Grannie Stane

Trip No.8  Date Added: 22nd Jun 2022
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: Scotland (North Ayrshire)
Visited: Yes on 2nd Sep 2018. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙚, 𝙄𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝘼𝙮𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚

Thought to be the remnants of an ancient Stone Circle that once existed in the area. In 1895 four of the stones from the circle were apparently removed and used during the construction of a weir further downstream, public outcry saved the last stone which was also the largest stone, and it grew to be known locally as the 'Granny Stane'. The new weir caused the water levels of the River Irvine to rise and submerge most of the stone, leaving only the top 12” visible above the surface. A nearby plaque at St. Inan's Holy Well call's this stone “One of Irvine's prehistoric puzzles”.

The Granny Stane once served an important role in the annual Marymass celebrations held every August in Irvine. The Carters Society's would twice encircle the stone before heading out to the Moors. This tradition was done to commemorate the crossing of the River Irvine by 'William Wallace' in 1297 on his way to fight the English at knadgerhill. This would suggest that the stone stood on dry land or at least in very shallow water if the Carters were able to walk around it, which would have been possible before the weir was built in 1895. It's now situated in the shadows of the Rivergate Bridge, 5m from the SW bank and 35m from the NE bank.

If a Stone Circle did once exist here, then it would have obviously had to have been built on dry land. Various maps shown in 'John Strawthorn's' 1982 book: The History of Irvine, show how much the Ayrshire coastline and course of the River Irvine has changed in the last two millennia. 1,000 years ago the River Irvine ran a different course entirely and didn't pass anywhere near where the Granny Stane is now located, it entered the sea further south near Warrix. Some believe before the river changed course that the area on the NE bank of the river (next to Saint Inan's Holy Well) was once a lush holm that was the original location of the stone circle. As there are little written records I guess it's destined to remain “One of Irvine's prehistoric puzzles”.

Drybridge

Trip No.8  Date Added: 4th Jul 2019
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: Scotland (North Ayrshire)
Visited: Yes on 3rd Sep 2018. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Drybridge Menhir :

This 2.6m tall Menhir is positioned near a bend in the River Irvine, and would have stood out immensely against the relatively flat landscape surrounding the site.

*Dundonald Cursus is 0.5km to the North, with the Mesolithic settlement at Dreghorn roughly 2km away
*Shewalton Moor Mesolithic settlement is 2.5km to the West
*A vitrified Bronze Age Hillfort on Dundonald Hill was located 2km to the South, with Kemp Law Dun nearly 3km away

So the whole was thriving for thousands of years before this Menhir was even erected. 4,000 years ago it would have been quite the sight

*Getting There ; You can walk or get the bus from Irvine to Dreghorn (Briton's oldest continuously inhabited village) and get off at Dundonald Road. From here it is around a half hour walk.

Follow the road South and walk under the A71 overpass onto Dreghorn Road. Follow this road for 20 or so minutes and you pass the site of Dundonald Cursus in a field to your right.
Continue on for another 5 minutes and you will end up at the tiny Drybridge village. Drybridge Road changes name to Main Street and you will see Shewalton Road turning off to the right. Take this right and walk to the gate of the 1st field you encounter.
The Standing Stone is in now situated in a farmers field, with an old railway line running behind it to the South and houses to the East.