Scheduled Monument

Liberton, standing stone, E end of Ravenswood AvenueSM1156

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
18/10/1938
Last Date Amended
19/12/2002
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Parish
Edinburgh
NGR
NT 28284 70503
Coordinates
328284, 670503

Description

The monument comprises a prehistoric standing stone. When the stone was originally scheduled in 1938, it was situated in a field about 100m S of its present location. It was moved from this position in about 1971 when a new housing scheme was built. The stone is being re-scheduled now to afford it protection in its new location in a modern urban setting. The stone is set into the pavement on the NW side of the cul-de-sac at the E end of Ravenswood Avenue and is surrounded by metal railings.

The stone was first erected probably about 4,000 years ago. It stands 1.85m high, has a basal diameter of c.0.7m and tapers from the base towards the top. The stone is of grey sandstone. It has vertical weathered grooves near the top of the W face and a small depression near the top of the E face.

The area to be scheduled is a circle of 0.70m in diameter, centred on the middle of the standing stone and including only the stone, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The metal railings are excluded from scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an icon of prehistoric ritual, albeit in a modern urban setting. Although the stone no longer has any archaeological potential, it is a monument with cultural significance, capable of speaking to a modern urban population, and worthy of legal protection in its present setting.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NT 27 SE 106.

References:

Coles, F. R. (1903) 'Notices of (3) a cairn and standing stones at Old Liston, and other standing stones in Midlothian and Fife' Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot., 37 1902-3, 204-5.

RCAHMS, Tenth report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the counties of Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, 134, No. 165.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 12/08/2025 13:34