Archaeology Notes

Event ID 731564

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/731564

NY27NW 9 2498 7537

Not to be confused with Kirkconnel, Old Parish Church, Fair Helen's Tombstone (NY 2503 7534), for which see NY27NE 1.01.

(NY 24987537) Fair Helen's Cross (NR)

OS 1:10000 map (1977)

This is a free-standing Latin cross, 9ft high and 1ft 1 1/2ins thick, with square angles at the side arms and obtuse angles at the top. One of the side arms is almost destroyed and the top is incomplete. Panels are recessed 1/2 inch in the arms and head.

RCAHMS 1920, visited 1912

As described by the RCAHMS. A DOE plaque at 'Fair Helen's Tombstone' (NY27NE 1.01) states that the cross is known as 'Fair Helen's Cross', and is supposed to mark the spot where she was killed (but see NY27NE 2).

Visited by OS (WDJ) 16 October 1967

No change to the previous field report.

Visited by OS (IA) 20 February 1973

There is good reason to suppose that this is the village cross of Kirkconnel (NY27NW 15), later re-erected on the present site when the legend of 'Fair Helen' gained popularity (from Sir Walter Scott's publication in 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border). Its date is difficult to determine, but it is probably late Medieval. The panels are secondary work.

T H McK Clough and L R Laing 1969.

Listed as Kirkconnel, Fair Helen's Cross.

RCAHMS 1997.