Datestone

A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt (with the old date stones intact) have been reported, or may in some cases be the date of a renovation or alteration.

Specific locations have often been chosen for datestones, viz.

• corbel
• gable stone
• Gatepost: a large upright piece of (usually) granite, usually set at the entrance to a driveway or a field.
• keystone
• lintel

• Marriage stone
• Cornerstone

• Scotland's Marriage and Date Stones
• The Societe-jersiaise
• An essay on datestones (mostly in London)