The Stone Circle at Lochbuie
The monuments comprise a stone circle and two other standing stones, all of prehistoric date and visible as a series of upstanding stones. The stone circle and one of the standing stones were first scheduled in 1964, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present re-scheduling rectifies this. The stone circle is situated on level pasture at the head of Loch Buie at approximately 10m OD. The two other standing stones lie some 40m SW of and 115m WSW of the stone circle respectively, but within the same present parcel of land. The stone circle originally consisted of nine stones. One of these is now missing and its position has been marked in recent times by a small boulder. The circle measures approximately 12.3m in diameter and is composed for the most part of granite slabs, which have been positioned with their flatter faces set towards the inside of the circle. The tallest stone stands about 2m high and measures c.0.85m by 0.3m at its base. An outlying standing stone, situated 4.6m SE of the circle, comprises a pointed granite block standing 0.85m high and measuring c.0.6m by 0.3m at its base. The single standing stone situated about 40m SW of the stone circle stands about 3m high and measures c.0.85m by 0.3m at its base, tapering to a fairly narrow top. The standing stone situated about 115m WSW of the stone circle comprises a comparatively flat-sided monolith, aligned NE and SW. This stands about 2.15m high, although the top has been broken off in antiquity, and measures c.0.75m by 0.7m at its base. Stone settings of this type are characteristic of the Neolithic period and normally date to the third millennium BC. Three separate areas are proposed for scheduling, as marked in red on the accompanying map. These include the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. The three areas are as follows:
1. The largest area is sub-circular in shape, centred on the stone circle and the outlying standing stone closest to the stone circle, and has maximum dimensions of 38m NW-SE by 33m transversely. Its NW limit is defined by, but excludes, the field boundary.
2. The second area is centred on the standing stone situated about 40 SW of the stone circle and is circular in shape, measuring 10m in diameter.
3. The third area is centred on the standing stone situated about 115m WSW of the stone circle and comprises a truncated circle, with a maximum diameter of 10m. It is defined to the NW by the field boundary, which is itself excluded from the scheduling.
Chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair
In May 563AD Saint Columba, the celebrated founder of the Culdee Church in Scotland, exiled from his native Ireland, traveled to Iona with 12 companions and founded a monastery. From Iona they set about the conversion of pagan Scotland and much of northern England to Christianity. It is believed one of the 12 was Páidín as he was assigned by Saint Oran (also one of the 12) before his death c563AD, to the Isle of Mull to build a chapel and spread the gospel. Páidín travels to the Isle of Mull making his home in Lochbuie and built the first chapel of Mull. This Chapel was to become the later chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair in the 14th Century. Tradition states that Páidín (540AD-620AD) was a Culdee and descendant of Saint Patrick (385AD-461AD) and Saint Sheelah. He preached the gospel of the Culdees to Mull establishing the known Chapels of Oran at Lochbuie where he lived and Coille Creag A’Chait at Baliscate. Excavations at Lochbuie and Baliscate have shown 6th century carbon dating and influences of Saint Columba, and both being dedicated to Saint Oran. After establishing a Culdee presence and assigning his sons as missionaries to the tribes of Mull, he preached the rest of his life at Caibeal Mheamhair and was known as “Páidín of the Isles”. He is buried at the Kerb Cairn with his wife Bhuidhe, daughter of King Bruide (Buie). His descendants became pastors of the church for the next 1030 years. 1332AD was the last mention of the Culdee Church in Scotland. In 1370 Reverend James Pethein I 1298AD-1377AD converted Hector MacLaine to Christianity shortly before his death, so Hector moved the Chapel from the Kerb-Cairn to its current location close to the Castle and re-named it Caibeal Mheamhair Translated from Galic as "Chapel of Remembrance" with surronding cemetery for MacLain burials. Hector made the Pethein of the Clan MacPhaidein, who continued burials at the Kerb-Cairn, the clerics of Clan MacLaine serving the MacLaine c1370AD to 1600AD until the death of Sir James Pethein, the last Reverend of Lochbuie. By 1752 John Maclaine, XVII Laird of Lochbuie, abandoned Moy Castle and built the 1st Lochbuie House. By 1790 Murdoch Maclaine, XIX Laird of Lochbuie, who built the current Lochbuie House, abandoned Caibeal Mheamhair. Not until the death of Donald MacLaine, XXII Laird of Lochbuie who died in 1863, his family converted the Chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair into a Crypt for the MacLaine reinterring him there. In 1920 Kenneth Douglas Lorne Maclaine, XXIV Laird of Lochbuie, lost the Lochbuie estate to Sir Stephen Gatty as the result of a lawsuit involving a single payment of a loan. An end to the era of Clan Maclaine in Lochbuie. In 1922 the Corbett family purchased the 22,000-acre estate which encompasses the Kerb-Cairn, Stone Circle, Moy Castle, Old Lochbuie House, Current Lochbuie House, and the Chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair and cemetery from Sir Stephen Gatty. In 1972 the Corbett family began a total restoration of the estate. Jim and Patience Corbett are current owners and currently are renovating the Castle and the Chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair.
Clergy
Chapel of Oran
567-620 Páidín of the Isles
620-633 Phaidein
633-676 Pethein I
676-711 Pethein II
711-731 Pethein III
731-759 Pethein IV
759-819 Pethein V
819-846 Simon Pethein
846-880 Bartholomew Pethein
880-921 Phillip Pethein
921-940 Mark Pethein
940-962 Andrew Pethein
962-989 Luke Pethein
989-1031 Stephen Pethein
1031-1054 Matthias Pethein
1054-1090 Peter Pethein
1090-1147 Paul Pethein
1147-1173 Thomas Pethein
1173-1201 Mungo Pethein
1201-1231 Matthew Pethein
1231-1257 Timothy Pethein
1257-1282 Samuel Pethein
1282-1303 John Pethein I
1303-1359 John Pethein II
1359-1369 James Pethein I
Chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair
1369-1409 James Pethein II
1409-1422 James Pethein III
1422-1461 Robert Pethein
1461-1489 William Pethein
1489-1545 Alexander Pethein
1545-1561 James Pethein
1561-1595 Alexander Pethein
1595-1600 Sir James Pethein