An early carved cross, probably brought from the Hebrides, now stands beside St Margaret’s Church after an earlier period at Kilmory Castle.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably early medieval; moved to the present site about 1969
- Architect / designer
- Carver unknown
- Type
- Scheduled free-standing stone cross
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM10398)
- OS grid reference
- NR 86304 88215
Architecture and continuing use
The cross is carved from dark hornblende schist and stands in a modern base. Its material is not local to Mid Argyll; HES considers a Hebridean origin likely and notes comparison with stone from Vallay in North Uist.
Its story
Its original site and precise date are unknown. The cross stood in the rockery at Kilmory Castle before it was moved to the church about 1969. Scheduling in 2003 protected the historic stone while explicitly excluding the modern base.
Why it is included
It introduces early sculpture, movement and uncertain provenance into a collection otherwise dominated by buildings of the last two centuries.
What to notice
- The dark schist against the lighter modern setting.
- Surviving carved form despite centuries of movement and weather.
- The distinction between historic cross and excluded modern base.
Reading the surroundings
View respectfully from lawful church grounds or public space. Do not touch, climb or rub the carving, and avoid disrupting worship or parish activity.
Timeline
- Early medieval period The cross was carved, probably in a western island context.
- Before 1969 It stood in the rockery at Kilmory Castle.
- About 1969 The stone was moved beside St Margaret’s Church.
- 13 August 2003 The cross was scheduled as a monument of national importance.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Neither original location nor exact date is known. A Vallay or wider Hebridean origin is a material-based interpretation, not a documented journey.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Early Medieval Cross at St Margaret’s Church, SM10398 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and significance.
- Diocese of Argyll and the Isles: St Margaret, Lochgilphead — Current parish use and address for the church beside the scheduled cross.
- Argyll and Bute Council: Lochgilphead Conservation Area Appraisal — Official setting and historic-town context.
- Trove search: Kilmory Cross St Margaret Lochgilphead — National collection search for site records, surveys and archive material.
Location
OS grid reference NR 86304 88215 · Location confidence: High for the current national designation point; public text separately states access, component-identity and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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