Bullaun

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A bullaun stone roughly octagonal in shape on plan being approximately 534mm across by 380mm high. It has a central hollow of approximately 305mm diameter by 200 deep. The outer sides of the octagon are irregular and there are 2 groves as if it was used for sharpening blades. It is made of sandstone.

Historical information

The ballaun stone was found several years ago on the owner’s land. He was of the opinion that it was used for crushing the tips of gorse/whin shoots and mixing with crushed corn and fed to horses to enhance the bloom of their coat.

Whether this stone had another use e.g. ecclesiastical ( a font is an interesting speculation) They have also been referred to as Wart Stone and there is reference to such in the O.S. Memoir in the townland of Dernaflaw. Estyn Evans refers to bullauns as basin-stones. He refers to larger bullauns as being mortars or ‘knocking stones’ used for preparing barley meal by pounding the grain with a beetle or maul. Knocking stones were frequently found in the ruins of old clachans as being a communal possession of the settlement.

References

Secondary Sources
1. E Estyn Evans Irish Folk Ways p.298, 299
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Londonderry VII 1834-5 Vol. 25 p.6, 7, 9, 19

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A fine example of a sandstone bullaun stone, though its use may have been otherwise e.g. ecclesiastical.