North Ronaldsay, Holland House
Standing Stone (Prehistoric)
Site Name North Ronaldsay, Holland House
Classification Standing Stone (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Holland Farm; Holland; North Ronaldshay
Canmore ID 3692
Site Number HY75SE 6
NGR HY 75227 52932
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/3692
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Cross And Burness
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY75SE 6 75229 52929
(HY 7522 5292) Standing Stone (NR).
OS 6" map, Orkney, 2nd ed.,(1900).
An erect weathered flagstone slab 13'6" high about 4' broad and only 4" thick at base thinning towards the top, packed at base with small stones. At a height of 6', it is perforated by a small hole, which, whether of natural origin or not, has in the past attracted seekers after symbolism. The stone is recorded as having been a meeting-place on New Year's Day.
RCAHMS 1946, visited 1928; R W Feachem 1963.
A standing stone as described. The perforation appears to be artificial.
Visited by OS (AA), 21 July 1970.
Scheduled as Holland, standing stone.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 1 March 2000.
Orkney Smr Note (July 1979)
There is a large stone, about 9 or 10 feet high, and 4 ft
broad, placed upright in a plain, in the isle of North
Ronaldshay; but no tradition is preserved concerning it, whether
erected in memory of any signal event, or for the purpose of
administering justice, or for religious worship. The writer of
this has seen 50 of the inhabitants assembled there on the first
day of the year, and dancing with moon light, with no other
music than their own singing. [R1]
Standing stone 13ft 6in high, 4ft 1.5in broad, 4in thick at
base, at 6ft above ground is an oval hole 3.25in x 2.75in.
[R2]
As described.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Jul 79.
Note (1980)
Holland Farm, North Ronaldsay HY 7522 5292 HY75SE 6
Tall standing stone with oval hole.
RCAHMS 1980
(Stat Acct, vii, 1793, 489; RCAHMS 1946, ii, pp. 50-1, No. 196; OR 188)
