The Village Pound

The Village Pound is a village cattle pound located in Stoke Upon Tern, built in the late 18th century or early 19th century. It is constructed from coursed, squared sandstone blocks, forming a rectangular enclosure with walls approximately 5 feet high and featuring a gateway at the center of one side. The size of the stone blocks indicates that this enclosure was intended to be more permanent than the rubble stone walling that surrounds it. The gate is currently missing.

This pound was used to hold cattle that had wandered from common land or into neighboring farmland until their owners could retrieve them. Pounds were typically owned by the parish, and a fine was often charged to the owner for reclaiming their animals. Located near the center of Ollerton, this pound is a notable example of this relatively rare type of village building.