Hartest Stone

Country: England region: Suffolk Grid Ref: TL834526 Near: Hartest surveyed: 22 August 2004

This large granite boulder rests at the north end of the village green. According to Michael Burgess' 1978 Suffolk stones publication " It is said to have been hauled on sledges from a field on top of neighbouring Somerton Hill on to celebrate the Treaty of Utrecht on July 7th 1713. The treaty ended the wars of the Spanish Succession under Queen Anne. After its erection on the new site, there is supposed to have been an 'erotic debauch' among the village people"

According to a 20th century resident ,there is a legend that the stone turns round when the clock strikes midnight.

From the May 17th 1905 Suffolk & Essex Free Press newspaper available at the Foxearth & District Local History Society "At that time the great stone lay on a field at Mile End farm at Somerton Common, it was decided to place it on the village green as a memorial to the treaty. A sledge especially made to carry the stone was constructed, all neighbouring farmers lent horses to draw the huge mass to the village. 40 horses were harnessed to the sledge and with a trumpeter mounted on the stone the procession proceeded to Hartest where it was placed on the green where it now remains, it's commemerative interest almost forgotten."