Staddle stones, or stone mushrooms as sometimes referred to, date back to the medieval period and were used to support grain stores or other agricultural storage buildings. The word staddle is said to derive from Old English 'stathol', meaning a foundation. They comprise of a tapering section of stone with a separate overhanging top. The purpose was to raise the grain store off the ground to allow free airflow, while the overhanging top prevented rodents from getting in. The staddles were set out in sets of as many as 16, with the floor frame of the building placed on top. These days they make popular garden ornaments, and are especially used to line either side of entrance drives. Staddle stones were usually made from locally available stone. The design of staddle stones does vary, some are four sided, others rounded and the tops can be rounded, flattish or have have four straight sides.