Tag:amenity=mounting_block

A mounting block (also horse block, carriage stone, carriage block, horse steps, horse mounting block and mounting steps) is a platform which helps people mount or dismount horses or vehicles (such as horse-drawn carriages). Historic mounting blocks (see tagging scheme) were and can still be found at entrances into graveyards, pubs/ inns, schools and manor houses and were people met for the hunt. They are protected in some countries, such as the United Kingdom. Contemporary mounting blocks can be found at horse riding facilities.

They bear certain resemblance to stepover stiles (barrier=stile + stile=stepover), milk churn stands (man_made=milk_churn_stand) and coffin rests (amenity=coffin_rest), and those facilities can also be used by riders, however, we tend to map the intended purpose of objects.

How to tag

Depending on the size and situation, set a node , draw a line (as part of a wall) or an area and add the tag

• amenity=mounting_block.

If there are steps present, count the steps on one side (usually, they are symmetrical) and add

• step_count=*.

You may want to add the material=*, if you can determine it. Some in England also have a benchmark (man_made=survey_point) chiseled into them which is easier added to an area than having two nodes.

Illustrate the data using the usual

• image=*
• wikimedia_commons=*
• panoramax=*
• mapillary=*.

If you find a photogrammetry model of the mounting block, you can add

• url:sketchfab=*.

Historic mounting blocks

In the UK (and maybe other countries), many mounting blocks are listed monuments. In the UK, they are usually classified as grade 2 buildings, so you can add

• historic=mounting_block
• heritage=2 for those who are.

You will also find many of those on Wikidata, so you can add

• wikidata=* with the Q-number for this specific mounting block.

Gallery

This is to demonstrate the variety in designs, locations, material and presumed state of use.

• 
  Modern wooden mounting block (England)
• 
  Modern plastic mounting block
• 
  Mounting block made from re-used cheese pressing stones
• 
  Mounting block in a school yard (England)
• 
  Mounting block with steps on either side at a graveyard (England)
• 
  A concrete mounting block (England)
• 
  Mounting block at a crossroads (England)
• 
  Mounting blocks at a manor house (England)
• 
  Free-standing mounting block (England)
• 
  Modern mounting block at a bridleway junction (England)
• 
  Mounting block outside a pub (Scotland)
• 
  A row of mounting blocks (USA)
• 
  Mounting block with cast iron steps (Ireland)
• 
  Free-standing mounting block (USA)
• 
  Stallard mounting block, Aspen (USA)
• 
  Mounting block (Germany)
• 
  Differently shaped mounting block (Germany)

See also

• Abandoned proposal for man_made=mounting_block
• man_made=mounting_block

Tag	Count
amenity=mounting_block
historic=mounting_block
man_made=mounting_block

Weblinks

• Wikimedia Commons category for mounting blocks
• Mounting blocks on Wikidata not yet mapped on OpenStreetMap
• OSM diary post by b-unicycling about mounting blocks