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Wemyss Castle

Cross Slab (Early Medieval)

Site Name Wemyss Castle

Classification Cross Slab (Early Medieval)

Canmore ID 53955

Site Number NT39NW 12

NGR NT 3307 9525

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/53955

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Fife
  • Parish Wemyss
  • Former Region Fife
  • Former District Kirkcaldy
  • Former County Fife

Early Medieval Carved Stones Project

Wemyss Castle, West Wemyss, Fife, recumbent cross slab

Measurements: H 1.27m, W 0.67m tapering to 0.53m at the base, D 0.02m

Stone type:

Place of discovery: NT 3307 9525

Present location: lost.

Evidence for discovery: found on the foreshore in 1932 and believed to have been covered by colliery waste by 1954. The slab may have come from a burial ground at Wemyss Castle.

Present condition:

Description

This large slab was carved on both broad faces. Towards the top of face A was an equal-armed cross, which may have represented an upright grave-marker, whereas on face C a Latin cross extended the length of the stone, indicating its use, perhaps secondary, as a recumbent grave-cover. The bevelling of the edges of the stone is likely to belong to this latter phase of use.

Date: early medieval.

References: RCAHMS 1933, no 543(a).

Desk-based informationcompiled by A Ritchie 2017

Archaeology Notes

NT39NW 12 3307 9525.

In April 1932, Mr Deas, Kirkcaldy, found a cross-slab overlying a rocky cavity in the shore, about 100 yards below high-water mark, near Wemyss Castle. The slab measures 4'2" in length, tapers from 2'21/2" at top to 1' 9" at bottom, and has an average thickness of 73/4". On one side is carved in relief a Latin cross, extending the whole length of the stone, and on the other a Greek or equal-armed cross which occupies the upper half. The edges of the stone are bevelled.

RCAHMS 1933.

Activities

Publication Account (1933)

Cross-slab, West Wemyss.

In April 1932, Mr. Deas, Kirkcaldy, found a cross-slab overlying a rocky cavity in the shore, about 100 yards below high-water mark, near Wemyss Castle. The slab measures 4 feet 2 inches in length, tapers from 2 feet 2 ½ inches at top to 1 foot 9 inches at bottom, and has an average thickness of 7 ¾ inches. On one side is carved in relief a Latin cross, extending the whole length of the stone, and on the other a Greek or equal-armed cross, which occupies the upper half. The edges of the stone are bevelled.

RCAHMS 1933

Field Visit (6 October 1954)

NT 3307 9525. The area where this cross-slab was found, is now covered by waste material from the nearby colliery; the slab was not removed. The finder (Mr G B Deas, 18 Whitehouse Road, Kirkcaldy), has in his possession a photograph of the stone which is an early medieval grave slab.

Visited by OS (J D) 6 October 1954.

References

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