Arkley, S. L. B., Browne, M. A. E., Albornoz-Parra, L. J. and Barron, H. F. 2011. East Dumbartonshire Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/09/19. 265pp.
EDC 14: Auld Wives' Lifts, Craigmaddie Muir
Grid reference:
Site type: Natural exposure
Site ownership: Not known
Current use: Private country
Field surveyor: Sarah Arkley & Luis Albornoz-Parra
Current geological designations: None
Date visited: 9th March 2009
Site map
Summary description
Disused sandstone quarries, formerly used for millstones and for the construction of local dry-stone walls.
The sandstones are from a unit often referred to as the Craigmaddie Muir Sandstone within the lower part of the Lawmuir Formation. Where conglomerates are found interbedded with the sandstones the rocks have been placed within the underlying Douglas Muir Quartz-Conglomerate Member of the Lawmuir Formation.
Craigmaddie Muir is the type area for the Craigmaddie Muir Sandstone, displaying white, cross-bedded sandstones, 170–180m thick, with pebbly bands in places (Hall et al., 1998).The site contains a number of escarpments; some natural and some resulting from quarrying which show sedimentary features, including good examples of cross- and contorted convolute-bedding
The site is enhanced by a number of archaeological features including chambered tombs, cairns and cup-and-ring marks which have been recorded on Craigmaddie Muir, although these were not explored. The sandstone is also thought to have been used for making millstones and may be the origin for the millstone displayed in the wall near North Blochairn and the one outside Baldernock Mill.
The Auld Wives' Lift on Craigmaddie Muir is the main feature of the site, formed of three massive sandstone blocks, two forming the base and one perched on the top. There are a number of both natural and man-made theories as how the structure formed, which range from it representing glacially perched boulders, to a sandstone tor, to the local legend of three old women from Campsie, Strathblane and Baldernock, who having challenged each other as to who was the strongest, carried, in their aprons, the three stones and laid them in position. Whatever its origins, the stones have since been carved by man with names, dates, initials and faces, dating back at least two centuries.
The site also displays a number of Quaternary geological features, including an excellent example of a large ice-moulded drumlin, located to the SE of site & ice-carved striations (orientated approx ESE– WNW) on some smoothed sandstone surfaces. The views from here across to Glasgow are fantastic.
On the wildlife side Craigmaddie Muir forms an upland habitat.
EDC 14: Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Pleistocene Formation: Wilderness Till Formation
Rock type: Glacial deposits: diamicton
Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Douglas Muir Quartz-Conglomerate Member, Lawmuir Formation
Rock type: Conglomerate
Age: Lower Carboniferous Formation: Lawmuir Formation
Rock type: Sedimentary Rock Cycles of the Strathclyde Group Type
Assessment of site value
Access and safety
Aspect/Description
Road access and parking Parking on verge of single track road by houses, space for 2–3 cars max. Private access, sign at gate to ask for permission to use track up to the moor from the house.
Safety of access Good farm track takes you up onto the moor, then walking is over rough moorland, around the Auld Wives' Lifts the ground is very boggy, wellingtons would be recommended
Safety of exposure All quarry faces appear stable
Permission to visit Permission given by farmer at the start of the track
Current condition Good clean faces exposed
Current conflicting activities
None
Restricting conditions None, although exposed if weather is poor
Nature of exposure Natural and Man-made exposures
Culture, heritage & economic
Historic, archaeological & literary associations Chambered cairn recorded nearby on the map, graffiti on the sandstone blocks date back centuries. Rating: 5.
Aesthetic landscape Open moorland with great view across to the Campsie Fells to the north and towards Glasgow to the south. Rating: 5.
History of earth sciences None known. Rating: 0.
Economic geology Former sandstone quarries, stone was probably used locally for millstones and construction of dry-stone walls. Rating: 3.
EDC 14: Geoscientific merit
Total Geoscientific merit score 34
Current site value
Community The Auld Wives' Lifts is a feature of local curiosity. Rating: 7.
Education Variety of features here makes it a site, Bedrock, Quaternary and archaeological. Rating: 5.
Fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility None
Potential use Higher/Further Education, School, On-site Interpretation, Multidisciplinary. Rating: 5.
Geodiversity value
An excellent site displaying a variety of sedimentary and glacial features. However, the main value of this site probably lies with its associations with local industry (millstone quarrying), archaeology (chambered tombs) and folklore (Auld Wives Lifts).