Granny Kempock or The Lang Stane

The Granny Kempock Stone can be found in Gourock on the west coast of Scotland overlooking the River Clyde.

PICTURE PORTFOLIO

5/7/20243 min read

A modern photograph where someone has placed a skull no doubt for effect.
A modern photograph where someone has placed a skull no doubt for effect.

This megalithic standing stone has kept watch from the top of the cliffs overlooking the River Clyde for thousands of years. Experts estimate that the stone has been in place since at least 3,000 BC.
It has been revered and worshipped by various cults and markings on the stone indicate that it was used by the worshippers of Baal, a
Phoenician deity, who was proclaimed a false God or demonic by the Hebrew and Christian religions. At some point in time human sacrifice may also have been carried out.

Due to its appearance, locals know the stone as "Granny Kempock" or the "Lang Stane" and stories are told about it once being a witch who was turned to stone. Sailors going on a long voyage or newly married couples would walk around the stone seven times to bring them good fortune.Certainly the appearance gives the impression of an elderly cloaked woman slightly haunched and looking out to sea.

There are a great many superstitions about the stone which has appeared in many ancient and modern tales and there are numerous references in history by those who were affected or sought protection from it's influence.

Postcard image dated 1902
Postcard image dated 1902
Oldest known image of Granny Kempock about 1890
Oldest known image of Granny Kempock about 1890
A modern photograph cleverly taken with a bird in flight.
A modern photograph cleverly taken with a bird in flight.
A wet and weeping Granny Kempock looking quite forlorn.
A wet and weeping Granny Kempock looking quite forlorn.
East Face showing graffiti and mystery hole.
East Face showing graffiti and mystery hole.
South Face lower section
South Face lower section
South Face top section
South Face top section
East Face highlighting graffiti.
East Face highlighting graffiti.

Graffiti and Runes

There are many markings on the stone from the time of the battle of Waterloo, when many soldiers from the area were conscripted into Wellington's army, to a variety of runes which have not been translated.

East Face

The date of 1815 was the battle of Waterloo and many soldiers were recruited from the local area, so it is likely this graffiti was by a local soldier.

Markings above are more difficult to determine, but could be the initials J.J followed by unknown marks.

The hole is of unknown origin. It may have been used to lift the stone into position or for some other purpose.

South Face:

Photographs show the top and bottom half as there are so many marks, however it has a mixture of graffiti and runes. Of curiosity is why the clearly modern initials are boxed with an ancient rune.

There are a number of other faint markings, but these would require specialist equipment and knowledge to identify. J+D may be two people but the date of 1814 is clear and was the time when many soldiers were being recruited for the war in Europe.

West Face

There are very few markings on this face, but the straight line of small indentations are clearly manmade.

As the west face is not easily seen, this may account for the lack of marks.

North Face

Another mixture of graffiti and runes and several more apparent markings that are difficult to identify without specialist equipment.

AMM dated 1814 coincides with the date on the South Face and there are two other sets of initials.

This standing stone is composed of grey mica schist a particularly hard form of granite not found in the immediate area. The surrounding area is mainly sandstone and so the stone was brought from elsewhere.

There is some speculation that it marks the scene of a battle, that it was part of a larger structure and formed part of an altar, or may have been an altar, but the reality is that nobody really knows.