Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM614_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600003507)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a cross-incised stone slab 1.98m high, and stands within a burial ground which in 1871 also contained the remains of a medieval chapel.

The slab, of grey stone, measures 1.98m high by 0.53m NW-SE by 0.15m SW-NE. It leans from the vertical by approximately ten degrees towards the NE. It has a single cross incised on the SW face. The cross has circular discs at the ends of the lateral arms and the upper arm terminates in 2 diverging spirals. There is no way of discerning whether the carving of the cross dates to the time of the erection of the stone or is secondary to this. The fact that the

cross faces SW suggests that the stone may either have been re- erected since the Reformation or mark the re-use of an earlier standing stone.

The cross slab stands approximately at the centre of the burial ground, but this has been enlarged within the last century, and the stone would have been near the NW boundary of the earlier enclosure. It is surrounded by lairs in recent use, although the cross slab itself stands within a small area which is clear of burials. None

of the recent lairs seems to reach within 2.5m of it. The cross slab lies close to the location within the burial ground likely to have been favoured by the builders of the medieval chapel, and it is possible that the stone stands immediately S of the site of this.

The area proposed for scheduling is shown in red on the enclosed map, and measures 5m by 5m, centred on the cross slab, and with the edges of the square aligned parallel with the walls of the surrounding burial ground. It includes the cross slab and an area surrounding it which may provide evidence for the method and date of the erection of the stone, for early burials, and possibly of the former church.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a standing stone of medieval or earlier date bearing an incised cross of medieval date, standing within a burial ground of ancient foundation. It has the potential to contribute to our understanding of medieval and post-medieval ecclesiastical organisation and burial practices.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.