Site Name: Joseph's Stone, Otmoor

Site Location: Mid Oxfordshire
Related Achive: Manning

One fragment of limestone is all that remains of 'Joseph's Stone'. No one can say definitely what this stone originally was for. Local tradition has it as a horse block. Recent information from a local inhabitant confirms this. Apparently it was said to have been used as a mounting block when the farmers went on to the moor to round up their animals.

In 1930 documentation says it was not a Roman milestone. Reports in 1948 stated that the stone had been completely destroyed. (Who by and why?) In 1958 other reports said that the stone had been broken up and moved from its original position. In 1964 the broken remains were still present. One fragment remained in 1979. Probably the same fragment as in the photograph. If the stone was not deliberately looked for you would just pass it by in the grass on the side of the track.

The Roman road crosses Otmoor from Fencott to Beckley, and a track crosses this Roman road from Oddington to Horton cum Studley.

Roman coins were found pre-1817 during drainage works between Fencott and Charlton on Otmoor. Roman pottery and a Roman copper alloy brooch has also been found locally.

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