The Humble Stone Trough: From Useful Work Aid to Ornamental Design.

The stone trough is a familiar sight in many gardens, but its history and uses are surprisingly varied. These troughs were originally used for watering livestock, but they have found a new life in contemporary gardens as planters, birdbaths, and even water features.

Stone troughs are made from a variety of materials, including granite, limestone, and slate. They are often simple in design, with a rectangular or oval basin.

Stone troughs were once an essential part of any farm. They were used to provide livestock with water to drink, and they could also be used to mix feed or to bathe animals. With the advent of modern plumbing, stone troughs have become less common in agriculture.

However, stone troughs have become increasingly popular in recent years as a garden feature. Their timeless design and natural materials make them a perfect complement to any garden style. Stone troughs can be used in a variety of ways in the garden. Here are a few ideas:

• Planter: Stone troughs are a great way to add height and interest to a flower bed. They can be planted with a variety of flowers, herbs, or even small shrubs.
• Birdbath: Birds need a place to drink and bathe, and a stone trough can provide the perfect spot. Just be sure to add a few stones to the bottom of the trough so that birds of all sizes can easily reach the water.
• Water feature: A stone trough can be used to create a beautiful and relaxing water feature in your garden. Simply add a small pump and some aquatic plants. The sound of bubbling water can be very soothing.

Stone troughs are a versatile and attractive addition to any garden. With a little creativity, you can find a way to use a stone trough in your own garden.

The 2 pictured below can be found near the township of Warley, in the suburbs of Halifax, West Yorkshire. The lions head trough now more of a garden display than a useful watering aid is on the roadside of Stock Lane heading in to Warley from Highroad Well. The second trough is on Water Hill Lane heading down from Warley towards Sowerby Bridge.

The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 SLR on the 9th June 2024. They can also be seen on my Clickasnap account and copies can be purchased on various products from my Zazzle Stores.

Clicking either image should open a link in another window to the higher resolution version on Clickasnap.

All the images remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Stocks Lane Horse Trough October 2013.

 The stone trough at the bottom of Stocks Lane, Luddenden was overgrown and largely forgotten about when I pictured it in October 2013. Trough's were spread around many villages, towns and cities before the coming of the motor vehicle to help water horses, dogs and even in some places cattle. Most have long since been removed or closed off no longer needed, but some can still be seen and a around a dozen still remain the Calderdale district.

The trough at the bottom of Stocks Lane is no longer fed with a large amount of water and most of the trough has been filled in with soil, bushes and plants. At the back is an inscription to William Patchett a local carpenter and undertaker, with the year 1861 and surveyor inscribed too. This was the year Patchett died, i don't know if the inscription is a memorial to him or a thanks to him for providing the trough.

These pictures were taken on the 13th October 2013 using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. They can be seen below or on Clickasnap full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the version on Clickasnap.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.