real or folly? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

BigSweetie Dec 17, 2003 10:06:48

Anyone have any opinions on the Balnakeilly Stone above Moulin?

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2052

CANMORE suggests that it may have been erected in the mid to late 19th century to adorn the gateway to the Balnakeilly estate, but tempers this with the observation that its position back from the road might make this unlikely.

Looking at it "in the flesh", it certainly looks like the genuine article. From the road it's virtually invisible, blending in with the trees between which it stands, and it certainly doesn't strike me as a prominent feature to adorn a gateway.

Cheers
Andy

Martin Dec 17, 2003 10:58:01

Replying to BigSweetie

Hiya Andy,
Part of me thinks 'folly'- it's just a bit too, erm, 'pointy'! BUT- as you state, it's back from the road, and there are many similar standing stones that stand beside the A924 taking you from Pitlochry across the moors and hills to Bridge of Cally. Most of me thinks 'real'!
Cheers,
Martin

pebblesfromheaven Dec 17, 2003 19:44:41

Replying to BigSweetie

I agree it has the right "style" of a proper standing stone.

BUT The thing that I noticed though was the fact that the piece of land it's standing on feels artificially 'raised' above the level of the road and other land around it. And not in a standing-on-top-of-something-else kind of way.
Imagine the trees aren't there. It doesn't strike me as being sited in part of a naturally-contoured hill, or a barrow-type mound either.

If I was to have to bet either way I'd say a really good folly, done by someone with taste and a nodding respect to the originals.

.o0O0o.