Mains of Moyness

Nearest town:
Nairn (7km W)
OS reference:
NH952536
OS sheet:
27
Latitude:
57° 33' 37.41 N
Longitude:
3° 45' 6.7 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Mains of Moyness (Ring Cairn) by drewbhoy

Looking north from the sole upright, a disgrace of a site.

Image credit: drew/amj
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jul 23, 2011
Image of Mains of Moyness (Ring Cairn) by baza

Panorama showing the remaining kerb stones and the road cutting through the north east

baza
baza Feb 27, 2011

Articles

Mains of Moyness

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jul 23, 2011

This circle is in the north west corner of the Moyness crossroads. Sadly it is a disgrace as it is overgrown and almost invisible except for the remaining upright. Kerbs remain whilst others have have fallen.

Half an hour and this site would look brilliant. It looks like they have tried to make it a ‘show site’ with the information board, at a bus stop, they have failed miserably.

Visited 21/07/2011.

Folklore

Mains of Moyness
Ring Cairn
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Feb 21, 2011

The Moyness Stone Circle has been dismantled, but it was unique in one respect. One of the boulders of which the circle was composed was said to have been a rocking stone or loggan, and according to traditionary belief was used as an ordeal stone for determining the innocence or guilt of a person accused of crime. If the stone rocked when the person was placed on it, guilt was established; if it remained unmoved, innocence was declared. Considerable sanctity, as may be supposed, attached to this tell-tale stone with its mysterious movements, but the school children of later times, with irreverent familiarity, were wont to play upon it.

From p3 of ‘History of Nairnshire’ by George Bain (1893).

Miscellaneous

Mains of Moyness
Ring Cairn
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Apr 8, 2008

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Mr Stuart, Secretary, stated that, in consequence of reports of the recent destruction of a remarkable Stone Circle near the old Castle of Moyness, in Nairnshire, belonging to Lord Cawdor, he had communicated with his Lordship’s factor on the subject. From the answer of that gentleman, it appeared that the reports in question had been greatly exaggerated.

When the present line of road was made many years ago, it was carried through the circle, and many stones removed, but no recent encroachment on the circle [..] has taken place [..].

The supposed “rocking-stone” consisted of one of the upright pillars which had fallen over some smaller ones, leaving an end unsupported, and by jumping on this end a heavy man could just move it. The only change that has taken place on the circle for years, is the removal of this pillar for some purpose by the tenant’s consent, but without the knowledge of the landlord or his factor, and orders have now been given to prevent any interference with the fragment of the circle still existing.

Mr Stuart remarked that it was agreeable to find so general an interest on this subject, as the supposed destruction of the circle had excited a feeling of indignation in all parts of the country.

From the Caledonian Mercury, Wed. April 16th, 1856.

Link

Mains of Moyness
Ring Cairn
Chris
Chris Oct 6, 2006
RCAHMS

A runied ring cairn by the roadside. The kerbstones ranged up to 2.9m in height, although most of the cairn material is gone. A single standing stone 4.5 feet tall remains, with possible fallen stones in the vegetation.

Sites within 20km of Mains of Moyness

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.