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Down standing stone is a prehistoric monolith situated in the townland of Down, Northern Ireland. The stone rises from bedrock of the Hawick Group, wacke deposits formed during the Wenlock period of the Silurian era. This geological foundation is characteristic of the ancient metamorphic and sedimentary landscape of the region, which would have been familiar to the prehistoric communities who erected such monuments.
Standing stones of this type were commonly raised during the Bronze Age and later prehistory, serving purposes that likely encompassed territorial markers, ritual or ceremonial functions, or memorials to significant individuals or events. The monument's survival to the present day testifies to its substantial construction and the durability of its stone.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument under the Historic Environment Division's records (reference 8027). The standing stone remains an important physical reminder of prehistoric settlement and belief in Northern Ireland, its position in the landscape offering insight into how ancient communities related to their natural surroundings and marked significant places within their territory.
Standing stone is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 8027. View the official record →
Down standing stone is a prehistoric monolith situated in the townland of Down, Northern Ireland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 8027.
Standing stone dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a standing stone. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Standing stone is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 8027.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Windmill stump (c.f. ihr 3454 for details) (3.9 km), A.p. site - barrow? (5 km), Rathmullan motte, rathmullan mound, rathmullan. raised rath reused as motte (5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Standing stone's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Standing stone stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.