Midmar Kirk and Recumbent Stone Circle - geograph

Midmar is a historic settlement in

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...

, lying north of Banchory and southwest of Inverurie. It is noted for its three stone circles and various standing stones. Midmar and

Sunhoney Sunhoney is a stone circle of the Recumbent stone circle, recumbent type, which is common in the Grampian region, in particular at the River Dee, Aberdeenshire, River Dee. Sunhoney is situated about 2 km west of Echt, Aberdeenshire, Echt in ...

are both recumbent stone circles.

History

The name ''Midmar'', formerly ''Migmar'', is of Pictish origin. The first element is ''mig-'' meaning "bog, swamp" (c.f.

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

''mig(n)''), while the second is the district name '' Marr''. Midmar is a largely rural community, and links to

Midmar Castle Midmar Castle is a 16th-century castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, located west of Westhill and west of Echt. The castle was built for George Gordon of Midmar and Abergeldie between 1565 and 1575, and was constructed by the stonemason and arch ...

and Midmar Manor House. The castle dates from the 16th century. The current church dates from 1787. The previous church, St Nidian's, was located over half a kilometre to the south and now forms part of a

scheduled monument In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...

that includes a medieval motte known as Cunningar Motte. The oil boom in the 1970s created a temporary burst in building due to the village's proximity to Aberdeen.

Stone circles

Midmar stone circle lies adjacent to the parish church. The 17m diameter circle features stones up to 2.45m high. The stones have been described as "fang-like". In 1914, the stones were disturbed by the construction of a new graveyard. The circle was scheduled as an ancient monument in 1925 and 1970.

stone circle lies slightly east of the village at Sunhoney Farm. Cullerlie stone circle lies further east. Sunhoney and Midmar are both recumbent stone circles whilst Cullerlie is thought to be a later version. The three circles are supplemented by other standing stones of similar date, scattered throughout the area. One example is a standing stone 100 metres north of the Midmar circle.

Notable residents

*Prof J. R. U. Dewar (1850–1919), principal of the Dick Vet School in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

*Rev John Ogilvie (poet) (1733–1813) *

John Ligertwood Paterson John Ligertwood Paterson (September 14, 1820 – December 9, 1882) was a Scottish physician who lived and worked in Bahia, Brazil. He co-founded the Tropicalista School of Medicine in Brazil, along with O. E. H. Wucherer and José Francisco da ...

(1820–1882), medical doctor known for work in

Bahia Bahia ( , , ; meaning "bay") is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (sta ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

External links

* http://www.midmarhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Newsletter-Issue-26-Summer-2017.pdf

References

{{authority control Villages in Aberdeenshire Stone circles in Aberdeenshire