Stiles have been a part of British country life for a very long time, in fact the word "stile" has Anglo Saxon origins. I understand that stiles are only found in Britain, but do correct me should I be wrong. Stiles allow safe human passage through the countryside whilst protecting livestock from straying. Stiles are also used to walk through fields of crops, but only if they have a designated footpath going across.
A writer in 1564 described the difficulty of getting his dog over one and, in the 19th century, rural poet John Clare remembered their value as a momentary place of reflection:
"He lolls upon each resting stile
To see the fields so sweetly smile
To see the wheat grown green and long."
A Lake District ladder stile
Stiles have evolved in many formats over the centuries, some of which could even be classed as minor triumphs of early Victorian engineering. The remaining stiles shown below are local to us on our high Cotswold escarpment which we ourselves use on a regular basis. 
This one is also close to home - a four minute walk in the opposite direction. Over the stile cattle can be seen safely grazing.
This is an interesting gravity balanced stile. 
A gentle push opens and closes it. 
This stile is a two minute walk from home - it requires a certain amount of agility to climb over. Fortunately both of us can still manage it.
This one is also close to home - a four minute walk in the opposite direction. Over the stile cattle can be seen safely grazing.
This is a Victorian stile known as a "kissing gate".
The name "kissing gate" is thought to come from the fact that the gate "kisses" (touches) each side of the enclosure, hence the name, and it doesn't need a latch to be secured. It allows people to pass through while effectively preventing livestock from doing so.
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I've come across some interesting ones on some church walls
ReplyDeleteYes, I have seen them in the surrounding church walls too - they are often in a V shape and made using local stone.
DeleteI encournterd a couple of stiles in the British countryside when I was there. I thought they were quite ingenious. I can confirm that there are no stiles in Canada to the best of my knowledge. The closest thing I've seen perhaps is the "Texas gates" on some roadways (rollers countersunk across the width of the roadway) which cars can easily cross but cattle will not because the rollers move under their feet.
ReplyDeleteWe actually have something similar at the end of our road which we call a 'cattle grid' to prevent the horses and cows on the surrounding Common land coming down our road. Our grids have a deep trench topped with oval shaped iron bars at the top. The grids are great for cars but difficult for humans, so we have small wood latch gates at either side that are spring loaded so that walkers, pushchairs and bicycles etc can get down the road.
DeleteWonderful images!!
ReplyDeleteLike they came out of a movie!!
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DeleteThose are fascinating example of stiles! That people are "permitted" to just walk across another's property is really rare! Mostly doesn't happen at all over here in the US. Beautiful scenery too! Thank you as always for sharing your beautiful photography of your environs. There is nowhere on Earth quite like England!
ReplyDeleteI suppose the big difference is that systems and rules etc have been established here for many centuries.
DeleteThat's what I love about the Lake District and probably areas like the Cotswolds as well. Hundreds of years of history and countryside workers that create a multitude of low level paths through the landscape. including stiles, dry walls and gates.
ReplyDeleteGiven its small size there's probably more low level quality paths available in the Lakes than in the entire Scottish Highlands and the unique patchwork quilt landscape of the UK with completely different scenery round every new corner is truly special. You only really understand how lucky we are when you travel to places abroad, especially giant countries, where it can look much the same for over 350 miles and zero views of substantial rivers, lakes or sea, a constant presence here, even inland. Bob.
We tend to take so much for granted here , but the British landscape does offer us so much variety - valleys, hills, mountains, meadows, ancient drover's lanes, coastal, cliff, canal and riverside walks etc. freely accessible to all. Another joy for me is to see the great variety of architectural styles used when travelling throughout the country.
DeleteA very interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI can remember many lovely country walks involving stiles that we had to clamber/climb over.
Just recently I read about 'a walking trail with specially enhanced stiles, created by residents of a Dorset village, which has been officially opened'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dgq919g5eo
Wishing you a good month of July.
All the best Jan
Thank you for your very kind comment Jan - I shall look up the reference re: the Dorset village.
DeleteBecause there are no rights-of-way over farmland here similar to the ancient ones in England there are not a lot of stiles here in New Zealand. There used to be one on the walk we did yesterday to the Whangarei Falls but it was removed recently when the fence was demolished. There are also gates similar to the kissing gates on footpaths that cross railway lines.
ReplyDeleteMay be some of them were introduced to NZ by early British settlers.
DeleteI am sure they would have been.
DeleteSome farmer's down here have Styles saw some on the weekend but didn't take a photo of them.
ReplyDeleteThe second photo is the same as the one I saw, Rosemary. Interesting to see the different types.
It makes me wonder if the stiles were introduced to Tasmania by early immigrants from here as they are a feature that goes back for centuries here.
DeleteA most interesting post, Rosemary. We came across a couple of stiles in the Laurie Lee wood that we walked - I believe that is part of your escarpment; correct me if I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteStiles is a word used here in Canada meaning the vertical components of doors or windows; the horizontal components being rails. My husband uses the terms frequently when he is building something. Other than that, I don't believe stiles exist here. We do have cattle guards, but they are on roads, not pathways.
The escarpment where we live has expansive views down over five valleys where they all converge, one of which is the Slad valley.
DeleteI looked up the old English for stile - ‘stiġel' which means stile, but also means a vertical component of a frame or panel, such as that of a door, window, or ladder.
I forgot to mention how lovely your photos are showcasing the beautiful and lush English countryside.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the English countryside no longer lush - everything is now a golden colour and very dry - we desperately need days of heavy rain.
DeleteHello Rosemary, What perfect timing for your stiles post. I am just finishing Flora Thompson's "Lark Rise to Candleford", about rural life in 19th century England. Young Flora (Laura in the book) and others are constantly crossing stiles while making their way about. Your pictures bring that aspect of the book to life. As for the more mechanical stiles, they look more like medieval torture devices than appurtenances of the simple country life.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - Lark Rise to Candleford was made into a TV series here - I think that there were about 40 episodes, although I didn't watch. It must have difficult climbing stiles wearing long dresses whilst often carrying dairy produce etc.
DeleteFascinating post and absolutely stunning photos.
ReplyDeleteKind comment - thank you Linda.
DeleteStiles are something that sets the uk apart I think. All the variety and history of them. No stiles in Jersey sadly. I always love walking in England and trying to fathom out how to get through some of the stiles. They can be quite challenging! B x
ReplyDeleteI love coming across a stile that I have never seen before - the one near us - the gravity fed one was new to us.
DeleteWhat an interesting post Rosemary, and a variety of beautiful stiles. I know of at least one stile which existed in Australia when I was a little girl. It was at the back corner of our house where three neighboring properties intersected, and was used for us all to visit one another quickly. While not 'public' it was called a stile, was made of wood, and may have been built by one or two previous home owners. At that time most of our population were second generation British so it is not surprising that someone thought a stile a good idea. I know I enjoyed climbing on it :)
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I mentioned the number of different stiles that we have in our neighbourhood that a Canadian mentioned stiles are unknown in Canada, apart from in picture books of England.
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