Ancient Stones
A Guide to Standing Stones & Stone Circles in the South of Scotland.


What's New | Contact | Home

About | Articles | Scottish Borders | The Lothians | Kingdom of Fife | Dumfries & Galloway | Help
Introduction | Main Index | Thumbnail Index | Map Index | Hi-Res Images | Still To Visit
041 Standing Stone, Gormyre, Torphichen.

Prev | Next

Description
This large upright boulder sits on the summit of a low ridge, just north of the road leading to Gormyre Hill, west of Torphichen. Erroneously marked "Refuge Stone" on O.S. maps. The stone is of a hard red grit and reaches 1.20m high. The outline of  a Maltese cross once decorated the north face but is no longer visible. This is one of the stones marking the area of the sanctuary associated with Torphichen Preceptory.

Directions
Starting at the parking area beside Witch Craig Wood and the Korean War Memorial, follow the road towards Torphichen. The stone is in the fields to the north.

Parking
Parking area beside Witch Craig Wood and the Korean War Memorial.

Folklore
This stone was one of the 'refuge stones' that formed a circle at a distance of a mile around Torphichen Preceptory. All of the space within the circle formed by these stones was as much a legal sanctuary as the church itself and offered protection against the law to every criminal or debtor who entered and remained within its precincts.

Fieldnotes
I'm sure on a clear and bright sunny day this tone would be interesting but on the day of my visit it was cold, wet and dull - not the ideal conditions for viewing standing stones. The stone, also noted as a sanctuary marker is claimed to be one of the sanctuary stones for Torphichen Preceptory, however, there is some debate about this fact.

View Hi-Resolution Image

Quick Info
Type: Standing Stone
Nearest Town: Bathgate
Nearest Village: Torphichen
O.S.
Landranger Sheet 65
O.S. Explorer Sheet 349
Grid Reference: NS 9806 7311
GPS Reference: GORMYR

Symbols Key | Stone Types

Other Sites Nearby
038 Boundary Stone, Witch Craig, Torphichen.

Top | Home | What's New | Terms of Use | Contact Form

Sand Collecting - Everything you might never want to know about sand collecting.

Ancient Stones is a member of The Stone Circle Webring
  << Prev Site | Join Ring | Hub | Random Site | Next Site>>

Copyright � 2001 - 2008 Gary Buckham. All Rights Reserved.