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.
Sources
DISCLAIMER: Like all Clan biographies, the authors, using what little proven sources available, personal research, family traditional stories, and folklore, are called to put together to the best of their ability, a historical account that makes sense and is worthy of the Clan family.
1. Clan MacFadyen - The Scottish Society of Louisville, www.scotsoflou.com
2. Clan MacFadyen - https://genealogy.mcfadyen.ca/histories / The %20 McFadyen %20 Clan.pdf
3. MacFadyen Tartan - Kinloch Anderson Ltd, https: // www. kinlochanderson .com /tartan/macfadyen
4. Clan MacFadyen Family History Research Journal by Tangled Tartan Publishing, 2020
5. The McFadden Project - http://themcfaddenproject.com/history/branches/the-macfadyens-of-mull/
6. Pedens of America by Eleanor M. Hewell, 1900
9. Genealogy of the Pedens of Kentucky by Henry C Peden, Jr., 1986
10. http://www.broughshane.org.uk/saint-patrick-slemish
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slemish
12. http://www.ireland.com/en-us/magazine/built-heritage/saint-patrick-trail/
13. St. Patrick, his writings and life 1882
14. The History of the Culdees, The Ancient Clergy of the British Isles, A.D. 177-1300 By Duncan M'callum
15. The Culdee Church: the connection of the Modern Presbyterian Church By Thomas Verner Moore
16. CELT, DRUID AND CULDEE By Isabel Hill Elder
17. http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/St-Columba-the-Isle-of-Iona/
18. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba
19. Life of St. Columba By Aommnan of Iona, Richard Sharpe
20. St. Columba and Iona: The Early History of the Christian Church in Scotland By Alphons Bellesheim
21. The Prophecy of St. Oran By Mathilde Blind 1881
22. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Mull
23. Mull and Iona: A Historical Guide By David Caldwell
24. History of the Island of Mull By John Patterson Maclean
25. http://www.mull-historical-society.co.uk
26. Highlanders: A History of the Scottish Clans By Fitzroy Maclean
27. The Highland Clans By Alistair Moffat
28. The life and prophecies of the Reverend Mr Alexander Peden By Patrick Walker 1793
29. The Reformation: A History By Diarmaid MacCulloch
30. The Covenanters, Vol. 1 of 2: A History of the Church in Scotland From the Reformation to the Revolution By James King Hewison
31. Bannockburn’s 1819 Tartan Key Pattern Book
32. MacLaine of Lochbuie Family History By W. R. McLeod
33. Siol Eachainn: The Race of Hector By Lorne MacLaine of Lochbuie
34. One Clan or Two ? : The Feud Between the Macleans of Duart and the Maclaines of Lochbuie 1100 to 1717 By Nicholas Maclean-Bristol
35. Gruline, Mull, and Other Inner Hebridean Things By Alasdiar White
36. http://flickeringlamps.com/2015/10/03/the-mysterious-and-majestic-stone-circle-at-lochbuie/
37. http://www.mull-historical-society.co.uk/history/the-bronze-age/standing-stones-2/
38. Exert from A History of the Clan MacLean by J.P. MacLean: It is related that when Hector went to Lochbuie he found the lands possessed by the chief of MacFadyean, and obtained permission to build a fortalice or keep at the head of Lochbuie. When it was completed, Hector ascended to the top, and, taking a bow and arrow, took aim at a bone MacFadyean was then eating from, and pierced it with the arrow. MacFadyean simply remarked, “It is time I was leaving;” took his departure and gave Hector no trouble.
39. The above exert is also in the ancient Clan MacLean/MacLaine records.
40. Clan MacDonald records record: Chief MacPhaden is only mentioned in passing in a 17th-century history of the MacDonalds who joined forces with the legendary warlord Somerled as he conquered the Hebrides until Somerled died in the Battle of Renfrew in 1164. The records also mention a MacPhaden who sided with MacDougall and the Comyns against William Wallace. The MacDougalls claim descent from a son of Somerled who held land on Mull, so a MacPhaden-MacDougall alliance certainly fits the broader narrative. Promised lands and wealth, MacPhaden is said to have gone to Ireland and returned with 1500 fighting men. The text implies the MacPhaden was able to recruit his force due to to his Irish heritage. MacPhaden and his men were "cut off at place called Brarich near Lochow," which supposedly is the Pass of Brander. That conflict, which would have taken place between 1297 and 1303, is immortalized as one of the tales of the 15th-century poet Blind Harry.
41. Blind Harry's prose is of a dubious historical accuracy, but entertainingly detailed. His version of events cast a decidedly disparaging view of "Makfadyan,' who is presented as a low-born Irish mercenary hired by Edward I to bring Argyll and Lorn to heel. After wreaking havoc with 15,000 men and driving out the local Cambells of Lorn, Makfadyan's force was cornered and slaughtered by Wallace's much smaller army. Makfadyan was beheaded.
42. The McFadden Project: And it is here that the legends come full circle: Following the defeat of Edward I, Robert the Briuce awarded previously owned by the MacDougals to the Lord of the Isles. This would have included at least portions of the Isle of Mull. Mull was in turn given to the MacLeans, who established dominance over the native, recently defeated Macfadyens.