Stone of Destiny? Pastry?

[kilted_brewer]

Okay, bear with me. I'm sure that someone here knows the answer, and maybe it's just a case of my memory mis-firing or synapses getting crossed or something but:

Is there any relation between the Scottish Coronation Stone (the Stone of Destiny, right?) and the pastry known as a scone? Is the Stone of Destiny ever referred to as the Stone of Scone?

I visited England back in the late eighties when I was in high school. When in London, we made the obligatory trip to the Tower, and Westminster Abbey (among other places, of course; mostly I was paying attention to the Churchill WWII sites at the time). While we were in some cathedral-like place I remember one of the teacher-chaperones pointing out a smooth, round rock under a throne (what I might call a stone), and telling me (the memory goes a bit foggy here, so I'll just say I think I remember her telling me) that it was the Stone of Scone.

I've made sense of what I thought that meant in this way: England was the seat of the United Kingdom, and once the English kings had brought Wales and Scotland under their control, they needed the symbols of the other kingdoms to provide them with symbolic legitimacy, so they'd have themselves crowned with Scotland's Coronation Stone (and what, I don't know, from Wales) to symbolically cement their reign over all three kingdoms. Is that right?

Since then, I've often wondered if the pastry known as the scone came about as a popular fad (originating in England, perhaps) celebrating the English king's dominion over Scotland. Does anyone know the etymological history of the scone-as-pastry? Maybe it's just a Scottish pasty that came from Scone, what do I know?

[Paul Henry]

absolutely no relation...
in fact it's not even pronounced the same! ( of course that is open to discussion)

[ccga3359]

I believe scones, or pronounced scones to the posh, come from southern England and are closely associated with Devonshire clotted cream. I do recall back it the 70's three Englishmen who often rode around on a trandem (a three person bicycle) actually mining said scones. Or perhaps my memory is going. Hope this helps.

[Panache]

I believe scones, or pronounced scones to the posh, come from southern England and are closely associated with Devonshire clotted cream. I do recall back it the 70's three Englishmen who often rode around on a trandem (a three person bicycle) actually mining said scones. Or perhaps my memory is going. Hope this helps.

I vaguely remember the same story. Wasn't the mine closed after a violent incident that resulted in a lot of shed ketchup?

Cheers

Panache

[Phil E. Begg]

And would fourteen punds of the pastry be...

I can't resist...

A Stone of Scone?


Aaaaaargh!


Sorry, I just can't seem to help meself....



Phil

[Dirk Skene]

I know there is a straightforward connection between the crescent roll & the defeat of the Ottomans at Vienna, (It is also how Europe was introdued to coffee ) his one I have not heard yet Recently I have finished 2 books on food history and this connection never was mentioned. I would think at least 1 of the 2 authors would have mentioned it if it were so. But since I know I don't know everything and being a food history buff, I will be watching this thread to see what I can learn.

[JimB]

Does it help if the scone is as hard as a rock?

[Monkey@Arms]

Interesting, I always assumed scones were named after the aforementioned stone and were pronounced the same. Many varieties of scones were sold at the bakery I had the good fortune to live over in Scotland.

Best regards,

Jake

[Monkey@Arms]

I see that I am not alone in my thinking:

From Ask the Web Chef

Question: Where does the word scone come from and when was it invented?

Here is the information I have found on scones courtesy of epicurious.com :
[SKOHN, SKON]
This Scottish QUICK BREAD is said to have taken its name from the Stone of Destiny (or Scone), the place where Scottish kings were once crowned. The original triangular-shaped scone was made with oats and griddle-baked. Today's versions are more often flour-based and baked in the oven. They come in various shapes including triangles, rounds, squares and diamonds. Scones can be savory or sweet and are usually eaten for breakfast or tea.

According to Webster's College dictionary Scones originated in Scotland between 1505-1515.

Scone is also a village in central Scotland.

Here is a traditional Scottish recipe link for scones: http://www.rampantscotland.com/recip...ipe_scones.htm

For more information on the Stone of Destiny
:http://members.aol.com/Skyelander/stone.html

For more information and recipes
The History of Food

Best regards,

Jake

[McClef]

You can't put butter jam and cream on the Stone of Scone!

And HM the Queen wouldn't sit on the other type!