A strange and curious stone standing inside a fenced-off area next to a small row of cottages in the countryside – this is the Blowing Stone.
Legend has it that it originated at the nearby Uffington White Horse where it was a perforated sarsen stone, but no one really knows how or why it ended up here.
Yet this odd lump of stone has mythical properties.
It was at one time known as Kings Stone, and is claimed to have been moved here in the 18th century, but what marks it out are the deep holes that can be found all around it.
More scientifically minded sorts suggest that the perforations could be from the results of fossilised plants or ancient tree roots.
More romantically minded sorts suggest these are the blowing holes, carved deep by ancient people to turn this lump of stone into a warning stone. Local legend suggests that a skilled person can “play” the stone and by blowing into the largest hole, generate a loud booming sound that could be heard up to 3 miles away.
The romantics claim that this stone was used by none other than King Alfred the Great to summon his army when he went into battle against the Danes at nearby Ashdown.
Today, if you are so minded, if you can blow a high pitched note loud enough to be heard upon the Uffington White Horse, then you will be a future King of England.
Your correspondent failed in his endeavour and is now doomed to a life of penury.
Wasn’t there a rhyme in the village something like this? (in Older English)
“Whosover bloweth a note before their tea,
Crowned King of Englande they shall be.”
Folk memory or total ….. ?
What a shame you failed, we could have had an extremely well informed and erudite monarch!