Alternative Names Chapel Of St Fergus; Old Parish Church Of Dyce; Dyce, Old Church
Site type CROSS INCISED STONE(S)
Canmore ID 19467
Site Number NJ81NE 8.03
NGR NJ 8752 1541
Council ABERDEEN, CITY OF
Parish DYCE
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District CITY OF ABERDEEN
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Notes and Activities

1911

REFERENCE

Notes NJ81NE 8.03 8752 1541

Four stone crosses of different (unusual) forms have been discovered at various times during grave-digging in the churchyard. They lay 'for a considerable time' with the sculpture stone (NJ81NE 8.01) in the E gable, but have now been set into the walls.
('Dyce no. 1'). This mutilated stone measures 1'3" (380mm) in height, 10" (254mm) in breadth and 4" (102mm) in thickness, and bears a now-incomplete cross rudely formed of two incised lines which intersect at the centre. This intersection is enclosed by an incised square of side 5" (127mm) with sides drawn parallel to the lines that form the cross. A circular hollow of diameter 1" (25mm) and not unlike a shallow cupmark is set into the centre of each of the four small squares thus formed.
('Dyce no. 2'). This irregular stone measures up to 2'4" (711mm) in height by 1'5" (432mm) in breadth and 2'5" (64mm) in thickness. It bears an incised equal-armed cross, measuring about 7" (178mm) across, on which has been superimposed a roughly square figure of side about 2" (51mm) with rounded corners. The intersection is also surrounded by a circle of diameter 9.5" (241mm) which passes through the centres of four further circles of diameter 4.5" (114mm) placed opposite the intersecting angles.
('Dyce no. 3'). This irregular stone is the largest, and possibly also the 'most modern' of the group. It measures 2'11" (889mm) in height by 1'10" (559mm) in breadth and 1'5" (38mm) in thickness. The cross is formed by an incised line which defines the shaft and arms, but is not joined at the foot. The shaft is 11" (279mm) long and the arms 9.5" (241mm) across; both the shaft and the arms are 2.25" (57mm) wide.
('Dyce no. 4'). This piece of reddish sandstone measures 12" (305mm) in height by 6" (152mm) in breadth and 2" (51mm) in thickness. It bears a roughly-carved cross 'of peculiar form' 6" (152mm) high and 4" (102mm) across. This takes the form of patriarchal cross with two pairs of arms, those at the top bending slightly downwards. The second pair is placed a little above the middle of the shaft, and each arm has a downwards-pointing projection set at right-angles. Two carelessly-drawn figures 'like steps' are set asymmetrically at the bottom of the shaft and there are six hollows set into the stone, four of them near the angles formed by the lower arms of the shaft and two just above the arms at the upper part of the cross.
J Ritchie 1911.




Further details

Books and References

Ritchie, J (1911) 'Some old crosses and unlettered sepulchral monuments in Aberdeenshire', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.45
Page(s): 333-7 figs. 1 and 2

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