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.
Moy Castle and the Clan MacLaine
Clan MacLaine History States: At the beginning of the 14th century as Chief Malcolm MacPhaiden, father of Chief Alexander MacPhaidein, is recorded in Kintyre in 1304 defending the MacPhaidens right to Mull, a violent dispute arose over the Scottish kingship between King John Balliol and Robert de Bruys. Somerled's descendants had formed into three families: the MacDougalls, the MacDonalds, and the MacRorys. In 1354, though in exile and without control of his lands, John, the MacDougall heir, quitclaimed any rights he had over Mull to the Lord of the Isles, John MacDonald, which he could have returned to the MacPhaidein, but didn't.
Throughout this time, the descendants of the Cenél Loairn retained their identity; as the MacLeans. John MacLean the son of Gillean-na-Taughe's, had two sons, Eachann Reaganach (Hector the Stern) and Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan the Wily). Hector, the eldest son, married Margaret, eldest daughter of John MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, via a Papal Dispensation dated 14 April 1356. Lachlan married a younger sister of Margaret, Mary in May of 1367 and received as dowry Duart Castle, the family seat of MacPhaidein and home of Chief Alexander MacPhaidein, which MacDonald had forcibly evicted him some years earlier. This now became the stronghold of the MacLeans control of Mull when authority was restored by James IV thus the great Clan MacPhaidein which at one time had owned all lands of Mull, had been reduced to the lands at Lochbuie. Hector and Lachlan were granted independent charters to lands on the Isle of Mull by John MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles splitting the island. Hector at Lochbuie and Lachlan at Duart. The two dominant branches of the family were formed.
Hector constantly feuded with his brother Lachlan only during an attack would they join forces. Therefore, Hector changed the spelling to MacLaine and became the Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie and Lachlan the Clan MacLean of Duart. When Hector MacLaine went to claim the lands given to him by the MacDonalds c1370 he found it occupied by the MacPhaidein. MacLaine legend states: Hector climbed to the top of the Castle and shot an arrow through a bone that the MacPhaidein Chief was eating. Not being foolish, the MacPhaidein Chief removed himself from the scene. Whether MacLaine was aiming for the bone, and hit, or at MacPhaidein, and missed, is a matter of speculation (and perspective). MacPhaidein Legend states: When Hector MacLaine went to claim the lands given to him by the MacDonalds c1370, he knew the lands were already under the possession of the MacPhaidein's. So, he devised a scheme to take over the lands from within. He convinced Chief Alexander they would share the land and for mutual protection from various raiders and neighboring tribes, he would rebuild the MacPhaidein fortalice watchtower at the head of Lochbuie that had fallen into disarray. Chief MacPhaidein granted Hector permission and after Moy Castle was completed, Hector used the Castle to wage war on the MacPhaidein! However, the MacPhaidein fought so fiercely defending their land that Hector had to call a truce to confer. A feast in honor of the MacPhaidein Chief was prepared by the MacLaine at the base of Moy Castle. Hector climbed to the top of the Castle and shot an arrow through a bone that the MacPhaidein Chief was eating piercing his neck, killing him and ending the war. This was the end of the once great Clan MacPhaidein as most clansmen moved on or were absorbed into the Clan MacLaine. 1332AD was the last mention of the Culdee Church in Scotland but Presbyterian tradition, particularly that of the Church of Scotland, traces its roots to the Church founded by Saint Columba of the Culdean Church. The only MacPhaidein's who remained were the Pethein as they were the clerics and missionaries of the Clan MacPhaidein and preached Culdee doctrine faithfully until the last message was preached at Lochbuie Sunday October 8, 1600 by Sir James Pethein, the day he died. James Pethein 1298AD-1377AD had converted Hector MacLaine to Christianity shortly before his death, therefore Hector made the Pethein the clerics of Clan MacLaine serving the MacLaine c1370AD to 1600AD at the death of Sir James Pethein, the last Reverend of Lochbuie. No further record of the Clan MacPhaidein exists.
In 1752 John Maclaine, XVll Laird of Lochbuie” built the 1st Lochbuie House and abandoned Moy Castle. In 1790 Murdoch Maclaine, 19th of Lochbuie built the current Lochbuie House. In 1920 Kenneth Douglas Lorne Maclaine, 24th of Lochbuie, lost the Lochbuie estate to Sir Stephen Gatty as the result of a law suit involving a single payment of a loan. An end to the era of Clan Maclaine in Lochbuie. In 1922 the Corbett family purchased the estate from Sir Stephen Gatty. Jim and Patience Corbett are current owners of the 22,000 acre estate which encompases the Kerb Cairn, Stone Circle, Moy Castle, Old Lochbuie House, Current Lochbuie House, and the Chapel of Caibeal Mheamhair converted in 1864 by the family of Donald MacLaine 22nd Laird of Lochbuie who died in 1863. It was renevated in 1972 by the Corbett family and currently by Jim and Patience Corbett who are renevatiing the entire estate including the Castle.