A bakestone is an early griddle: a portable flat stone placed on or next to a fire to cook cakes of various kinds. It was usually oval and of slate or very fine micaceous flaggy sandstone ca.1.5-inch (3.8 cm) thick. Although stone became replaced with cast iron plate in the 19th century its name remained unchanged. In Wales, a bakestone, 'maen' in Welsh; 'gradell' in the north of the country, and 'planc', is the name for the cast iron or steel griddle used for cooking Welsh cakes, especially in South Wales.