Clach Bhenneit, stone, Avoch

Grid reference

NH 681 533 (accurate position)

Six-figure easting & northing

268100 853300

Latitude

57.55076968484997

Longitude

-4.20437482117516

Altitude (metres)

50

County

Ross-shire

Nearby places

Bennetsfield, settlement, Avoch (0.32 miles)

St Duthac's Church, Suddie, Knockbain (1.32 miles)

Suddie, former parish, Knockbain (1.32 miles)

Avoch, parish (1.71 miles)

Kilmuir Wester, former parish, Knockbain (2.01 miles)

Object Classification

Other
stone

Is linear feature?

No

Notes

The stone is shown as 'Matheson's Stone' on OS Digimap. It was known in Gaelic as Clach Bhenneit, presumably because of its proximity to Baile Bhenneit (Bennetsfield), and both are said to refer to St Benedict. NMRS records of this stone that it was erected by someone called Matheson in 1755 (citing OS Name Book). WJ Watson (1904, 133) refers to this stone as Clach Bhenneit, and notes a holy well immediately below called 'Tobar Chragag, well of the little rock, which is still frequented on the first Sabbath of May'. It was still being resorted to in 1966 when OS surveyors visited, when it was recorded as 'a natural spring flowing into a shallow basin cut into the natural rock of the hillside' (cited by NMRS).

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/

Relationships with other parishes

Within Avoch, parish

Relationships with other places

Adjacent Bennetsfield, settlement, Avoch