061
Standing Stone, Harrietsfield, Ancrum. |
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Description
The standing stone at Harrietsfield is situated in a cultivated
field just under half a mile south east of Harrietsfield, near
Ancrum and just over 100m west of the Roman road, Dere Street.
The stone is four sided and reaches 1.40m in height and over
1.00m square at the base. The stone has an obvious fracture near
the base on the north side and has a slight lean to the south.
Around the base of the stone and also forming a mound running to
the north, are numerous large boulders, presumably resulting
from field clearance.
Directions
From the A68 (T) north of Jedburgh, take a minor road leading to
Fairnington, about a mile north of Ancrum. The stone can be seen
to the left of Dere Street Roman Road.
Parking
For those with vehicles, parking is severely restricted near this
location although these are a few places where the roadside verge
may be wide enough for safe parking without restricting other
vehicles. The safest option is to leave the car at Monteviot House
Garden and follow the signs for St. Cuthbert's Way, which follows
Dere Street.
Fieldnotes
Although this is an interesting stone in it's own right, what
really distracted me at this location was the profusion of large
boulders scattered along this part of Dere Street. Even although
I knew they were probably placed there as a result of field
clearance, I could not help but look for patterns such as
circles or alignments. There is one particular group of stones
that looked just the part. These can be seen a little north
along the Street in an area of boggy ground and reeds. The
stones are partially hidden by the reeds and are also covered
with many years growth of moss and lichen. They just cry out to
be taken as the remains of a stone circle or other feature. Few
of the stones here are earth-fast, although some are and look as
if they have been there for some considerable time. Well, it's
nice to be able to dream.
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