MHG12516 - Stone circle, Clach an Righ
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- CAIRN (Early Bronze Age to Norse - 2400 BC to 1300 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
NC63NE 11 6793 3903.
(NC 6793 3903) Clach an Righ (NR) OS 6" map, (1963)
The remains of a stone circle 22ft in diameter, with a low central cairn, 11ft in diameter. Only two of stones remain upright, standing almost N & S of each other at right angles to line of circumference. The north stone measures 6ft high, 2ft 9ins broad at base tapering to 1ft 2ins at the top and about 8ins thick. The south stone is 8ft high, 3ft 6ins broad at base tapering to 10ins at the top and 8ins to 10ins thick. Three fallen stones, ranging from 6ft 6ins to 9ft, lie on the west circumference and another 5ft 4ins ling, lies on edge, touching the east side of the southern upright stone. The head of another stone protrudes through the turf between the two upright stones. The names 'Clach an Righ' - 'King's Stone' or 'King Harrald's Pillars' came from the tradition that the stones were raised to commemorate a victory in this area of King William the Lion's army led by Reginald of the Isles over a Norse army led by Harald Madadson, Earl of Caithness, in 1196 or 1198. Field clearance heaps in the area (eg NC63NE 12) are said to be the burial mounds of the dead who included Harald from whom Dalharrold is said to be named.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909; J M Joass 1865; J MacKay 1891; J Gray 1909;
M O MacDougall 1953; Visited by OS (E G C) 7 May 1961.
Clach an Righ (name verified), the remains of a stone circle as described by RCAHMS, now preserved within a clearing in a forest. The axis of the upright stones is radial to the circle. The central, heather-covered cairn is 0.3m high and an estimated 5.5m in diameter and practically touches the upright stones. The "field clearance heaps" can no longer be identified having been ploughed and planted with trees.
Visited by OS (J M) 15 March 1977.
Sources/Archives (9)
- --- SHG1188 Text/Publication/Article: Joass, J M. 1865. 'Notes of various objects of antiquity in Strathnaver', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 5 1862-4, p.357-60. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 357-60. 358.
- --- SHG15293 Image/Photograph(s): Clach an Righ. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG15294 Image/Photograph(s): Clach an Righ. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG15295 Image/Photograph(s): Clach an Righ. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG1592 Text/Publication/Article: Mackay, J. 1891. 'Sutherland place names', Trans Gaelic Soc Inverness Vol. 16 1889-90, p.39-59. Trans Gaelic Soc Inverness. 39-59. 111-12.
- --- SHG2289 Text/Publication/Volume: Gray, J. 1909. Orkney and Shetland miscellany. Vol. 2, 221.
- --- SHG23359 Text/Report/Management Plan: Forestry Commission & Historic Scotland. 2008. Clach an Righ, Stone Circle 400m NNW of Dalharrold. Digital (scanned as PDF).
- --- SHG2439 Text/Publication/Volume: MacDougall, M O. 1953. The clan MacKay. 14.
- --- SHG2657 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Second report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Sutherland. . 85, No. 247.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NC 6792 3903 (14m by 14m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC63NE |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | FARR |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM1779 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/5540 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.