Yarrow Stone

About Yarrow Stone

It was first discovered in 1803, lying flat, when the area was first taken into cultivation. Human bones were found below. At the time, there were several other cairns in the vicinity.

The stone was later re-erected close to where it was found. The inscription is much defaced and weathered and the reading of its crudely carved capitalised Latin has been attempted by many historians from the days of Sir Walter Scott onwards. It seems to say that Nudoss and Dumnogenus are buried there and that they are the sons of Liberalis (hence the alternative name of the ‘Liberalis Stone’). The stone is dated to around 500AD and when it was re-erected - in the early 1800s - it was set up, some say, on its side - the vertical text certainly suggesting this.

With other standing stones nearby (the Glebe Stone and Warrior’s Rest), substantial traces of a linear earthworks and other local names open to a variety of interpretations, this area has long attracted interest from historians. Many believe this was the setting of a Dark Ages battle between the Britons in the west and Anglians in the east. Some even associate the site with King Arthur himself!