Stembister
Standing Stone (Prehistoric)
Site Name Stembister
Classification Standing Stone (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 3061
Site Number HY50SW 6
NGR HY 5413 0239
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/3061
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish St Andrews And Deerness
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY50SW 6 5413 0239.
(HY 5413 0239) Standing Stone (NR)
OS 6"map, Orkney, 2nd ed., (1903).
This standing stone is 6ft 2 ins. high and 14 1/2 to 28 ins wide. Its base is packed around with small stones and its major axis is aligned N and S.
RCAHMS 1946, visited 7 August 1929.
The standing stone is as described above, save that the packing stones have been removed.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS(NKB) 22 August 1964.
Stone moved by SDD some years ago. Photograph in the NMRS shows the stone in its original position.
This slab, 1.8m high, formerly stood on the brink of a sea-cliff at Stembister farm, where it was in danger of toppling over. Mr Skea, the farmer, reports that in about 1965, in order to prevent its total loss by coastal erosion, it was moved a short distance inland to its present position.
RCAHMS 1946; 1987 (OR 4), visited April 1979
Orkney Smr Note (1979)
Stands on edge of steep bank. Base packed with small stones. Major axis due N-S. Detailed measurements given. [R1]
As described by RCAMS but the packing stones have been removed. OS visit Aug 1964.
Mr Skea stated that the Ministry of Works a few years ago moved the stone back from the cliff edge to prevent its toppling over. It therefore is no longer exactly in situ. The work was done by a squad under the supervision of a young lady, and coins were deposited under it to mark the event. (The photo on the OS index card shows stone in old position braced with a wire which Mr Skea fixed to protect it).
Mr Skea, Stembister Apr 1979.
Information from Orkney SMR
