Find Spot record MAB48890 - PITMUIES

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Summary

Remains of a cross-shaft.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Scheduled Monument 153

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NO 5666 4997 (40m by 40m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet NO54NE
Civil Parish Kirkden
Authority Angus

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Remains of a cross-shaft. Previously interpreted as a standing-stone and shown as such on the 2nd edition OS map this is an unusual form of cross. The NSA alleges that it was erected in 1010 by Malcolm II following the defeat of the Danes. The antiquarian descriptions of this fragment state that upon it, in relief, it has the standard of the cross, with the transverse limb and head- piece broken off. The stone had been pierced at the junction of the cross, which made mutilation easy. The stone now measures 1.4 m x 0.7 m, while the cross is about 0.2 m wide. It stood on the roadside for many years, detached from the dyke bounding the former railway. It was built into the park dyke before the formation of the railway. It is said to have originally stood on ground now occupied by the Arbroath-Forfar road, and that it was moved when the road was constructed. Opinion is divided as to whether or not this is Pictish. If it is, it must be a very late and degenerate example of Pictish sculpture. When described by Coutts in 1970 little could be made out, apart from some scroll ornament. The socket stone holding the cross-shaft has at some time been broken in two. It is currently held together with two large iron staples and filled with cement to secure the shaft.


B/61429, B/61429 (Photograph). SAB28652.

B/80020/PO, B/80020/PO (Photograph). SAB28520.

B/80021/PO, B/80021/PO (Photograph). SAB28521.

B/80022/PO, B/80022/PO (Photograph). SAB28522.

OSA, 1791-9, [Untitled], vol. 2 (1792), 513 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9574.

Chalmers, P, 1848, [Untitled], 11 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6188.

Carrie, J, 1881, [Untitled], 84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5748.

Coutts, H, 1970, [Untitled], 65-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10897.

RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 29, no. 240 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7264.

BORELAND, FRASER AND SHERRIFF, J, I, J, 2007, EIGHT SOCKET STONES FROM EASTERN SCOTLAND., pp. 105-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3796.

Other Statuses/References

  • Authority: ANG;
  • HES Scheduled Monument Number: 153;
  • NMR Card Number: NO54NE4;
  • NRHE Numlink: 34645;
  • Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO54NE0004;

External Links (2)

Sources/Archives (10)

  • --- Bibliographic reference: Coutts, H. 1970. [Untitled]. 65-6.
  • --- Photograph: B/80020/PO. Polaroid. B/80020/PO.
  • --- Photograph: B/80021/PO. Polaroid. B/80021/PO.
  • --- Photograph: B/80022/PO. Polaroid. B/80022/PO.
  • --- Photograph: B/61429. . B/61429.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: BORELAND, FRASER AND SHERRIFF, J, I, J. 2007. EIGHT SOCKET STONES FROM EASTERN SCOTLAND.. pp. 105-6.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Carrie, J. 1881. [Untitled]. 84.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Chalmers, P. 1848. [Untitled]. 11.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. 1978. [Untitled]. 29, no. 240.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: OSA. 1791-9. [Untitled]. vol. 2 (1792), 513.

Finds (1)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Nov 18 2025 3:05PM

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