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Pennysearach Farm, 'the Rat Stane'
Font (Period Unknown)(Possible)
Site Name Pennysearach Farm, 'the Rat Stane'
Classification Font (Period Unknown)(Possible)
Canmore ID 38684
Site Number NR70NW 16
NGR NR 71170 07435
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/38684
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Southend
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR70NW 16 7117 0744.
At NR 7117 0744 in pasture just above the shore-line is a squat stone pillar, with a 'font-like' depression on its flattened top, name 'The Rat Stane'. According to Mr A MacVicar (of Southend), the word 'Rat' is probably Scandinavian in origin signifying meeting place, and at one time the tenants at Pennysearach Farm made an annual pilgrimage to place a pin or metal object in the 'font' to ensure 'fruitful fields and cattle'. It contained coins at the time of investigation.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 3 November 1977.
Field Visit (15 July 2024)
NR 71170 07435 Visited during fieldwork by SCAPE. The Rat Stane measures around 0.6m cubed with a hollow font-like depression on top. It appears to sit on top of another stone. When we visited there were several quartz pebbles and coins within the hollow. The stone sits just above the shore, next to a small burn or drain in a very overgrown area.
Information from P. Murtagh and J. Hambly - Scottish Coastal Archaeology and the Problem of Erosion (SCAPE).
OASIS ID: thescape1-529587
