“THE CLOCHMABON.”’ 31 
“THe CLOCHMABON.”’ By the Rev. R. Neitz Rar, Lochmaben. 
This ancient landmark forms the centre of a story which 
carries us back into the unknown past. The documents at our 
disposal tell us of the many events which took place around the 
old “Stone of Mabon.’’ But they do not help us to under- 
stand the name it bears, still less can they tell us why, when, 
and by whom it was erected here. In the “New Statistical 
Account,’’ Dumfriesshire (published in 1845), pp. 267-7, we read 
that “ Not many years ago there stood in the parish of Gretna, on 
the farm of Old Gretna, a circle, oval in form, of whitish 
stones, placed upright, and enclosing half-an-acre of ground. 
In the process of agricultural improvement these stones had been 
removed, not long before, with the exception of the largest one.”’ 
This is the Clochmabon, and, along with its fellows, must have 
been brought from a distance of 10-12 miles. The labour 
entailed may be judged from the fact that it is a granitic 
boulder ; according to Dr Neilson, 6 feet or so in height and 9 
or 10 in circumference; another account (Graham’s “ Loch- 
maben,’’ Five Hundred Years Ago) makes it 8 it. by 
et ft.; whilst. yet a third says “It measures. 118 cubic 
feet and is computed to weigh 20 tons.’’ It stands 
a few yards above high-water mark, close to the junc- 
tion of the Sark and Kirtle with the Esk. But the one fact, 
which must be closely grasped if we would understand the 
importance of the Clochmabon from the earliest times, is the 
circumstance that it marks the northern end of the one great 
ford across the Solway. What that meant in early times may 
be judged from the fact that, even within recent years, before 
the Scotch and English Customs Duties were united, the district 
was inhabited by several daring bands of smugglers, who doubt- 
less found the ford convenient for the conveyance, “ duty free,”’ 
of Scotch whisky to their customers on the other side. 
The stone is frequently mentioned in the records of the 
Western Marches. The warden courts for the Western Marches 
were held here; when prisoners were brought for ransom or ex- 
change, offences against the Border laws were tried, and, 
according to custom, a sort of market was held during the 
_ period of the meeting; and arms were strictly forbidden within 
the circle. 
