# When were the letters cut? · Shugborough inscription > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:47+00:00 --- **0** # When were the letters cut? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What do the letters OUOSVAVV stand for?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M914P3D8V/what-do-the-letters-ouosvavv-stand-for)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters A date before 1773 points to Thomas Anson and his circle; a date after 1800 points to his heirs and opens the local-names reading⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8WR259NH/shepherds-monument-code-was-19th-century-graffiti). ## Answers 3 [**Added between 1773 and 1817.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/answers/ANS0D1M959G55PP/added-between-1773-and-1817) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**Cut with the monument, between about 1748 and 1773.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/answers/ANS0D1M94SW2FKJ/cut-with-the-monument-between-about-1748-and-1773) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/answers/ANS0D1M95S45P07/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2011[The Daily Telegraph puts forward: added between 1773 and 1817.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8WR259NH/shepherds-monument-code-was-19th-century-graffiti) 1. 2022[Mitchell puts forward: cut with the monument, between about 1748 and 1773.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery) 1. 2022[Mitchell: family tradition holds that the letters predate Thomas Anson's death in 1773.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery)For: Cut with the monument, between about 1748 and 1773. 1. 2022[Mitchell: no mention before Clifford's 1817 parish history.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D1M8VRT6KC1/shug-days-cracking-a-270-year-old-epigraphical-mystery)For: Added between 1773 and 1817. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91CG55X4/when-were-the-letters-cut%23add-source) Where it fits Shugborough inscription [**What do the letters OUOSVAVV stand for?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M914P3D8V/what-do-the-letters-ouosvavv-stand-for)Key question · most likely they are the initials of a Latin funerary dedication to a named person, matching the D M frame [Can any reading be tested without new documents?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/shugborough-inscription/questions/QST0D1M91MA24B5/can-any-reading-be-tested-without-new-documents)Most likely · comparison with 18th-century English Latin inscriptions can rank readings by how normal their abbreviations… **When were the letters cut?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]