The Stone of Destiny – that ancient royal seat of Scotland, where kings were crowned -may be the Stone of Irvine. One thing is sure, it has moved around a lot in its history. Legend has it being taken by Jacob while in Haran. Legend also has it being brought from Ireland by the Dalriata gaels when they settled Scotland. More likely is the story of Fergus, son of Ferchard, the first King of the Scots in Scotland, bringing the Stone from Ireland to Argyll, where he was crowned on it.

The Scottish philosopher and historian, Hector Boece (now it would be Boyce, as in Pittsburgh’s Boyce Park – see, the Scots are everywhere), believes the stone was kept in the west of Scotland, at the lost city of Evonium. Evonium was itself founded by Evenus or Ewin (now called Irvine) – and yes, there is a town named Irvine, in Ayrshire. Evonium is chronicled to be the place where forty kings were crowned. It is also believed by some historians to be the ancient capital of Scotland, sited not far from Oban, and close to the religious center of Iona.

Scots historian A. J. Morton, believes that Irvine was an important center in the Middle Ages, and that John Baliol, the Royal Lord of Cunninghame, was the titular lord of the town of Irvine, and the last Scottish king crowned on the stone in 1292, before it was taken to Westminster in 1296, The town of Cunninghame (coming from “King’s Home”)was once known as Erewyn or Erevine or Ervin.

The Stone of Destiny is a block of reddish sandstone, known as old lower red sandstone, which is found near Scone. But the same old lower red sandstone is also found in Ayrshire – around Irvine. For Morton, it makes sense that the capital would be closer to Ireland.

Of one thing we can be sure. There is a long history of kings being crowned on the Stone. In the 14th century, Walter Hemingford, cleric and historian, described the Scottish coronation stone as residing in the monastery of Scone, a few miles north of Perth: He wrote: “In the monastery of Scone, in the church of God, near to the high altar, is kept a large stone, hollowed out as a round chair, on which their kings were placed for their ordination, according to custom”.

So the stone comes from the mists of history – was taken to London in 1296 as spoils of war – was promised to be returned in the Treaty of Northampton of 1328 – was kept for another six hundred years – was bombed by suffragettes in 1914 – was stolen back by students in 1950 – returned to Westminster in 1951 – and was officially returned to Scotland in 1996. It now resides in Edinburgh Castle – from where it will be transported back to Westminster for use at the next coronation.

PS No one is quite sure that the Stone that now resides in Edinburgh is even the real stone! Many believe the monks of scone hid the real stone in the river Tay or buried it on Dunsinane Hill – which would mean we’ve been squabbling for  800 year over a 300 pound lump of sandstone!