The Grannie or Granny stone is either the only surviving part of a
stone circle
A stone circle is a ring of standing stones. Most are found in Northwestern Europe – especially in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany – and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with most being built from 3000 BC. The be ...
or a simple
glacial erratic
A glacial erratic is glacially deposited rock differing from the type of rock native to the area in which it rests. Erratics, which take their name from the Latin word ' ("to wander"), are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundred ...
. It lies in the
River Irvine
The River Irvine ( gd, Irbhinn) is a river that flows through southwest Scotland. Its watershed is on the Lanarkshire border of Ayrshire at an altitude of above sea-level, near Loudoun Hill, Drumclog Moss, Drumclog, and SW by W of Strathaven. I ...
glacial erratic
A glacial erratic is glacially deposited rock differing from the type of rock native to the area in which it rests. Erratics, which take their name from the Latin word ' ("to wander"), are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundred ...
left behind from the Ice Age or is the last remaining stone of a stone circle - others were removed, by blasting in 1897 and 1899, after the Irvine weir was constructed in 1895, but popular protests saved this remaining stone. The weir raised the water level and the stone became therefore became less prominent. The stones had been on the upstream side of the old Irvine Bridge. It was also humorously known as 'Paddy's Milestone' after
Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig (; sco, Ailsae Craig; gd, Creag Ealasaid) is an island of in the outer Firth of Clyde, west of mainland Scotland, upon which microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now-uninhabited island comprises the r ...
due to its supposed resemblance to that island.
Origin of the name
There has been some speculation as to the origins of the name of the stone, the name may relate to Apollo Grannicus a Romano-British sun God, Grainaig, Grianaig, or Grian a Celtic god of the sea or Granos, the god of thermal springs, which is the most unlikely as there is no evidence of thermal springs in the area.Strawhorn, page 6. McJannet relates that Grianaig was a goddess who was transformed into a grey boulder. Unfortunately the origins of the name and perhaps other insight that could be gained from folklore have been lost. A Granny stone still exists in
Gourock
Gourock ( ; gd, Guireag ) is a town in the Inverclyde council area and formerly a burgh of the County of Renfrew in the west of Scotland. It was a seaside resort on the East shore of the upper Firth of Clyde. Its main function today is as a ...
, but on dry land.
Uses
The stone may simply be a glacial erratic with no archaeological significance and it is not listed by the
RCAHMS
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) was an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government that was "sponsored" inanced and with oversightthrough Historic Scotland, an executive ...
or mentioned by the outstanding local archaeologist in Victorian times, John Smith. It is not marked on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map of Irvine.
The Puddlie Doodlie ford, the Puddleford, may have an interesting origin of the name is as 'holy steps' ('pas de Dieu'), the stepping stones by which the monks from the Carmelite Priory made their way to Church. Some of the stepping stones may have come from a group of stones later removed, of which the Granny Stane is the last survivor. Use of the Puddleford by horses was prohibited in 1836 to safeguard access to the Puddly Well, one of the public wells. Stepping stones are marked as recently as 1860 on the
OS map
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of Irvine.
Strawhorn was of the opinion that the stone was part of a stone circle and also thought that some of the other stones were used in the construction of the Puddleford steps.
The Granny stone once served a significant role in the Carters Society's Marymass celebration as they formerly twice circled the stone on their way to the Irvine Moor. This was said to celebrate the crossing of the Irvine at this point by William Wallace in 1297 on his way to attack the English army. This suggests that the stone stood on dry land or in shallower water if the Carters walked round it, not unlikely as the weir built in 1895 had raised the water level.
The episode in 1297 relates to a
punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a political entity or any group of people outside the borders of the punishing state or union. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavio ...
under Sir Henry Percy sent to Irvine to quash an armed uprising against the dethronement of
John Balliol
John Balliol ( – late 1314), known derisively as ''Toom Tabard'' (meaning "empty coat" – coat of arms), was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland entered an ...
. The Earl of Carrick, Robert Bruce and others led the Scottish army, however after much argument they decided to submit without a fight. The story became embellished with a purely fanciful involvement of
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace ( gd, Uilleam Uallas, ; Norman French: ; 23 August 1305) was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence.
Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army a ...
in a brave action here.
A persistent belief is that the River Irvine has changed its course and the area beneath the Saint Inan's church cemetery was once a green holm on which stood a stone circle with the Granny stone as the largest. The others are said to have been swept away by the river and later broken up as previously stated.Strawhorn, page 6. An 1890s photograph shows the stone situated at a greater distance from the river bank than it is now.Stirrat, page 48.
;The Grannie stone and its location within the River Irvine
File:Grannie stone under the Rivergate.JPG, The Grannie stone beneath the Rivergate Centre
File:Grannie stone in the River Irvine.JPG, The Grannie stone and the Rivergate Centre on the upstream side
File:Grannie Stone closeup.JPG, A close-up of the remaining Grannie Stone in the Irvine
File:Irvine churches.JPG, The setting of the Grannie Stone with F. T. Pilkington's 1863 Trinity church to the left and the former Wilson Fullarton Free church to the rightLove, page 62.
;Notes
;Sources
* Love, Dane (2003). ''Ayrshire : Discovering a County''. Ayr : Fort Publishing. .
* Love, Dane (2009). ''Legendary Ayrshire. Custom : Folklore : Tradition.'' Auchinleck : Carn Publishing. .
* McJannet, Arnold F. (1938), ''The Royal Burgh of Irvine.'' Glasgow : Civil Press.
* Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock.
* Stirrat, Neil (1998), ''Images of Scotland. Irvine.'' Tempus. .
* Strawhorn, J (1985) "The History of Irvine: From Royal Burgh to New Town."
* Webster, Nicola. ''Irvine in Old Picture Postcards''. European Library. .