The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

Folklore Posts by hamish

Latest Posts

Devil's Stone (Natural Rock Feature)

The Mystory Mag. Tells us that This is a six ft long conglomerate boulder weighing in at over a ton.Tradition has it that the stione actually fell out of the Devil's pocket as he fell from Heaven to Hell.They also mention the turning of the stone every 5th of November to ward off His Satanic Majesty's wrath for another year.

Alsia Holy Well (Sacred Well)

The pilgrims in the past would come here in the Beltane weeks seeking cures,the locals were not too happy about this because it was their drinking water.

The Great Sacred Monuments of Stenness

Captain McKay, a ferrylouper, the destroyer of the Odin Stone, was finally stopped only after the destruction of of one stone and the toppling of another of the Standing Stones of Stenness.

Harold's Stones (Standing Stones)

The village of Trellech is named after the stones; "The Settlement of the Stones"
Legends say they were erected in memory of a battle with the English under Harold, or in memory of a battle with the Romans, or they were thrown there by the Giant Jack o' Kent from Ysgyryd Fawr 14 miles away. They are however puddingstone and probably middle or late Neolithic.

Dunadd (Sacred Hill)

The Boar was the Scottish/Pictish High Kings Standard up till the time of David.
The foot print is the place where the Chief Clan leaders pledged their loyalty to the King.They brought with them a small bag of soil from their home,put it in the foot print and with their foot on their native heath pledged their support. At Scone there is quite a heap of discarded soil from all over Scot/Pictland.

Croft Moraig (Stone Circle)

The Gaels called this place Stucis meaning Stones,the estate is still called Stix.Rabbie Burns was moved to pray in this circle when he passed through,it is said.
Source:-www.heartlander.scotland.net.

Giant's Rock (Rocking Stone)

"It was said that if you touch a Logan stone nine times at mid-night,any woman will become a witch.A more certain plan is to get on the Giants Rock at Zennor church-town nine times without shaking it.Seeing that this rock was at one time a very sensitive Logan Stone,the task was somewhat diffucult."
Source:-Robert Hunt - Popular Romances of the West of England 1871.
This picture was taken on a very cold day on Aarhus Strand in Denmark.

I was brought up at Lundin Links in Fife so standing stones have always been in my life. My mother was a freelance reporter for the old Weekly Scotsman and she searched out any thing she could about ancient Scot/pictland, we of course went searching with her.
We moved to Cornwall and found as many stones there and because we were Scots were immediately part of the community.

I now live in Bristol a good centre for archive study and from here easy access via m-ways to all areas. What a great hobby, you never get bored-only cold and very wet.

My TMA Content: