Fossils as thunderstones

In many parts of southern England until the middle of the nineteenth century, another name commonly used for fossil Echinoids was ‘thunderstone’, though other fossils such as belemnites and (rarely) ammonites were also used for this purpose.

• Jacqueline Simpson; Steve Roud (2003). “Thunderstone”. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford University Press.

In 1677 Dr. Robert Plot, the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, published his classic book The Natural History of Oxfordshire. Plot recorded that in Oxfordshire what are now known as fossil echinoids were called thunderstones, as they were thought to have descended from the heavens during a thunderstorm. The St. Peter’s Church in Linkenholt, England, was built in 1871 near the location of the old St. Peter’s, which had stood for nearly 700 years. The 1871 version of the church included fossil echinoids built into the walls surrounding the windows, a style adopted from the original. This implies that Thunderstone folklore was retained for at least 700 years in England, and had its roots in pagan folklore.

• McNanamara, Kenneth (2007). “Shepards’ crowns, fairy loaves and thunderstones: the mythology of fossil echinoids in England”. Myth and Geology. 273: 289–293.

In Sussex in the early 20th century fossil echinoids were also used on the outside windowsills of kitchens and dairies to stop milk going off (because thunder was believed to be able to sour milk).

• Jacqueline Simpson; Steve Roud (2003). “Thunderstone”. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford University Press.