Humpy lump of sarsen stone. That’s what The Weald Stone is. The Weald Stone is no ordinary rock. It’s a landmark steeped in mystery. Nobody truly knows its origin.
Let’s gather around The Weald Stone. Feel its weathered surface. Imagine the countless hands that have touched it over centuries.
The Weald Stone sits on the High Road in Harrow Weald. It is outside an Indian restaurant. Not quite where you might expect to find it. I’d always assumed it’d be in the centre of Wealdstone.
Why is The Weald Stone here? That remains a puzzle. Sarsens aren’t native to this Middlesex scarp. Glacial activity might have deposited it. Ancient people could have moved it. We just don’t know about The Weald Stone.
When did The Weald Stone first appear in records? The reign of Henry VII. Back then, it was a crucial landmark. Legal documents referred to it as “le stone.” Amazingly, The Weald Stone is still here.
Now, about the nearest station. Harrow and Wealdstone station is nearby. It gained its name in 1897. It reflects the growing commuter town. The old Wealdstone is now Harrow Weald. Headstone Lane station is technically closer to The Weald Stone.
The Weald Stone hasn’t always been here. It vanished from public record between 1547 and 1834. Yet, it must have been around. It gave the hamlet its name. Workers rediscovered it. This was during the building of The Red Lion pub. They placed it outside. Perhaps as a mounting block.
The pub was rebuilt in 1934. The Weald Stone likely moved to its current spot. The road junction has been remodeled since then.
What surrounds The Weald Stone today? A mini-roundabout. Local shops. A Waitrose. The Red Lion is now Bombay Central. It is a cafe, bar, and restaurant. It extends onto the High Road. Outdoor seating sits across from the old parking bay.
The Weald Stone now stands near a curved black fence. The fence displays ads for Diwali fireworks. A water main burst in June. The restaurant is currently closed. Being a rock, The Weald Stone was unharmed.
You can still see The Weald Stone. Touch it. Sit on it. Stand on it. Even tie your shoelaces on it. This humpy lump of sarsen stone.
The Weald Stone measures about the length of a sleeping human. It sits here on the High Road. An ancient enigma in a modern setting. The Weald Stone. A silent witness to history. Its mystery endures.