The Thief’s Stone

Also known as:
Clach a’Mheirlich and Rosskeen
Nearest town:
Invergordon (3km ENE)
OS reference:
NH681690
OS sheet:
21
Latitude:
57° 41' 29.54 N
Longitude:
4° 12' 46.51 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of The Thief’s Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) by drewbhoy

Looking south over the Cromarty Firth towards Culbokie.

Image credit: drew/AMJ
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jan 7, 2023
Image of The Thief’s Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir) by drewbhoy

Looking south west down the Cromarty Firth towards Dingwall.

Image credit: drew/AMJ
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Jan 7, 2023

Articles

The Thief’s Stone

drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 10, 2023

Like Nick I worked quite a lot at Invergordon and was also often in the area playing gigs with one of my bands, so would see this stone quite a lot. Having been at Novar House this was a chance to have a good look.

Badly eroded carvings are barely visible, being honest if I didn’t know they were there I would never have bothered to look for them.

Standing at 1.8m tall this is an easy site to find. Park in the sailing club car park across the road (B817).

Visited 27/12/2022.

The Thief’s Stone

nickbrand
nickbrand Jul 31, 2007

Driven past this a number of times recently (currently working nearby), and will endeavour to bring a camera with me soon and get some photos.

The Clach a’Mheirlich or ‘Thief’s Stone’ (Pictish Symbol Stone Class 1) stands in a field by the Alness to Invergordon road. On the front is an incised step symbol and on the left side what appear to be the traces of a crescent symbol with a pair of pincers below.

Park in the ‘Public slipway’ car park. The stone is about 20m into the field across the road.

Folklore

The Thief’s Stone
Standing Stone / Menhir
nickbrand
nickbrand Aug 25, 2007

From the Statistical Accounts (see link):

Antiquities. – Under this head, it may be mentioned, that, in a field a little to the west of the church, there is a singular upright stone, somewhat in the form of an obelisk, called Clach a Mhearlich, i.e. the thief’s stone, – which is evidently of very ancient date. Though in the midst of an arable field, it is most religiously preserved, no attempt being made to remove it, or alter its position. None even of the oldest inhabitants are acquainted with any distinct tradition, respecting its origin or intention; but, from the name, it is conjectured that some noted robber was buried beneath it.

Miscellaneous

The Thief’s Stone
Standing Stone / Menhir
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 10, 2023

G. Rosscuithnidh ; headland, referring most probably to the promintory on which Invergordon stands, now called ‘ An Rudha. ‘ The latter part is rather difficult. Dr Joyce notes in Ireland such names as Quinhie and Feaghquinney, from Ir. cuinche, pronounced nearly queenha, the arbutus tree. This suits the phonetics of Roscuithnidh, which would thus mean arbutus head. In a field by the roadside, near the Parish Chuch, is Clach a’ Mheirlich, the thief’s stone.

Rosskeen Parish Place Names

Sites within 20km of The Thief’s Stone

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