External Reference

Date 20 July 1971

Event ID 962196

Category Documentary Reference

Type External Reference

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/962196

Late medieval disk-headed chlorite-schist cross mounted on octagonal base.

NW (front) elevation contains carvings of religious figures, a 10-line

inscription in Lombardic capitals, and foliaceous pattern terminated by 2

beasts. SE (rear) elevation contains carved foliated cross with mermaid and

animal carvings to arms and foot.

RCAHMS Inventory ARGYLL Vol 1 (1971) p105 plate 21 T S Muir, OLD

CHURCH ARCHITECTURE (1861) p101 C Mactaggart SOMETHING

NEW ABOUT CAMPBELTOWN CROSS (1922) J W Small SCOTTISH

MARKET CROSSES plate 13 NEW STATISTICAL ACCOUNT A I B

Stewart, "Campbeltown Cross" THE KINTYRE ANTIQUARIAN &

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY MAGAZINE (No 6) p3.

Scheduled Ancient Monument No 249. The inscription reads "This is the

cross of Sir Ivor MacEachen, sometime parson of Kilkivan, and of his son,

Sir Andrew, parson of Kilchoman, who caused it to be made" Sir Andrew

MacEachen was promoted from Kilkivan to the church of Kilchoman, in

Islay, before 1376, and dispossessed of this benefice shortly after 1382. This

suggests that the cross originally stood within or near the graveyard at

Kilkivan. It was removed to Campbeltown and adapted to serve as a market

cross sometime after the foundation of the Burgh in 1607. It was formerly

sited outside the town hall, but was taken down during the Second World

War for safety and erected afterwards in its present position. The socket

stone appears to be original due to the similarity in the stone, but the rest of

the base is modern. This is the finest surviving example of late medieval

carving in Kintyre.

Information from Historic Scotland, 20 July 1971