Five red-sandstone fragments carry crosses, interlace, riders, animals and Pictish symbols rescued from earlier ecclesiastical fabric.
Quick facts
- Date
- Early medieval; rediscovered 1787 and later
- Architect / designer
- Early medieval sculptors unknown
- Type
- Collection of carved cross-slabs
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB36904)
- OS grid reference
- NO 38928 54464
Architecture and continuing use
The group ranges from near-complete cross-slabs to lower fragments. Hollow-angled crosses and interlace accompany a stag hunt, beasts, horsemen, an angel, and symbols including a comb, mirror, double disc and Z-rod.
Its story
Four stones were recovered when Kirriemuir’s old parish church was demolished in 1787; a fifth later came from the churchyard. They were gathered beneath a protective cemetery shelter. Scheduling ended in 1995 because their present location no longer preserves archaeological context, but the listed protection remains.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises a concentrated body of early medieval sculpture that preserves evidence for Christian belief, Pictish imagery and skilled stone carving.
What to notice
- Crosses framed by hollowed square angles.
- Interlace set beside animals and mounted figures.
- The comb, mirror, double-disc and Z-rod symbols.
Reading the surroundings
Use the cemetery entrance and paths and give mourners privacy. Do not touch, rub, wet, chalk or move the stones; check locally if the shelter is closed or access is restricted.
Timeline
- Early medieval period Sculptors carved Christian crosses, figures, animals and Pictish symbols in red sandstone.
- 1787 Demolition of the old parish church revealed four of the surviving fragments.
- 1995 Scheduling ended because the relocated stones no longer retained archaeological significance in their present site.
- 2026 Angus Council continued to list Kirriemuir Cemetery as a burial ground.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The stones’ original positions and precise dates are not securely known, and relocation has removed much of their archaeological context.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Kirriemuir Cross-slabs, LB36904 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB36904 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- Angus Council: burial-ground locations — Current council cemetery identity and address.
- University of St Andrews: medieval parish churches corpus — Scholarly context for Kirriemuir’s early Christian site and carved stones.
Location
OS grid reference NO 38928 54464 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access 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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