The Lang Stane (long stone) of Aberdeen is situated close to busy and bustling Union Street. Many places in the city are named after this stone, but most people don’t know that it’s there. It’s hidden away on the corner of Langstane Place and Dee Street. The Music Hall can be seen in the background of the above photo.
History of the Lang Stane
There’s not a lot of documented history on the stone or how it came to be placed in the wall, though I have heard that this event happened in the 1960s. It’s shown as a solitary standing stone on a map from 1746, before Langstane Place was built.
Battles and Boundaries
The Lang Stane may have originally been part of a stone circle. The carved base is consistent with this idea, that anchor shape being common in the stones of Aberdeenshire recumbent circles. It is also thought to have been used as a boundary marker along with another old and mysterious stone, the Crabstane. Both stones may have borne stony witness to the 1571 Battle of Craibstone between Clans Forbes and Gordon.
Who carved the words onto it, or when, I don’t know. There is also a faint six pointed star just below the text.
Visiting the Stone
I like to pay the stone a wee visit when I’m in the vicinity, all tucked away and squished into its alcove as it is. There’s no scenic rolling hillsides or lush forests for the Lang Stane as enjoyed by its contemporaries!
The opening scene of FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE takes place in a stone circle, the story then travelling the old cobbled streets of Aberdeen before leaving Scotland’s shores.
There’s a lovely new review of the book up on Pink Quill Books here: “This is a love story that transcends colour, race, and class, as Elizabeth grows from being a spoilt lady of the castle to a young woman who fiercely defends her closest friends.“
All My Books
Set in 1st century Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance!
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Taking place mainly in a fictional castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.
See the press release here
From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the kidnapped children and young people of Aberdeen. The story follows the adventures of Elizabeth Manteith from the castle and her determined efforts to get back home. There’s love. There’s derring-dos on the high seas… And there’s chocolate!
See the publisher’s Press Release here
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society
See my About Page here
Newsletter
Go here to sign up for my occasional emails that always include exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re a more intimate space than the blog.
Nice…Stone with Secret… fantasy works at full speed…great picture…Ailish, thanks for posting ! I like this litlle piece of hidden history before our eyes….
It is an interesting stone.
Interesting. Scotland is full of such wonderful history.
Yes, it’s everywhere 🙂
Fascinating!!
🙂
Perhaps the stone speaks… when one takes care to listen.
You never know!
Glad you happened upon this stone. I agree – it looks very much like a standing stone, which means it is millennia-old.
Yes it’s an ancient thing 🙂
Perhaps the stone will inspire you to write a story. Enjoyed your ‘Fireflies and Chocolate’ (great title) and reviewed it on my blog.
Thank you so much for the review Richard!
You’re very welcome – my wife, now reading ‘Fireflies and Chocolate’, can’t resist the Scottish connection as her grandfather was an organist in Peebles in the early 1900’s.
The stone seems to resemble the human form somehow. Like there may be a person hidden away in its rocky interior. So mysterious and interesting. Tucked away in a corner, a quiet part of the hustle and bustle.
Great sharing! 🙂
It does look rather ‘persony’!
Fascinating! Perhaps the local library may have some information of the stone’s past.
Maybe.
Always so interesting to read these posts.
How interesting! I’ve been to Aberdeen but didn’t see the Lang Stane. It makes me a little sad that sometime it was yanked up from its ancient home in the soil to be put on display. Better to be displayed behind glass than to have been crushed, though. In that respect, I’m glad it’s been preserved.
Yes, it’s good it’s still there.
My Gordon clan seems to have quite feisty!
Indeed!
Terry Wooten, a poet, has a stone circle on Torch Lake in Michigan. He sometimes has a poetry night where people can come in the evening, sit around a fire and take turns reciting poetry by memory. It was fun. Of course, that was a long time ago, I’m assuming he still does it.
Sounds amazing!
Interesting historic tale. I missed it when I was there. Also welcome to visit my travel-lifestyle blog.
Thank you 🙂
Old stones bring out the faery in us with no limit in how far back our imaginations can take us.
Exactly the kind of post that makes me like and comment 😉
From a stone circle, perhaps, like the last survivor of a shipwreck ?
I think so.
Very interesting…thank you for sharing.
Fascinating! It must be even better in person.
It is great to visit.
I love the sense of not quite knowing the full history of such magical things as standing stone. The Stone itself has a magical quality too, knowing it has been around for thousands of years and will outlast us all.
I love that too.
Fascinating! I wonder how many people walk by this stone without stopping to contemplate its mystery?
Many, I should think.
Very interesting. A stone surrounded with so much mystery. Thanks for sharing.
Highly informative, a pity this stone is a bit swallowed up by the city. I picture it in a meadow or in the midst of a forest.
That’s the landscape it would have known once.
The more I learn about Scotland, the more I am convinced Scotlan is the land of mysteries and old magic 🙂
There is certainly some of that about!