Kebbuck Stone

Kebbuck Stone (Kebach Stone), Wester Delnies, Nairn, cross-slab

Measurements: H 1.68m above ground, W 1.27m, D 0.33m

Stone type: grey sandstone

Place of discovery: NH 82577 55553

Present location: at NH 8257 5556

Evidence for discovery: the stone appears to have been moved from a position in a field as marked on the 1st edition six-inch map, perhaps in 1896 when the kennels were built and a long cist grave was found.

Present condition: extremely weathered and with signs of misuse, eg knife sharpening and an incised circle on the back of the slab. The top is damaged by water erosion.

Description

This massive cross-slab must once have looked very impressive, carved in relief on both broad faces, but sadly little can now be made out. The better preserved face shows a large cross with circular armpits, interlace-filled arms and an interlace-filled roundel at the centre of the cross-head. The background to the cross was also filled with ornament, best seen now in the top right-hand area of the stone. The back of the stone is severely defaced.

Date: eighth or ninth century.

References: ECMS pt 3, 117-18.

Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2018

NH85NW 5 8257 5556 and 8256 5557.

(NH 8257 5556) Kebbuck Stone (NR) (Sculptured)

OS 6" map, (1959)

The Kebach Stone is an upright cross-slab of grey sandstone, rectangular, 5 1/2ft high by 4ft 2ins wide by 1ft 1ins thick. It is sculptured in relief on one face. In the middle of the slab is a cross with a circle in the centre. The monument belongs to the highly ornamented class, but is very heavily eroded. The whole of the back which was probably once sculptured, is defaced by deeply scored hollows and a later incised circle.

(NH 8256 5557) An east-west grave of a 6 foot male skeleton, with feet to the east, was found 'the other day, while workmen were engaged digging the foundations of the new kennels at the Kebbock Stone'. The grave lay at a depth of 2 1/2ft in hard gravel, with a number of stones about a foot square placed to form an arch over the body. The foot of this arch was closed by a few small stones. Nothing was found with the skeleton.

J R Allen and J Anderson 1903; Scot Notes Queries 1896.

The 'Kebbuck Stone' (confirmed) is as described, although the 'carved figures' are no longer visible.

The kennels have been replaced by a modern wooden building. No trace of the grave was found.

Visited by OS (NKB) 22 November 1965.

Scheduled as Kebbuck Stone, Cross Slab.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 29 March 2001.