What lies at the top of the Clune Brea now is only a small part of the Bogal Stane.
Situated on what was once the outer limits of Port Glasgow It is believed to be "black granite" which was deposited there during the ice age..
It has long been associated with local myth and mainly stories of the occult and haunting.

Kilmacolm was for many years a "dry village" and people would come over the hill into Port Glasgow returning the way the came a short time later a little worse for wear.

"When the delinquent has climbed up the brae and got out of the site of the lights of the town just entering the wild and dreary moor the Bogle was frequently seen about this stone and sent the belated worthy onward at accelerated speed while he fancied he heard something following at his heels"

In a bid to rid the town of this superstition the minister of a local church had the stone blasted. He only succeeded in breaking it into some smaller pieces some of  which were used locally to build dykes (walls) and fashion curling stones. At this time a local man wrote a poem which is said was written into the side of the stone.

Ye weary travellers passing by
Rest and be thankfu' here
And should your lips be parched and dry
Drink of my waters clear.

I am the far famed Bogle Stane
By worldly priest abhorrr'd
But now I am myself again
By Auchenleck restored

The minister's actions were not well received and considered as an act of vandalism by many .On the ground coming into the possession of a new owner the parts of the stone were re-united.

Improvements to the road layout and the development of upper Port Glasgow In 1963 brought the stone to local attention once more .
Mr Wooler the town clerk at the time made an assurance that the stone would be retained and that it would be placed in a prominent position inside the roundabout for all to see.
As it turns out they failed to be able to move the stone at this time and it was never moved to its promised position.

The writing and the rumoured marks which appeared on the stone are no longer visible but part of the stone itself still stands at the top of the Brea and the view out across the river is similar to what it has always been

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The house (shown above) was built by John Hamilton around 1846. Intended to be a hotel and hoping to cash in on trade coming from the newly established Glasgow and Southern Western railway. A station was never erected close by and the idea failed.
It continued to be inhabited all be it split into four flats with no gas and electricity until the late 1960's when it was demolished to make way for housing . It was situated roughly where the two primary schools now stand. 

Boglestone House

The bi-centenary booklet for Port Glasgow in 1975 opens with "Port Glasgow begins at Boglestone" The area still contains housing, local services and shops as well as the post office and a chemist and is busy most days. With a community centre, doctors and dentist as well as a clinic there is plenty of people and traffic. The completed Newark primary school and refurbished St Michael's included a small parking/drop off area being built beside the stone itself and you can still take refreshment only now it's in the form of the "Kafay" in Dubbs Road.

This page last modified on Saturday, February 05, 2011