| 059 Bore
Stone, Morningside Road, Edinburgh. |
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Description
The Bore Stone stands on a pedestal built into the boundary wall of Morningside Parish
Church, Edinburgh.
The stone is composed of a rich red sandstone and measures about 1.30 metres long x 0.60 metres wide and varies in
thickness between 200 and 250 mm. The surface of the stone is
badly weathered and displays numerous cup-like markings, none of
which are believed to be anything other than natural.
There is an information plaque mounted below the
stone, which reads:
'In which the Royal Standard was last pitched for the muster of
the Scottish army on the Borough Muir before the Battle of
Flodden,
1513.
It long lay in the adjoining field, was then
built into the wall near this spot and finally placed here by
Sir John Stuart Forbes of Pitsligo, 1852.
Highest and midmost was desiret,
The Royal Banner floating wide,
The staff a pine tree strong and straight,
Pitch'd deeply in a massive stone,
Which still in memory is shown,
Yet bent beneath the Standards weight
Marmion.'
Directions
The stone can be found on the eastern wall of Morningside Parish
Church, Morningside Road, Edinburgh. The stone is best viewed from
Morningside Road itself rather than from inside the church
grounds. Take care if taking photographs as the road is usually
very busy.
Parking
There is limited short-term parking in the immediate vicinity
though actually finding a few space is a matter of luck.
Folklore
The only folklore associated with this site relates to a
muster by James IV before
the battle of Flodden in 1513 when it is alleged that the
Royal Standard was pitched in or on the stone when it lay on the
Borough Muir nearby. However, there does not seem to be any firm
evidence that such a muster actually took place at this time and
place.
Fieldnotes
With limited records and the passage of time the real purpose of
the Bore Stone has likely been lost. From it's shape and size
one possibility is that it was once a grave slab or cist cover,
as noted by RCAHMS. One reference I found of interested was that in
RCAHMS to "Hare Stane" with grid reference NT 2451
7160 and note for the old Ordnance Survey 6" map of
Edinburghshire 1st Edition (1852) Although I've been unable
to-date to locate this on the map, a stone (standing?) is shown
in the vicinity of Morton Hall and perhaps this might be the
stone in question.
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