Talk:Moss Farm Road Stone Circle

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Moss Farm: Should Moss Farm Have Its Own Article?

I’m proposing a discussion about whether Moss Farm on the Isle of Arran deserves its own article or if it should remain part of broader topics, such as the Machrie Moor stone circles or Tormore village.

Moss Farm, located near the iconic standing stones of Machrie Moor, holds historical and cultural significance. Despite its semi-derelict state, it attracts visitors and has ties to the area's heritage. Here are the main points to consider:

Origin of building material Though significantly in dereliction, the building materials used to construct Moss Farm themselves retain archaeological information not yet properly analysed. Antiquarian writers recorded modern farming replacing open farming there. Potentially significant nearby stones were used in the construction of new farms. (See Burns (2024): Arran’s missing megaliths. A search for Arran’s archaeology before modernity - Enlighten Theses) The colour coding of materials used by the original monument builders is partly documented. (See Jones. A (1999) Local Colour: Megalithic Architecture and Colour symbolism in Neolithic Arrran Oxford Journal of Archaeology 18(4) 339-350. Oxford). The original source locations of these stones and their journey to Machrie is still an open question. Moss Road Farm is a significant evidential resource largely unnoticed to date.

Proximity to Machrie Moor: Moss Farm is part of the cultural landscape of the Machrie Moor archaeological site, renowned for its standing stones, cairns, and stone circles. The site is a key tourist and research destination, and Moss Farm is often mentioned in the context of the Moss Farm Road stone circles.

Historical Record: While records of Moss Farm are scarce, its history dates back to at least the 19th century. It appears in maps and census data, though often under generic labels like “Tormore Farm.” Early references, such as an 1872 ploughing contest and a 1899 death record, provide glimpses into its past.

Cultural Role: By the mid-20th century, Moss Farm served as a rustic holiday let, representing a unique slice of rural Scottish life, even without modern amenities like electricity or running water.

Current State: Though abandoned since the 1960s and now deteriorating, its presence adds to the story of how the land and community evolved over time.

The key question is whether Moss Farm meets the notability criteria for its own article, particularly with the limited written history available. Alternatively, should its story be included as part of articles on Machrie Moor, Tormore, or the Isle of Arran? Maximilian Ammann (talk) 19:43, 26 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]