land, it would scarcely have been one of the stones that are now in the old high school, since they have the initials of the College on them.'

This stone, though called 'College boundary stone', was not actually on College property, but was constantly used as a reference point in describing the boundaries of the College land. Shurtleff to the Williamsburg Holding Corporation dated March 3, 1933, relates that Arthur Shurcliff 'has also suggested the interesting idea that a new stone, which might be a replica of one of these old stones, might be placed on the site where the so-called 'mere' stone (later called 'College boundary stone') was placed in the early 18th century. In a photograph of the 1889-1890, a student is seen sitting on it.Ī letter from Harold R. Shurtleff 'says frankly that they have no idea where these stones should be located.' One of the boundary stones can be seen in front of the Wren Building in a photograph of the 1890-1891 student body (which includes grammar school students). According to a letter dated March 7, 1933, from V. I purchased fifteen acres from Captain Bright and got him to donate the stones to the College, whereupon I placed them in front of the College porch, one on each side of the path leading to the gate.' Prior to the restoration of the Wren Building, the stones were stored in its basement.

Shurtleff, Director of the Research and Record Department of Perry, Shaw and Hepburn Architects, dated February 22, 1933, when Tyler came to the College 'one of them, if I remember rightly, was lying flat on the ground near the President's house another was before the front door of the Bright house, on the hill. One of the stones can be seen in a display case located on the first floor of Swem Library, near the Lemonade mural.įor the William & Mary site a tract of 330 acres was purchased for £170 from Captain Thomas Ballard on December 20, 1693.Īccording to a letter from former William & Mary President Lyon G. Two 17th century boundary stones erected to mark the property of William & Mary survive.

Boundary stone