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