Lunching on the Stone
The huge Cumberland Stone sits in woodland very close to Culloden Moor. It is said that the Duke of Cumberland (the king’s son and leader of the government troops) ate his lunch, or in some accounts his breakfast, sitting atop the stone on the day of battle in 1746. It’s also said that he watched the fight from there.
Steps
There are steps hammered into the side of the rock, so we can all climb up on it. For fun. Not for battle-watching. And it’s probably not the comfiest place to sit and eat lunch either!
I can attest to it being quite fun.
Ice Age
The stone is a remnant of the ice age, having been carried by the great ice sheet that covered most of Scotland, and then deposited when the ice melted 16,000 years ago.
The nearby memorial bench, inscription in Gaelic and English:
Research
When researching for Fireflies and Chocolate, it interested me that the kidnappers’ ship, The Planter, sailed just three years before the battle of Culloden. Some local people must have been impacted by both events, surely? So, I gave the main character, Elizabeth, a Jacobite for a father, and she is deeply invested in the rebellion as is shown in this quote from the book:
“I’m buying special treats at the market for us to have at Christmas when I hear it being said and exclaimed about by two wifies: The Jacobites have marched South. I rush to Mr Franklin’s shop, and not just to get chocolate this time. Surely he will know more details. He does, but not many. The Young Pretender, as they’re calling Bonnie Prince Charlie, landed in Scotland in the summer. The Jacobite army has taken Edinburgh and defeated the British troops in a battle at Prestonpans.
They’re winning! They’re actually winning! We could have a new king next year.”
We all know what happened in the end, on that moor. I posted more about it here: Culloden and Clava
Beautiful and Historic Glasses
But let’s finish with a happier image. Some beautiful Jacobean glassware from the visitor centre at Culloden. The white rose was one of their secret symbols.
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FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 600 children and young people who were kidnapped from Aberdeen during the 1740s and sold into indentured servitude in the American Colonies. 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
Review from the Historical Novel Society
SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
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
See the press release here
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR
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. There’s 6 chapters of medieval Christmas too.
See the press release here
From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland
This sounds like a brilliant book!
Thank you!
Book sounds wonderful. Cumberland Stone looks hard to climb even with the bars.
It is. The rungs are set at an awkward angle.
Such beautiful glassware …
It really is.
Can hardly wait! 🙂
🙂
The book sounds amazing, and that glassware..nice.
🙂
We have a similar stone in our country, in South Moravia, named the King’s Table … very similar … Beautiful article, thank you!
Amazing old stones 🙂
Beatiful three words ..Amazing old stones…please, may i use them in the poem, this three words,thank you:)
Of course!
Thank You, …..beautiful ….Lady of the Lake !
Posted, thank You for the inspiration and three wonderful words !!!:)
I love it!
Thank you, I’m glad you like it, it means a lot to me … You were there by the stone … you felt it.. just like I felt ours … maybe the amazing old stones are connected … leylines 🙂 or…some with the field of inspiration…across the globe…You KNOW
…sometimes writing is as if you reached hand to sky and brought something from here..you don’t know HOW … but you know you caught it right !
Stay strong, beatiful and creative, my Lady.
Never heard of the Cumberland Stone – what history!
It is little known about, I think.
There’s lots of adventure stories – but who else promises chocolate?
🙂
If only he’d fallen and broken his neck…. Ah, there you go, the if onlys.
I’m not sure it would have made any difference at that late stage. I imagine the battle would have gone ahead.
But maybe without his follow-up brutality?
True.
Lovely posts, this included! But, perhaps shamefully, we don’t “… all know what happened in the end, on that moor.” Something grim?
Sorry, I should not have assumed everyone knew. The Jacobites were defeated in an hour. It was grisly
I am really looking forward to reading “Fireflies and Chocolate” very soon.This little glimpse at the history of it is very enticing.
Thank you 🙂
I’ve preordered “Fireflies and Chocolate.” Looking forward to reading it soon!
I hope you enjoy it!
That glassware is gorgeous!
It really is.
I’d never come across that stone before – it’s wonderful. Reminds me of the Bowder Stone here in Cumbria (which I think translates as the ‘boulder’ stone. Whoever named it took things literally!!
I love hearing of all these great stones!
Like yours, that was a glacial leftover. It’s near Keswick, if you’re ever in the area. 🙂
Visited Keswick once on holiday. There was a great car museum!
Looking forward to reading the new book, sounds interesting, and if its as good as your last I’ll be very happy!!
Thank you so much!
Your photos are always beautiful. I just finished The Mermaid and the Bear and loved it. I’ve recommended it to my reading friends. Looking forward to Fireflies and Chocolate! Thanks for writing such wonderful stories!
Thank you for your lovely comment 🙂
I’m sorry we missed seeing the Cumberland Stone. But when we visited Culloden Moor a few years ago, I was spooked. I have goosebumps now, just thinking about it. There’s something really sad going on there, so tragic. Looking forward to ‘Fireflies and Chocolate’. Hope you’re keeping well xx
Culloden is an atmospheric place. I was once shocked to see a band of historical highlanders emerging from the mist. They were re-enactors, but for a moment it was ghostly!
A bit of my trivia for you:
I live in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, US. It is said that many Scotsmen who came to the US shortly after the Revolutionary War against English married Cherokee women in these mountains..
How interesting!
Fascinating! The rock looks like a very peaceful place these days. I wonder if standing on it helped the Duke of Cumberland settle his nerves during the battle.
It is a strange tale, him standing on the stone.
Loving your posts, I am going to invest in your books, I will then pass them to my daughter I believe she will also really enjoy them xx
Thank you 🙂 I hope you both enjoy them.
Interesting story on the Cumberland Stone. Amazing to be in our lives now, but to realize the significance of that stone. Beautiful photo of the glassware, especially with Easter here, seems like we should be toasting together, right.
Indeed. Clinks glass 🙂
That stone and that area are so steeped in such a sad history. The brutality then and following the victory changed the Scottish world forever.
Indeed. It was truly terrible.