Scheduled Monument

Earl's Cross, carved stone, DornochSM7672

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
10/06/1998
Supplementary Information Updated
11/03/2021
Type
Crosses and carved stones: sculptured stone (not ascribed to a more specific type)
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Dornoch
NGR
NH 80444 90406
Coordinates
280444, 890406

Description

This monument consists of a free-standing stone approximately 2.2m high. The head is much eroded and its original form, probably not a cross, is unclear. The head is now oval in shape with a triangular hole through it.

Around the shaft runs a broad band with a shield on each side, possibly showing the arms of the Earls of Sutherland and of Caithness, both now badly eroded. The function of the stone is not clear but it may possibly have commemorated some significant event, have marked the boundary of a land holding or have been a cross marking the edge of a sanctury.

The area to be scheduled is a circle of 5m diameter centred on the cross. Excluded from the scheduling is that part of the surrounding fence which is above the ground surface. The area is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as a rare type of secular monument. Both its form and its isolated position mark it out as being an exceptional monument. As such, it represents one element of the wide range of Scottish medieval monumental sculpture.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NH 89 SW 2.

References:

Cordiner, C. (1780) Antiquities and scenery of the north of Scotland, in a series of letters to Thomas Pennant, 70, Esq. London.

Cordiner, C. (1788) Remarkable Ruins, and Romantic Prospects, of North Britain, London.

OPS (1855) Origines Parochiales Scotiae: the antiquities ecclesiastical and territorial of the parishes of Scotland, Vol. 2, 2, 647, Edinburgh.

Pococke, R. (1887) Tours in Scotland 1747, 1750, 1760, in Kemp, D. W., 167, Edinburgh.

RCAHMS (1911) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Second report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Sutherland, 50-1, No. 146, Edinburgh.

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.

Images

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Printed: 28/03/2024 09:47