OS1/32/3/8
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auld Wife's Lift | Auld Wife's Lift Auld Wife's Lift Auld Wife's Lift Auld Wife's Lift Auld Wife's Lift |
New & Old Statl. [Statistical] Accounts Fullarton's Gazetteer Revd. [Reverend] John Gillison J Mann, Parish Schoolmaster James McOrnie Craigmaddie Muir |
027.15 | "The most curious remains of antiquity in this Parish is a structure known as the "Auld Wife's Lift. It is situated near a mile north from the Church on very high ground, in a little flat of about 100 yards diameter, surrounded by an Ascent of a few yards in height, in the form of an Ampitheatre. It consists of three stones only, two of which of a prismatic shape, are laid along close by each other on the earth, and the third which was once probably a regular parallelopiped & still notwithstanding the depredations of time approaches that figure, is laid above the other two. The uppermost stone is 18 feet long, 11 broad & 6 deep, placed nearly horizontally with a small dip to the north. Its two supporters are about the same size. It can hardly be doubted that this is one of those rude structures erected by the Druids in their sacred groves." Old Statistical Account The description above is very correct & the name "Auld Wife's Lift" is generally known, as well as the supposition of its origin - Druidical. |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 8Co. [County] Stirling -- Baldernock Parish
"These stones are said to resemble, in figure and
position, other Druidical monuments, and their name
to correspond with that of the "lifted stone" in Ireland
mentioned by Cambden, and those in Poitiers in France
called pierres levees" New Stat Act [Statistical Account]
"It can hardly be matter of doubt that this is one of those rude structures
erected by the Druids in their sacred groves. Its situation, in a very se-
questered spot on an eminence surrounded by a grove of oaks, (the
stumps of which trees were still visible in 1795), corresponds exactly
with every description we have of these places of worship. The tra-
dition is that three old women, having wagered which should carry the
greatest weights, brought hither in their aprons the three stones of which the lift is constructed." (Ful. Gaz [Fullarton's Gazetteer])
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Alison James- Moderator, Dauvit- Moderator, wilson5bh
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