Site type CROSS
Canmore ID 20222
Site Number NJ90NW 9.06
NGR NJ 9410 0876
Council ABERDEEN, CITY OF
Parish ABERDEEN
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District CITY OF ABERDEEN
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ90NW 9.06 9410 0876.

(NJ 9410 0876) Probable Site of Girth Cross (NR)
OS 25" map, (1926).

'This Cathedral had the privilege of sanctuary or girth, and had a Girth-Cross on the Bishop's dovecot green.'(Macfarlane 19 )
Name Book 1866; Macfarlane

Dr Simpson (Dr W D Simpson, Librarian, Aberdeen University), confirmed the site but could give no further information. The site is now a nursery garden.
Visitted by OS (JLD) 11 September 1952.

It is possible that this cross was in existence by the early 13th century, when the special rights of sanctuary at Aberdeen were the subject of a number of charters. It is mentioned specifically in a deed of 1498. That it did not survive the Reformation intact is indicated by later descriptions of Old Aberdeen such as that of Orem, which refer only to its former position and function. (See also NJ90NW 9.07)
W Orem 1791; A M Munro (ed.) 190; N M Cameron 1989.

Cameron, N M (1989a) 'A Romanesque cross-head in St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen', J Brit Archaeol Ass, vol.142
Page(s): 64-5 Held at RCAHMS D.5.13.ABK.P

Cameron, N M (1991) 'A romanesque cross-head in St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen', Friends St Machars Cathedral Annu Rep
Page(s): 3-7 Held at RCAHMS D.5.13.ABK.P

Munro, A M (1909) Records of Old Aberdeen,
Page(s): Vol.2, 256, 271-2