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Kingside Hill
Enclosed Cremation Cemetery (Bronze Age), Stone Setting (Prehistoric)
Site Name Kingside Hill
Classification Enclosed Cremation Cemetery (Bronze Age), Stone Setting (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Kingside Hill Stone Setting
Canmore ID 57483
Site Number NT66NW 13
NGR NT 62628 65037
NGR Description Centre
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57483
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Whittingehame
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT66NW 13 6263 6503.
(NT 6263 6503) Stone Circle (NR)
OS 6" map (1957)
This feature, situated just over 1000ft OD, consists of 30 small boulders, the majority of which are set on edge, forming a circle about 11.9m in diameter; the highest is only 0.4m above the ground. There is a large boulder in the centre of the circle; it appears to lie in the middle of a low cairn some 3m in diameter. This is noted as a stone circle by Mackie and the RCAHMS, but Feachem describes it as a probable enclosed cremation cemetery.
A hybrid ring cairn/stone circle. Thirty stones enclose an 11.6 by 10.7m area with a SW entrance and central mound; similar to the enclosed cremation cemetery of Weird Law (NT02SE 8). Condition:- ruined, but recognisable.
RCAHMS 1924, visited 1913; R W Feachem 1965; E W MacKie 1975; A Burl 1976
This funerary or ritual enclosure, situated on a natural shelf above the Kingside Burn, is now isolated within a cultivated field.
It is generally as described, with its long axis orientated N-S. The majority of stones are earthfast, but some are evidently dislodged from their original positions, including the two largest stones on the N arc, prostrate slabs up to 0.7m long and 0.6m wide. There is no trace of a bank between the stones, and the existence of a SW entrance is conjectural as there are only two earthfast stones, 2.5m apart, around this arc.
The earthen central mound is 3.0m in sub-circular diameter and 0.1m high. A prostrate and partially buried stone, 0.8m long by 0.6m wide, lies in a ragged, and probably recent central depression.
Surveyed at 1/10,000.
Visited by OS (JRL) 3 May 1979
This monument had been accidentally buried under field clearance at the end of 1986. SDD: HBM [now Historic Scotland] arranged for the removal of the large modern clearance cairn with the assistance of a machine, under supervision.
The stone circle is made up of very small stones and therefore considerable difficulties were met in removing the modern material. The circle was cleared, preserving more or less the original contour of the ground. Two of the c.30 stones were touched by the machine and slightly moved. It was decided that some recent turf growth should be removed from around the lowest stones, to make them more easily visible, to avoid future accidental damage, and as a result two new stones were found. A full report, with an annotated plan, has been deposited in the National Monuments Record.
G J Barclay and O Owen 1987; O Owen 1987.
Field Visit (30 May 1913)
240. Stone Circle, Kingside Hill, Mayshiel.
At an elevation of rather more than 1000 feet above sea-level, on the north-western slope of Kingside Hill, some 50 yards east of the cart track between Mayshiel and Johnscleugh and 150 yards south of the Kingside Burn, is a stone circle (fig. 182 [ELD 16/1]) about 39 feet in diameter, composed of 30 small boulders, of which the majority are set on edge; a number have been overthrown, and three are covered with turf. The highest rises only 16 inches above the surface of the ground. In the centre of the circle is a large boulder 2 feet long by 1 foot 9 inches broad, appearing 6 to 9 inches above ground and penetrating at least about 2 feet under ground. For a distance of 5 feet round this central stone there is a very slight mound. On the northern curve of the circle the stones are placed closer than on the opposite side.
RCAHMS 1924, visited 30 May 1913 [and 6 June 1913].
OS Map ref: xvi. S.E. (unnoted).
Publication Account (1985)
The area around Penshiel, Mayshiel, Kingside Hill, Johnscleuch and Spartleton, around the head waters of the Whiteadder Water and its upper tributaries, the Faseny and Bothwell Waters, plays host to many cairns and hut circles, stone circles and settings. And these spread over the broad, high plateau that extends west and south-west towards Lauderdale. An area of undulating hills and upper valleys attractive for habitation and stock husbandry, it also commands north-south communications from the Tweed Valley to East and Midlothian. Later fortified hill-settlements along Lauderdale and overlooking Yester reinforce this role.
The circle is about 12m across, of 30 small boulders, most set on edge and the highest no more than 40cm above ground. A number have fallen and some are now half-covered. In the centre a larger stone, nearly 60cm square and as deep under the ground, rises from the middle of a slight 3m diameter mound. it is unclear however if the latter, presumably a small cairn, is a later addition (cf Cairnpapple, no. 96).
Kingside Hill represents a group of at least 17 stone settings in south-east Scotland, unusual on account of the small size of their stones. Not far away, 30m south of the B 6355 and about 200m east of the Mayshiel track is a smaller setting (NT 629646), less than 3m across. Seven stones remain in position; two lying downhill have probably been moved from the southern arc of the circle which is surrounded by a low bank some 15cm-30cm higher than the interior. The Yadlee circle (NT 654673) has stones to a diameter of 8m, while the Harestanes at Kirkurd (NT 124443), 14-15km east ofBiggar, contain five stones around a 3m circle.
Information from 'Exploring Scotland's Heritage: Lothian and Borders', (1985).
Note (20 January 2020)
The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.
