In the late 18th century, the lower boundaries of the Brineddin quillets were delineated by stone markers or Merestones (from mære, Old English for ‘boundary’).  It was not an uncommon practice in previous centuries to delineate boundaries in open fields, but less frequent in woodland.  Tales are told in Chapel Lawn of dark deeds whereby quillet owners crept out at night to move their merestones to the right or left in order to enlarge their quillets. Over time, the original stones have disappeared and there is now thought to be only one survivor towards the eastern end of the wood – more visible in winter when  the vegetation has died back.

To the rescue, though – the Redlake Valley Community Benefit Society! In about 2011, after purchasing its first quillet, number 2879, the Society decided to mark the bottom left-hand corner with a  stone. Unfortunately, the first attempt failed as Diana Hoare – vicar at the time but former stone carver – carved the plot number beautifully on a stone but it cracked on attempts to erect it. Undaunted, Simon Jameson created another.

Fired up with success, Simon carved a third stone to mark the Society’s purchase of quillet number 2880 that had belonged to the late Henry Richards of Purlogue.  And now, carried away by success, two more have been installed – numbers 2878 and 2877.

So we now appeal to other quillet owners: why not install your own stone, or ask  the Society to do it for you (in return for a modest donation)? But don’t you dare creep out at night to move ours!