Abernethy, School Wynd

Abernethy 11 (?St Bridget), carved fragment

Measurements: H 0.26m, W 0.21m, D 0.17m

Stone type: yellow sandstone

Place of discovery: NO 1892 1650

Present location: Abernethy Museum Trust?

Evidence for discovery: found in a garden in School Wynd, Abernethy, in 2012.

Present condition: damaged and worn, with a large hollow suggesting re-use as a trough.

Description

This fragment bears traces of diagonal key pattern carved in relief on one face.

Date: tenth century.

References: DES 2002, 90.

Compiled by A Ritchie 2016

NO11NE 233 1892 1650

NO 1892 1650 A fragment of early medieval sculpture was found in a garden in School Wynd, Abernethy, in the immediate vicinity of the parish church (and the earlier monastic site). The fragment measures 260 x 205 x 170mm, and is composed of fine-grained yellow sandstone with excellent working properties. Its only surviving diagnostic sculptured feature is a single panel of complex fretwork, similar to the reverse centre panel of the Govan (or Jordanhill) cross-shaft and the Inchcolm cross-shaft (ECMS No. 1). A date in the 10th or 11th century seems possible.

The fretwork aside, the sculpture takes the form of a much-damaged block with a large depression or hollow. Whilst the possibility of this hollowing as original either as a socket or as a bowl or font cannot be ruled out, it seems more likely that it is a secondary feature. The suggestion is that the fragment is part of a cut-down slab or shaft, reused as a bowl or trough and then reused again as masonry built into a wall. Other than the face bearing the fret panel, all the faces seem to have been altered in some way. Two of them bear tooling marks and all have mortar adhering.

M Hall 2002