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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 669233
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/669233
NJ71SW 5 72115 12719
(NJ 7212 1270) John Bell (NR)
OS 6" map, (1959)
Stone [NAT]
OS 1:10,560 map, 1970.
An upright and partly hewn stone surmounted by a ball, erected at the time of the building of Castle Fraser (1617 - see NJ71SW 6.00) to commemorate the architect John Bell.
Name Book 1866.
This standing stone is situated some 200m NW of Castle Fraser (NJ71SW 6.00). Although traditionally assumed to have been erected about 1617 (at the time of the completion of the building of Castle Fraser and to commemorate the architect John Bell), there is good reason to consider this stone a genuine prehistoric monolith. The stone is of similar type to those forming the flankers of the recumbent stone circle (NJ71SW 3) that is situated some 650m further to the WSW, while it seems unlikely (given the scale, elaboration and expense of Castle Fraser itself) whether an unhewn erratic would be considered adequate to commemorate its final architect. It is more probable that the commemoration of John Bell is indicated by no more than the small granite pyramid (originally topped by a ball) that has been placed on top of the stone.
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, ARW), 18-19 October 1994.
NMRS, MS/820.
