Building record MAB33231 - KIRRIEMUIR

Eighteen sculptured stones been discovered around the Old Parish Church of Kirriemuir.

Eighteen sculptured stones been discovered around the Old Parish Church of Kirriemuir. Five were found in the foundations of the old church of Kirriemuir in 1787 during demolition. These were formerly kept grouped together in a railed-off area behind the northeast corner of a shelter within in the New Cemetery. The fifth stone stood in the kirkyard until 1955 when it was moved within the shelter with the other stones. The stones were in very poor environmental conditions in a partially glazed wooden hut and also had suffered physical damage doubtless due to unscrupulous photographers. They were removed with SDD permission to be cleaned and restored by the Scottish Museums Council in 1989. These five stones have subsequently been displayed at the Meffan Institute, Forfar since 1992. No. 1, a fragment of upright Class II symbol stone of Old Red Sandstone, measuring 58 cm x 45 cm, lacking the top and base. It bears a cross with interlaced design, with two evangelists (human body with animal heads) at top right and left and two ecclesiastics carrying books at bottom right and left. On the back there are two panels, at the top 3 figures, two facing each other clasping a round object and a third, separate figure to the right. Below this is an enthroned figure flanked by the mirror and comb symbols on the left and a rectangular symbols encasing an unknown object on the right. No. 2, a virtually complete upright Class II cross-slab of Old Red Sandstone, sculpted in relief on four faces, the front bears a cross with key pattern and intertwined serpents, flanked by panels at top right and left containing a kneeling angel, a man with small square shield and staff on the left and a hunting scene on the left. The back has the double-disc and Z-rod symbol at top left and the majority of the panel is a hunting scene, with two men, one with sword and spear, the other with just a spear, on horseback with a dog pursuing and biting a stag. The left and right edges bear a key pattern. No. 3 the lower part of an upright Class III cross-slab of Old Red Sandstone. The front bearing a cross with interlace, flanked by panels with interlaced serpent creatures. The back has the lower part of a panel, framed by key-pattern, with the feet and head of a horse, spearhead and a complete horseman below it. This horseman has a round shield, spear and sword and there is a dog to the bottom left and interlace to the right. No. 4 the lower portion of an upright Class III cross-slab of Old Red Sandstone. The front bears the figure of an angel with wings folded downwards, with key pattern border to the left. The right side has the remains of a plaited cord design. No. 5 an upright Class III cross-slab of Old Red Sandstone with a plain cross with key pattern surrounding it and interlaced knotwork on all four panels. The back is the same except there is no key pattern surround. Excavations within the kirkyard in 1995 relating to the improvement of access to the church (see NO35SE0089) lead to the discovery of eleven further stones. No.9 is a complete cross-slab, with a plain incised cross on both faces having round hollow angles, the front having a triquetra knot in each of the four panels aound the cross. The remaining ten are fragments of highly decorated cross-slabs, no. 10 being a base, nos. 6, 11, 16 and 17 being fragments of cross-heads, the remainder probably shaft fragments. The fragments appear to have been deliberately broken and were re-used in the building of a wall, possibly comtemporary with the present, 1787, church. In 1999 a further cross-slab fragment (Kirriemuir No.18) was discovered in a service trench in or near the Kirk. The slab is rectangular, has the top of a ringed cross on the front, key pattern and interlace on the rear and the edges are decorated, one with interlaced plait and the other with a key pattern. The top is decorated with what appears to be a sword with a central ringed cross. This stone is displayed at the Gateway Museum, Kirriemuir.

A/35411, A/35411 (Photograph). SAB29075.

A/35411/S, A/35411/S (Photograph). SAB29078.

A/35412, A/35412 (Photograph). SAB29090.

A/35413, A/35413 (Photograph). SAB29094.

A/35414, A/35414 (Photograph). SAB29083.

A/35415, A/35415 (Photograph). SAB29093.

AN/3151/PO, AN/3151/PO (Photograph). SAB29084.

AN/3152/PO, AN/3152/PO (Photograph). SAB29087.

AN/3211/PO, AN/3211/PO (Photograph). SAB29076.

AN/3211/S, AN/3211/S (Photograph). SAB29079.

AN/4822, AN/4822 (Photograph). SAB29080.

AN/4822, AN/4822 (Photograph). SAB29085.

AN/4822/PO, AN/4822/PO (Photograph). SAB29077.

B/61994, B/61994 (Photograph). SAB29092.

C/50498, C/50498 (Photograph). SAB23786.

D/08542, D/08542 (Photograph). SAB29082.

D/08543, D/08543 (Photograph). SAB29091.

D/08544, D/08544 (Photograph). SAB29088.

D/08545, D/08545 (Photograph). SAB29089.

MS/28/49/8, MS/28/49/8 (Photograph). SAB29086.

MS/28/49/8, MS/28/49/8 (Photograph). SAB29081.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9251.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9252.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9253.

Stuart, J, 1856, 1, 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9254.

Stuart, J, 1867, 2, 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9879.

Warden, A J, 1880-5, [Untitled], Vol. 1, 28-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10070.

Allen and Anderson, J R and, 1903, [Untitled], pt. 3, 226-8, 258-61 (Bibliographic reference). SAB12019.

Reid, A, 1909, [Untitled], 2-7, 60-1, 64 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9626.

Coutts, H, 1970, [Untitled], 61-2, No. 18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10753.

Henderson, I, 1978, Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 49, 56-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB12060.

RCAHMS, 1983, [Untitled], 21, No. 151 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8989.

Jackson, A, 1984, [Untitled] (Bibliographic reference). SAB11900.

Ritchie, J N G, 1985, [Untitled], 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9295.

Henderson, I, 1986, Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 152, 90, 93, 104 (Bibliographic reference). SAB12067.

Atkinson, N, 1988, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 26 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11197.

Mack, A, 1997, [Untitled], 67 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11542.

HAMILTON, J, 1998, Kirriemuir Hill, Angus, Archaeological evaluation (Bibliographic reference). SAB781.

EVALUATION

HUNTER, F, 2000, DES 2000, KIRRIEMUIR OLD PARISH CHURCH, 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2686.

RCAHMS, 2003, EARLY MEDIEVAL SCULPTURE IN ANGUS COUNCIL MUSEUMS (Bibliographic reference). SAB1613.

FRASER, I, 2008, THE PICTISH SYMBOL STONES OF SCOTLAND, 56-57 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2523.

Record last edited

Sep 30 2024 10:00AM