Torhouse
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Torhouse Stone Circle
|native_name =
|alternate_name = Torhousekie
|image = Stone Circle - geograph.org.uk - 2979829.jpg
|alt = Photo of the stone circle in evening sunlight
|caption = Torhousekie stone circle
|map_type = Scotland Dumfries and Galloway
|map_caption =
|map_alt =
|map_size =
|location = Galloway
|region =
|coordinates = {{coord|54.877472|-4.522639|display=inline}}
|type = Stone circle
|part_of =
|length =
|width =
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|builder =
|material =
|built =
|abandoned =
|epochs = Neolithic / Bronze Age
|cultures =
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|ownership = Historic Environment Scotland
|public_access = Yes
|website =
|notes =
|designation1 = Scheduled monument
|designation1_offname = Torhouse Stone Circle
|designation1_date =
|designation1_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90304|short=yes}}
}}
The Standing Stones of Torhouse (also Torhousekie) are a stone circle of nineteen granite boulders on the land of Torhouse, three miles west of Wigtown, Scotland.
Description
The stone circle consists of nineteen granite boulders set on a slightly raised platform.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90304|desc=Torhouse Stone Circle|access-date=29 March 2019}} The stones have a height ranging from about 0.6 metres to 1.5 metres and are arranged in a circle with a diameter of about 22 metres. The larger stones, over 1 metre high, are on the southeast side.{{cite web |url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/torhouse-stone-circle/history/ |title=Torhouse Stone Circle: History |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |accessdate=29 March 2019}}
Three upright boulders stand in a line near the centre of the circle.{{Canmore|num=62843|desc=Torhousekie|access-date=14 August 2015|fewer-links=yes}} The direction of the line of the three central stones is northeast to southwest.
Two stones stand 40 metres to the south-southeast of the stone circle, one large and the other small, and there is a stone row of three stones 130 metres to the east. There are also surviving remains of several burial cairns, and history records others long removed to build field dykes.
The stone circle has not yet been archaeologically excavated. It probably dates to the Neolithic period or the Bronze Age. The Torhouse Stones are in the care of Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument.
In folklore
Local tradition maintains that the three large stones in the center of the circle contained the tomb of Galdus, a mythical Scottish king.{{Cite book|last=MacLeod|first=I. F.|title=Discovering Galloway|year=1986|page=213|publisher=John Donald}} A similar story is told about one of the tombs at Cairnholy, also in Galloway.{{cite web|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/cairn-holy-chambered-cairns/history/ |title=Cairn Holy Chambered Cairns |publisher=Historic Environemt Scotland |accessdate=29 March 2019}}
In the dyke on the south side of the road is a stone with a deep cavity which according to tradition, "the knowing never pass without depositing therein some pebble or gift to pass in peace".{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=David|title=Dumfries & Galloway Curiosities|year=2013|publisher=The History Press|isbn=075248950X}}
Gallery
File:Torhouse Stone Circle - geograph.org.uk - 2979843.jpg|Central setting of three stones
File:Torhousekie Stone Row - geograph.org.uk - 1231667.jpg|Torhousekie Stone Row, 130 metres east of the stone circle
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Torhousekie}}
- Historic Environment Scotland: [https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/torhouse-stone-circle/ Visitor guide]
{{coord|54|52|38.90|N|4|31|21.50|W|source:nlwiki_region:GB_scale:3125_type:landmark|display=title}}{{Stone circles in Dumfries and Galloway}}
{{European Standing Stones}}
Category:Stone circles in Dumfries and Galloway
Category:Archaeological sites in Dumfries and Galloway
Category:Scheduled monuments in Dumfries and Galloway
Category:Historic Scotland properties in Dumfries and Galloway