drewbhoy

I put this story in here because Fedderate Castle is much nearer Culsh than Auchmaliddie. It is also near Brucklay House and Castle, Rhiannon has a story about a cup marked stone in the area and this would certainly explain why it’s proving difficult to find, so I wonder if these two stones are one and the same?

Fedderate Ghost Story.
From the Scrap Book Of New Deer 2009.
By the New Deer Primary School Pupils.
As told to them by the local historian Sandy Ritchie.

“There was a very large stone outside Fedderate Castle. William Crawford lived in the castle and was the strongest man in the area. One day a little man came to the castle, picked up the stone and threw it. William took it as a challenge and went outside to compete with the little man to prove that he was the strongest.

When William tried to pick the stone up he found that he couldn’t. Therefore the little man made scratches on the rock to assist in the lifting. Sadly, for William, the stone was still to heavy.

Then the little man disappeared, with his strength over men being proved. Locals at the time said that the little man was indeed the devil. The Crawford family left to live in Sweden and with them went the stone.”

There is also more in the book about the monument at the Culsh.

Thanks also to Julie Perkins.

Near Camies Stone is Clovenstone Farm. Local legend, as well as the occupant at the farm, claim that “witches” were killed at the massive split piece of glacerial known as the Cloven Stone. Also a battle between the locals and some Vikings was mean’t to have happened here but no evidence has been found to back this up.

“To the Grinago Stone, near Oldmeldrum, attaches one of the somewhat obvious and usually absurd tales invented to account for a puzzling name. After the defeat of the Comyns at the battle of Barra in 1308, Bruce pursued the retreating army towards Buchan, whence it came. Having risen from a sick-bed to fight the battle, exhaustion compelled him to rest against this stone as he passed. To the appeals of his men that he should rest a while he gave blunt refusal; it was his but to “grin an’ go hence Grinago. The name, which Professor Watson regards as likely to be Gaelic, has become too seriously corrupted to be identifiable.”

Folklore of Aberdeenshire Stone Circles, 1926.

“On the farm of Knowley, stands an upright pillar known as the Tow Stone. Its significance is doubtful. Dr Stuart thought that it might of been the seat of tax-gathering in far back days (Sculptured Stones Of Scotland, vol. ii p. 44). But Professor Watson suggests to me that the name may be connected with the Gaelic toll, signifying a hollow.”

Folklore Of The Aberdeenshire Stone Circles 1926

“Often it is apparent that the names now in use have no connection with the origin of the monument, but are recent and frequently trivial additions. Johnnie Kelly’s Lass, a large cup marked standing stone on the farm of Balhalgardy, near Inverurie, perhaps the sole remnant of a circle, furnishes a good example of the trivial origin of what may be curious and puzzling names. The name is just a century old. Johnnie Kelly, for long a farm servant at Balhalgardy, when old age came upon him, took to knitting stockings, a common country occupation in those times. On fine days he climbed to the stone, resting against it as he worked, and scanned the rich plains of Garioch; the humour of the countryside dubbed his constant companion “Johnnie Kelly’s Lass,” and the name stuck.”

Folklore Of The Aberdeenshire Stone Circles 1926.

In Tom Weir’s Scotland the famous mountaineer and walker gives the legend in the chapter, on page 49, entitled:

Craigmaddie: The Secrets of the Muir

“The folk tale is that three witches wagered each other as to who could carry the heaviest stone in their aprons. Two managed to put their stones down side by side, but the third one capped their efforts by placing her larger stone on top of the other two in the form of a roof. A variation of the same tale is that it was a trial of strength to see who could throw a stone the farthest, and the biggest landed on top of the other two.”

He also mentions Hugh MacDonalds book “Rambles Around Glasgow” giving his 19th century beliefs.

“By some this gigantic cromlech is supposed to be a Druidical altar, whereon, in a dim prehistoric era, the dark rites of pagan worship may have been celebrated”. On an old map it was shown as a “Druidical Cromlech,” and the cavity between the stones was thought to be for the reception of human remains after blood sacrifices.

Weir goes on to say that he noticed initials and dates at first. The next day he was startled to find 8 carved heads that he didn’t notice the previous day. His good friend Prof. Alcock, of Glasgow University said that even his students had missed the faces. He then continued:

“I think it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that the capstone was placed on top of the two smaller stones by the Celtic people who carved those heads. The vertical lift is not a big one , and it could have been done with wooden rollers”

Weir asked if the people who erected the stones worshipped at it. The professor answered:

“I think we could call them people under Roman influence. The carvings recall the severed heads of Gaul-one of the leading images of the Celtic religion. Notice too, that the heads are confined to the east and north, while the two most arresting of them look out from the north-eastern and south-eastern edges. That would be a remarkable coincidence if the heads were the work of casual visitors.”

To be fair to Weir he gets independent views from Dr. Rolf and Dr. Ingham of Glasgow University. “They were in no doubt that the stones were of a glacial origin, but beyond that they were not prepared to speculate.”

First published in 1980.

Mythology, as well, as an old old poem has a story to tell.

“A long time ago a weary man left his his pot of gold at the foot of the one remaining stone stone at Skelmuir and made it promise to look after it until he returned. This stone, apparently, could talk and replied positively. However security in those days wasn’t tight and the stone fell asleep. Bad mistake! Along came a thief, fresh from the pipe/mate stealing at the Candle Stone, and an attempt was made to steal the gold. Being shaken from sleep the Skelmuir stone promptly fell on top of the thief and more importantly the gold. At this point the thiefs friend bolted but guilt weighed it down and it dropped down lifeless at Cortiecram never to move again. Back came the original traveller after all the action had finished and displeasure was the mood. After one almighty row the Skelmuir stone stood speechless and bowed ashamed that security had lapsed. In anger the traveller kicked the stone in the backside and pulled it to the north side of the hill never to see it’s friends again.”

This was taken from a story by the children from Strichen Primary School hanging upon the villages library wall during one of their history projects.

To be fair “Rhiannon” has a similar story for Cortie Cram and this has probably lots in common with other “golden hide/trove” stories.

Just when leaving the site one of the men who lived in the houses, opposite, asked what was happening. Looking at the stone was my answer. In return he explained that his granny had attended the nearby primary school. She had said that stone had a sad face because a rival had stolen his mate and pipe, the mate being part of the circle presumably, and then went on to steal gold at Skelmuir Hill.

(I know about the Skelmuir story, the pipe/mate story well........Still, if you don’t ask!)

Local farmers in the area have long maintained that a circle in the area was destroyed and remnants placed in a wall at the Mains Of Laithers or the Mill of Muiresk. But what stone circle? Carlin? Sheilburn? Or another? As usual the cow back scratcher story appears! Yawn! But relaxing for the cow!!

William Lawson of Scotsmill, whilst discussing the circles at Scotsmill and Corrie mentioned Crookmore. He confirmed that there had been a causeway. His grandfather had told him that slabs had come from the Correen Hills to enable its construction.

2/4/09

William Lawson from Scotsmill, down the road towards Tullynessle, owns the east side of the fence. The owners of Terpersie Castle the west. Mr Lawson mentioned that at least one of the stones was pulled down the hill to the castle to be used as another gatepost.

2/4/09

On arriving at Scotsmill Farm I was greeted by William Lawson, the farmer who seemed only to delighted to speak about circles in his area. Two stones remain erect, one rectangular in shape, the other taller about 1 meter in height. This stone had been drilled and probably dynamited.

William then showed a photograph dating from the 1880s clearly showing that there had been at least three stones standing. In this photograph was Williams great grandfather James along with his sons James and William. Also featured was a donkey, with a cart, who was called Moses. The stones, at this time, were used as cow back scratchers. Dynamite has been mentioned and this more than likely led to the destruction of some stones. The William of the 1800s was an army volunteer and would blow stones up as a means to test gunpowder as well as entertain some of the local children.

As for the third stone it vanished most likely into a wall or into a hole in the ground. More information was given about the circle at Corrie and the destroyed circle at Crookmore.

2/4/09

The Mill Of Kelly was a very different place 80 years ago being a proper ran farm. Nowadays it is uninhabited except for a load of cats who are fed by Patrick Will. He was born at the mill and still lives in the area near Haddo House whose land the mill sits on.

In the field the behind the mill the circle stood facing southwards on the face of a small mound. However in the 1950s agriculture, in the North East of Scotland, was the industry of the day and it was decided that the circle would be destroyed. Fortunately Patrick and his brother rescued the stones placing then in a wall leading to the mill. In the wall are 22 stones varying from 2 to 4 feet in length. In the 60s both brothers worked for Haddo Estate during which they ploughed up another stone, this they left sitting on a wall on the west side of the mill. On the east side of the farm once stood a hut circle. Many flints were discovered along with several other hut circles in the same valley.

The stones still remain and their adventure continued when a Professor A. Davies appeared, in 1992, to look at the stones. He confirmed to Patrick that the stones had been a circle like the one at nearby Shethin.

Schivas House is also near and it came as no surprise to learn that Patrick had worked there as well. He had also much to tell about that place.

Sites and Patrick visited several times November 08.

Cup marks the shape of the Great Bear could once have been seen on the recumbent. Unfortunately the bear has gone away and is catching fish somewhere else!

The farming community, as well many of Turriff’s older generation many of whom worked on farms, often say that a remains of a circle near Drachlaw were taken and put into a wall at Mill of Laithers. This happened during the nineteenth century. On the Hill of Laithers, nearer Armiddle and beside the B9024, another standing stone can be seen. This would seem to tie with Aubrey Burls “Guide to Stone Circles” in which he says, concerning a circle near Backhill of Drachlaw at Newton Of Fortrie,

“A similar ring just to the south-west was destroyed to make way for farm buildings in the nineteenth century.”

One stone was left to remind locals and visitors alike that once something better and bigger stood here. More probably it was left to ward away evil spirits and the like!

Westertown farm has the Cairnton RSC within its grounds even though the circle is regarded with a different farms name. Although rubble and bigger boulders are behind the recumbent the resident farmer insists that 3 stones lay beneath the heaps. He also can point to at least 2 other stones used for corners in a barn. At least the recumbent and a flanker remain, what a view especially when rain is coming up the valley!! Arnhill down the road equally brilliant.

Visited December 08.

During my visit to Midmar Kirk RSC I happened to enter the church. Two ladies were organising flowers for a funeral to be held the next day. To be polite I said hello and asked if they knew anything about the circle. Surprisingly I was told that two of the missing stones from the circle are to be found in the foundations of the kirk.

The tall and superb stone 100 meters north is called Balblair, which the ladies also said had once been part of a circle.

Visited September 08.

The farmer, who is very proud that these monuments are on his land, at Logie Newton farm told this strange tale during the visit. An urn, containing human remains, was found in the field directly below the quartz cairns. This was then broken and passed amongst the onlookers. To mark the discovery a stone was taken from the west cairn and placed at the location. It still stands. Visited April 08.

The owners of the modernised farm at Hatton of Ardoyne have an interesting story to tell. A previous owner, during the 1850’s decided to repair the old barn. New stonework was required, therefore one of the stones from the circle was used as a lintel above a door. In previous times cows and sheep would enter freely but with this new addition the beasts were spooked and would not enter. This continued for a winter with several cattle dying. The farmer cut his losses removed the stone and put it back to its original standing place. What damage was done to the stone can be easily spotted. A brand new factory stone was used at the entry door which seemed to please the beasts as they re-entered the barn.

As told to Alexander Jarvie by Bob and Elaine Lyons, the present owners of Hatton Of Ardoyne, August 08. (I’m their music teacher)