Henderson Stone

The Henderson Stone (Clach Eanruig in Scottish Gaelic) is a granite boulder in a field in the Glencoe (Carnoch) area of Scotland. Clach Eanruig is translated alternatively as Henderson Stone or Henry's Stone.[1][2][3]

Henderson Stone
Native name
Scottish Gaelic: Clach Eanruig
Coordinates56°40'52.2"N 5°05'46.8"W
OS grid referenceNN 10443 58668
Henderson Stone, Glencoe

History

Oral tradition in the area includes stories involving the Henderson Stone and a warning from a Campbell soldier of the impending Massacre of Glencoe in 1692. Although the details vary from one version of the story to another, each version has certain commonalities.  Legend has it one of the soldiers who had been billeted with the MacDonalds for ten days knew of the order to kill the MacDonalds early the next morning, and sought to warn his host of the impending massacre.  While walking with the local, the soldier speaks a warning directly to the stone.  Exact wording of the warning statement varies by retelling, but goes something like this: "Great stone in the Glen, though you have every right to be there, if you knew what was to happen tonight you would not stay there on any account."[4][5][6][7][8] Tradition has it that the local who heard the cryptic message to the stone escaped, but was unable to warn many others.[1][4][5]

John Prebble, in Glencoe: the story of the massacre, analyzes the significance of the stories of the warnings at Henderson Stone in this way:

The Campbells of Argyll’s Regiment were Highland, and the inviolability of hospitality was as sacred to them as to any other clan, murder under trust was as great a sin.  This is remembered in the stories which the Glencoe people told for another hundred and fifty years.  Confused and contradictory though the legends became, they do record the truth that some of the Argyll men were revolted by the orders given them, and that within the oath of obedience they had taken they attempted to warn the people.  . . .  And for each warning remembered by the MacDonalds, there may have been another forgotten.  When the order was given two hours before dawn on Saturday, there were soldiers who killed no one, who turned their backs on running shadows, who heard no frightened breathing in the dark.[7]

Henderson Stone, Glencoe. Photo: Jason Henderson
Carnach area of Glen Coe as shown on 1870 Ordnance Survey, https://maps.nls.uk/view/74427313

A commemorative sign has been located at the Henderson Stone since at least 1870.[1] Commemorations are on occasion held at the site of the stone.[9]

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References
  1. Argyll Ordnance Survey Name Book, Argyll vol. 49 at 19 (1868-1878) (Clach Eanruig: “This well known name is applied to a granite boulder about 3 ½ feet in height, situated in a field a little south of Carnach, and deriving this appellation from the tradition that one of the soldiers named Henderson or Henry, billeted with a family in the above village, took one of its members to this stone, the night previous to the Massacre (of Glencoe (1692), and addressing it, gave warning of the approaching danger, his companion understanding, saved himself by instant flight. Sign ‘Henry’s Stone’”).
  2. Highland Historic Environment Record, “MHG36 – Henderson Stone (Clach Eanruig), Glencoe” (“The name ‘Henry's Stone’ appears to be a mistranslation by the Ordnance Survey. The stone has strong associations with Clan Henderson and is known locally as the Henderson Stone or "Henderson's Stone".).
  3. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, “Clach Eanruig, Glencoe”, retrieved 7 Jan 2019.
  4. Dorson, Richard “Sources for the Traditional History of the Scottish Highlands and Western Islands“ in Journal of the Folklore Institute (Aug 1, 1971) vol 8(2), p. 147, 156, 158-59.
  5. Lang, Andrew History of Scotland (1907) vol. 4 at 44-45: (“Thou grey stone of the glen, Though great is thy right to be in it, If thou but knewest what is to happen this night, Thou wouldst not abide here.”).
  6. Donaldson, M.E.M., Wanderings in the Western Highlands and Islands (2nd ed., 1923) at 301-302.
  7. Prebble, John Glencoe: The Story of the Massacre (1966) at 207-208, 219-220 (‘Great stone of the glen!’ he said, ‘Great is your right to be here.  But if you knew what will happen this night you would be up and away.’).
  8. Wilson, Ginger “Saighdear a thug rabhadh do chlach ro Mhurt Ghleann Comhan”(1959) Track ID: 34418 - Original Tape ID: SA1959.059, www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/34418/1 (One of the soldiers, his conscience not allowing him to keep the impending massacre a secret, took a walk with MacDonald. The soldier told a stone of what would happen, MacDonald overheard, and he escaped to Ballachulish with a few other men.); Campbell, Duncan “Haidheachd mu shaighdear a dh'fheuch ri rabhadh a thoirt do...” (1953) Track ID: 5979 - Original Tape ID: SA1953.077, http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/5979/1  (Anecdote about a soldier who tried to warn the people of Glencoe of the impending massacre, by speaking to a stone in the glen); Livingstone, Sandy “Fiosrachadh mu Chlach Eanraig an Gleanna Comhan” (1958) Track ID: 38821 - Original Tape ID: SA1958.081, www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/38821/1  (The night before the Massacre of Glencoe, a man put his foot on the stone called Clach Eanraig and said, "If you knew what was going to happen tonight, you wouldn't stay here."); MacInnes, Duncan “Fiosrachadh mu Chlach Eanraig agus Mort Ghleanna Comhan” (1958) Track ID: 68111 - Original Tape ID: SA1958.082, www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/68111/1 (On the night of the massacre a Campbell wanted someone to know what was about to happen. He took MacDonald of Glencoe's son to Eanraig's Stone. He told the stone that if it knew what was about to happen, it wouldn't be there.).
  9. Pagan, Sue "Henderson Stone dedicated at Glencoe" The Oban Times (17 Sept 1998) retrieved 11 Dec 2018; Henderson, Allen, “Henderson Stone Commemoration 2016” retrieved 25 March 2020; Henderson, Allen, “Henderson Service 2017 & Henderson Stone” retrieved 25 March 2020; Henderson, Allen "Henderson Stone Commemoration 2019" retrieved 25 March 2020.
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