Leper Stone, Medieval standing stone in Newport, England
The Leper Stone is a large sarsen monolith positioned on a grass verge beside the B1383 road, marking the northern edge of Newport village. This sandstone slab ranks among the largest of its kind in the region.
The stone is connected to a hospital established during King John's reign to care for and isolate leprosy patients in the vicinity. This link to St Mary and St Leonard's Hospital ties its existence to medieval healthcare practices.
Local stories describe how the stone served as a place for contactless exchange, with people leaving gifts and supplies in its upper depression for patients from the hospital. This practice shows how the community cared for those who were isolated.
The stone sits along the B1383 road north of Newport village and is easy to reach on foot. Parking is available near the entrance to Shortgrove House for those visiting.
The sarsen stone that forms this monolith is theorized to be part of a prehistoric route connecting two ancient sites separated by considerable distance. This geological feature hints at old trading paths or spiritual routes that existed long before the medieval period.
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