River Poddle's Stoneboat or Tongue
Although gradually disappearing from sight, there is still evidence of the medieval watercourses connected to and from the River Poddle. One of the most important and interesting is the “Stoneboat” or “Tongue”, located in Harold’s Cross and not far from Mount Argus and Mount Jerome cemetery. It is accessible from the road called “Mount Argus Way” or also via “Mount Argus Court”, but not directly from Sundrive Road under which the Poddle flows in a culvert.
The Stoneboat is so called because it looks like the prow of a boat. Its purpose was, and still is, to divert the main Poddle to Dolphin’s Barn and also to serve some ancient mills and was known as the “City watercourse”. There were (are) further divisions from this line. In the picture, facing downstream towards the city centre, you can see the weir that actually divides the water. The main Poddle continues on the right of the tongue, while the city watercourse goes left and under some houses and is then culverted through Sundrive Park.
The existing “Stoneboat” or “Tongue” is possibly medieval or later. On inspection in February 2025, it was diverting a small amount of water off the Poddle.
