OS1/23/21/6
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STANDING STONES OF STENNESS | Standing Stones of Stenness Standing Stones of Stenness Standing Stones of Stenness Standing Stones of Stenness Standing Stones of Stenness Standing Stones of Stenness |
Mr James Firth Farmer Bockan Mr William Muir Farmer Brogar Mr Peter Muir Farmer Howan James Robertson Esqr. of Lyking Barry's History of Orkney Peace's Handbook of Orkney |
100; 101 | This remarkable circle is an object of great antiquity, an object which has defied history to describe or tradition to state any further information than an hazardous opinion. It can only be supposed as probable that religious zeal impelled the half savage islanders to unite their strength in raising these huge masses of stones as enclosed places of sacrifice, but at best this is only a surmise. Some ascribe to the Northmen, the honour, if such it is, of their erection, but this evidently is an error. Their Celtic origin being plainly revealed in the fact of such circles being only found in localities where a Celtic race has ruled, the very names of the places where they are situated prove that they had existence long before the people who so designated them arrived in the country. The Circle consists of an inner platform surrounded by a trench which in rainy weather fills with water. At a distance of about thirteen feet from the margin of the inner platform and in a diameter of about 340 feet are the "Standing Stones" [underlined]. There are now only thirteen of them entire & in an upright position. the others about ten in number though entire, have fallen to the ground. In its marginal state the Circle appears to have consisted of about 60 Stones situated at a distance of about 17 feet from each other, The Stones in this circle are not of such large proportions as those which compose a miniature circle at the "Bridge of Brogar"their average height being only about 10 feet or thereby, but are sufficiently large enough to impress the beholder with a feeling of amazement how such colossal blocks could have been hewn, and placed in their position, at a time when mechanical appliances were scarcely known. At the north west side of the circle is a gateway,another opposing the same at the south west, and stands about 1/4 mile south of the Parish Boundary between Sandwick and Stenness on the Ness of Brogar and about 1 mile north of the Bridge of Brogar. |
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MoragSinclair
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