Paddock stane
The Paddock Stane, whiles kent as the Puddock Stane or the Deil's Stane, is a standin stane (Manhir) in Perthshire. It is gied as the Paddock Stane in a auld map fae the 1800s. The Stane is a lump o whinstane (six fut hiech or mair) a bittie north o Invergowrie in the gairden o whit is nou the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel (ae time Greystanes Hoose). It’s no easy fund but if ye tak yer time gaun up the road tae Liff, ye’ll see it ahent some railins on the left or tak a keek roond the back o the hotel (the new bit) fur a better leukie. The railins wis pitten intae the waa by D M Watson, thaim that aucht the big hoose and estate (and Bullionfield Paper Mill) in the 19th Century fur tae gie fowk a better leuk o the stane.
The stane in fowk tales
[eedit | eedit soorce]The Paddock Stane is ane o three stanes legend says the Deil flang fae the shore in Fife (fae near the mooth o the Swilken Burn) fur he wis fair raised at the news o the biggin o a Christian Kirk on the north shore o the Tay (The Dargie Kirk) in Invergowrie. The stanes wis meant tae hit the kirk and caa it doon.
Twa o the stanes the Deil hurled landed short in the river (still tae be seen at law tide & nou caaed the Yowes o Gowrie) and the third ane (The Paddock Stane) wis flung that haurd it landed aboot hauf a mile ower faur past the kirk.
Ither stories speaks aboot the Deil traivelin ower fae Kirkcaady on his wey tae the Tay and drappin some o the stanes he wis cairiein near Benarty Hill at Kinross (hence the stane circles thare). Thir stanes hud appearently been meant as steppin stanes tae gang ower the Tay.
Ithir nearhaun stanes
[eedit | eedit soorce]Aboot a mile North East the Paddock Stane is Balgarthno Stane Circle. No muckle tae leuk at nou, mair a rickle o stanes jist up fae the Myrekirk Circle, bewast the Charleston scheme and diagonally ower fae The Lynch Centre. Some fowk says thir stanes and the Paddock Stane is linked.