U

Ubik

Folklore expand_more 3 folklore posts

Folklore

Hole Stone
Standing Stone / Menhir

According to a leaflet in Kirkinner Church, quoting ‘Old Wigtown’ by Jack Hunter, the stone is called the Old Bridal Stone, and couples used to use it to make a marriage contract by joining hands through the hole. The C10th cross in the church was similarly used, which raises the possibility that the hole is a later addition to the stone.

Folklore

The Beorgs of Housetter
Standing Stones

According to Jennifer Westwood’s “Albion’ (1986) the chambered cairn at HU362855 is called ‘Trowie Knowe – the Troll Mound, though there are no specific legends associated with it.

Sheltland’s Trowies, are grotesquely ugly, dress in grey, and can only come out at night. If caught in daylight they turn to the stones they resemble. They share attributes with fairies elsewhere, exchanging their children for human babies, and abducting girls as wives, sometimes leaving a ‘stock’ in their place. See Haltadans for Trowies and music.

Folklore

Haltadans
Stone Circle

At the Fetlar Interpretive Centre in Houbie, you can listen to a recording of the tune allegedly learned from the Trowies. The Centre also has a good collection of other folklore and archaeological material.