Many thanks Lynne.That explanation of “polling” also occurs in my local areaof Surrey. It is said that the local churchconsists of “polled stone” which was found in the bogs around the village bysticking poles into it. The only stone to be found around here is sedimentary foundin varying sizes in this way. Glacial deposit?I had come to consider that explanation as spurious giventhe other one offered by mindat et al but you are now making me seriouslyreconsider that view. Do you know any more about the etymology? The pole –polling - thing I get, but is there any more? Is there a relation between thismethod of finding stone and the use of the word “polling” in respect offinishing stone?
Tanya
On Friday, 13 October 2017, 10:31, Lynne Mayers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Thanks to all who have so far responded. ‘Polling’ was the expression used for the picking out of the iron ore nodules from the clay in South Wales – usually by females.
The measuring system of stacked ore was what was puzzling me – so the ‘dozen’ explanation is very useful.
Do we have any evidence of females working on the banks in Yorkshire? There is plenty of evidence for South Wales, Shropshire and Warwickshire. Also I have scant information about Scotland, but would be grateful for any further reference to that as well.
Lynne
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