Knowehillock

NJ14SE 4 1937 4335.

(NJ 1937 4335) Stone Circle (NR) (Remains of)

OS 6"map, Morayshire, 2nd ed., (1907)

A stone circle removed between 1830 and 1870, leaving only one stone in situ, which was also removed to the grounds of Carron House in the early 20th century.

Stone 'A' on Coles' plan is the one in situ and still erect, 4'3" high, fairly smooth-sided, and 7'10" in girth at base.

Stone 'B' is the largest and most ponderous, measuring 9' long by 3' by 16" thick.

Stone 'C' is flat and measures 4'6" by 2'4".

Stone 'D' is 2' high by 4' by 2'6" broad.

Stone 'E' is 1'10" high by 4'6" by 1'9".

Stone 'F' projects above ground about 12", and measures 4' by 1'13". Stone 'G' is a much concealed block which appears to "run in" considerably. Its exposed portion measures 2'6" by 1'10".

Coles (F R Coles 1907) thought 'F' might have stood on the circumference of a small circle of which 'A' is the centre.

Name Book (1870) notes that 'A' is of whin and all the others of granite, and that 'B' bore 'marks as if lintels had been sought out of it.'

Name Book 1870; F R Coles 1907; H B Mackintosh 1924.

There is no trace of this stone circle in a re-afforested area. There is no knowledge at Carron House of the stone which went there in the early 20th century, but the minister of Knockando parish church (Information from R Prentice, The Manse, Knockando) believes that one of the grave stones in the Grants of Carron burial enclosure known as "The Elchies Tomb", in the churchyard, came from the stone circle. There are two erect monoliths in the enclosure, one inscribed with the date 1934, and the other with the date 1940; it is possible that one of them is the stone which originally went to Carron House.

Visited by OS (A A) 4 March 1971.