<< Our Photo Pages >> Stobo Kirk standing stone - Standing Stone (Menhir) in Scotland in Scottish Borders

Submitted by nicoladidsbury on Sunday, 14 October 2007  Page Views: 9553

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Stobo Kirk standing stone
Country: Scotland County: Scottish Borders Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Peebles  Nearest Village: Stobo
Map Ref: NT1826037655
Latitude: 55.625575N  Longitude: 3.299653W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 4

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

Anne T visited on 12th Jul 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Stobo Kirk, Scottish Borders: This was the highlight of my visit. A church I’ve wanted to see for a long, long time, and I thought I’d better grab the chance whilst we were nearby. As we drew up outside the church, my heart sank, as it looked just like another austere Church of Scotland church. “This isn’t the church I saw on the Portal”, I said to Andrew, “their images are of a pebble built wall with standing stones in it.” All was explained when we walked into the church and saw the north aisle chapel, from the inside first. My photography skills were challenged trying to photograph the three large tombstones held by iron staples to the wall. This part of the church felt very old. We looked at the long stone in the external west wall of the north aisle chapel carefully (due to the chairs in the chapel, we couldn’t really see much without removing several rows of tightly packed wooden chairs). At first glance, it looked as if it went from the south side of the window cill, southwards. Closer inspection made us realise it extended under the window as well. We bought a guide book and a couple of the postcards of the stained glass windows, as by this time, it was getting quite late and it was at least another hour until we reached our bed for the night. Much too brief a visit - a return visit in bright sunshine is a must!

nicoladidsbury have visited here

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by nicoladidsbury : Stobo Kirk - standing stone 2 - close up (Vote or comment on this photo)
Stobo Kirk is a fantastic place to visit. It is steeped in history. It is one of the oldest churches in the Borders. Its most famous story is the myth that St Kentigern converted Merlin to Christianity at the site. A stained glass window comemorates this story.

A small area in the church as been recreated, in a style which is supposed to be like the originial building. Many stones in the grave yard have skull and crossbone motifs. There is an espeically interesting stone with a man and a flint lock rifle.

Behind the church, built into the wall of the church is a long stone, and possible associated fragments, which is supposed to be a standing stone from the original pre-christian site.

Inside the church there are two burial slabs, one of a knight with broadsword, possibly dated as early as 14Century, and an inscribed grave slab with a chalice. Very interesting!

More information on the architecture and monuments can be found on Canmore ID 49854, which describes it as the most important church in the Upper Tweed Valley in medieval times.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : Again, here for completeness to show the visitor what is inside the north aisle chapel, is this crudely executed tombstone, "depicting an armoured man lying on his back, hands clasped to his chest, legs and spurred feet splayed. Beside him lies his very large double handled sword. It can be dated to the first half of the 16th century." (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by nicoladidsbury : Stobo Kirk - Second standing stone in fabric of Chapel wall. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Antonine : 2008 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Antonine (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Antonine (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : I've seen very few tombstones featuring a chalice. Again, probably too modern for the Portal, dated to 1473, this is placed at the eastern end of the northern wall of the north aisle chapel (we had to remove a row of chairs, and put them carefully back) to photograph it properly. The inscription is in Latin and dedicated to Robert Vesey, sometime vicar of Stobo. Nearby is a collection of archit...

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : In the north aisle chapel there are three unusual, old grave stones fixed to the wall. Perhaps too modern for the Portal, but here for completeness. This fragment, according to the church guide book, "has an incised mill-rind, possibly recalling a local miller".

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : Like Meglett, we spotted this solitary stone standing against the eastern edge of the churchyard, just in front of the stone wall dividing the churchyard from the garden of the neighbouring house. Curious, we had a closer look. We came to the conclusion that this was a well worn grave marker, mainly because of its shape, but would be curious to know what others think.

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : Close up of another larger piece of stone, towards the northern part of the western exterior north aisle chapel wall. Another piece of standing stone, or just a longer piece of stone to strengthen and tie together the courses of stones making up the wall?

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : The external west wall of the north aisle chapel with the long, now horizontally placed, standing stone just below the window cill.

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : The external east wall of the north aisle chapel, with some interestingly shaped stones contained within it. No special mention in the guide book, Canmore notes or James Bulloch's notes (that I've yet found) that mention these. Further investigation required!

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : Close up of a longer stone in the base of the east external wall of the north aisle chapel. No record of what this might be - a piece of standing stone, or just a longer piece of stone to strengthen the wall and tie the courses of stone together?

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by Anne T : The large standing stone in the external west wall of the north aisle chapel. At first glance, we thought it extended from the bottom right hand corner of the window towards the church. On closer inspection in the evening gloom, the stone looked as if it continued underneath the window cill, so was longer than we thought.

Stobo Kirk standing stone
Stobo Kirk standing stone submitted by nicoladidsbury : Stobo Kirk There is a very long stone in the fabric of the wall of the chapel. There is also a smaller long stone, which is the same colour. Could this be a fragment of the larger stone. And could this once have been a standing stone. There is a similar stone in the other wall. This is a very ancient site, and it is possible that St Kentigern chose is for his church because of its pagen import...

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 3.0km NE 36° Sheriff Muir Standing Stones* Standing Stones (NT20094005)
 3.2km SW 232° Altar Stone, Stobo* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT15703573)
 3.5km NE 38° Meldon Bridge Timber Circle (NT205404)
 4.2km E 97° Cademuir Hill* Hillfort (NT22473708)
 4.5km ENE 76° Kirkton Manor* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT22693863)
 4.9km WSW 242° Drumelzier Haugh* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT13933542)
 5.2km SW 231° Tinnis Castle* Hillfort (NT14153444)
 5.7km WSW 247° Dreva Hill West (Broughton)* Ancient Village or Settlement (NT12923553)
 6.0km WSW 246° Dreva Craig* Hillfort (NT12673533)
 6.1km NNE 30° Druids Circle (Eddleston)* Henge (NT21404290)
 6.2km WSW 248° Dreva Craig* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT12453545)
 6.3km NE 34° White Meldon* Round Cairn (NT21894284)
 6.6km NNE 27° Green Knowe Round Cairn (NT21384351)
 7.0km N 10° Harehope Rings* Hillfort (NT1962644573)
 7.6km WSW 251° Helm End Hillfort (NT10983532)
 7.6km WSW 240° Piper's Stone Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT11533400)
 7.8km ENE 68° Whitestone (Peebles)* Marker Stone (NT256404)
 7.9km WSW 238° Rachan Hill Henge (NT11423363)
 8.3km WSW 246° Whitslade Hill Burnt Mound Artificial Mound (NT10603447)
 8.6km S 177° Nethertown Stone Circle (NT185291)
 8.8km SW 222° Woodend, Mossfennan Farm* Cist (NT12173124)
 8.9km NW 318° Harestanes (Kirkurd)* Stone Circle (NT12404432)
 8.9km NNW 337° Henderland Hill* Hillfort (NT14964597)
 9.3km S 169° Manorhead Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT19862850)
 9.6km ENE 63° Soonhope Rock Art Rock Art (NT269419)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Lazonby Ancient Cross

Carn of Works >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Contribute!

· NEW: I have visited
· I would like to visit
· Submit an Image
· Add a description
· Give accurate position
· Add a comment or news about this site

Metallurgical Reports on British and Irish Bronze Age Implements

Metallurgical Reports on British and Irish Bronze Age Implements

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Stobo Kirk standing stone" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Stobo Kirk standing stone by Andy B on Friday, 16 February 2018
(User Info | Send a Message)
The reference for the long stone built into the wall is:

A long stone, now lying horizontal in the west wall of the north aisle, was probably a standing stone to begin with and so marked a site which had pre-Christian associations.

James Bulloch, Church Service Society Annual, 1968
http://www.churchservicesociety.org/sites/default/files/journals/1968-527-32.pdf
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Stobo Kirk standing stone by Meglett on Sunday, 24 January 2016
(User Info | Send a Message)
We visited yesterday, and all is as Nicola says. But to my surprise no mention is made (anywhere) in fact of a solitary (standing stone) in the graveyard. It is in front of the dividing wall between graveyard and garden of house next door. It also has a couple of cup marks............but I can find no reference to it anywhere?
Has anyone out there any information as to what it may be, as I could find no evidence of any inscription on it either.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Stobo Kirk standing stone by Anne T on Tuesday, 24 July 2018
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hi, Meglett, like you, we also spotted this solitary stone (I've posted a photograph above). We eventually came to the conclusion that it was a very worn grave slab, although as you say, it's not mentioned anywhere in the guide or any other source I've come across. We didn't see any cup marks, but then the light was quite flat, and didn't really bring out any distinguishing features on the evening we were there. I'd be interested in what other people might think - standing stone or grave marker?
    [ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.