Kinnell Parish Church, Pictish Symbol Stones
Carved Stone (Early Medieval), Church (Medieval), Cross Slab (Early Medieval), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Site Name Kinnell Parish Church, Pictish Symbol Stones
Classification Carved Stone (Early Medieval), Church (Medieval), Cross Slab (Early Medieval), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Alternative Name(s) Kinnell No. 1, Kinnell No. 2, Kinnell No. 3
Canmore ID 35863
Site Number NO65SW 7
NGR NO 6088 5028
NGR Description NO 6088 5028 and NO 6090 5025 (symbol stone)
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/35863
- Council Angus
- Parish Kinnell
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Angus
- Former County Angus
Kinnell 1 (St Maelrubha), Angus, carved stone
Measurements: H 0.18m, W 1.38m, D 0.33m
Stone type: whinstone
Place of discovery: NO 6088 5028
Present location: re-used as a coping stone in the north wall of the manse garden.
Evidence for discovery: found lying in the churchyard prior to 1880.
Present condition: trimmed and flaking.
Description
This long rectangular slab is carved in relief on one narrow face with two coiled serpents, each with its head and neck extended away from the other. Part of each coil has been trimmed away.
Date range: early medieval.
Primary references: ECMS pt 3, 225-6.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017.
Kinnell 2 (St Maelrubha), Angus, carved stone fragment
Measurements: H 0.18m, W 1.38m, D 0.33m
Stone type: whinstone
Place of discovery: NO 6088 5028
Present location: re-used in the retaining wall of the lower terrace in the manse garden.
Evidence for discovery: recognised in 1988.
Present condition: broken and flaking.
Description
This fragment is part of a larger slab carved in relief. The hind quarters and tail survive of an animal facing left, with part of another motif above.
Date range: early medieval.
Primary references: DES 1988, 27.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017.
N065SW 7 6088 5028 to 6090 5025
For Kinnell Parish Church (NO 60886 50293), see NO65SW 35.00.
(NO 6088 5028) The parish church, built in 1855, on or near the site of its predecessor, dedicated to 'St.Malruib, Confessor' and mentioned 1512-13. The bell of the present church bears the date 1624. The early date suggested by the dedication to St.Maelrubha (d.722) is supported by the finding of a Class II symbol stone near the Ogilvy aisle. It is a rectangular whinstone slab 4'6 1/2" x 7" x 1'11", sculptured on one face with a pair of coiled serpents , and is now preserved as a coping on the north wall of the manse garden. Near it is a fragment of another stone bearing two animals.
W Reeves 1862; A J Warden 1880-5; J R Allen and J Anderson 1903.
Though noted as a symbol stone, stone 1 bears only two coiled serpents on one face, but no Pictish symbols; (it is not listed by RCAHMS in 1985). It was still in the manse garden in 1988. Stone 2 was located in 1988, built into a lower terrace wall in the garden. Although flaking badly, the rear parts of the bodies of the two animals could still be made out.
RCAHMS 1978; RCAHMS 1985; N Atkinson 1988.
Class II symbol stone.
(Undated) information in NMRS.
Field Visit (23 June 1958)
NO 6090 5025. Symbol stone as described. The other sculptured fragment was not located.
Visited by OS (J L D) 23 June 1958.
Field Visit (March 1978)
Kinnell,Symbol Stone and Church NO608 502 NO65SW 7
The present parish church at Kinnell stands N of the Lunan Water on a knoll which was probably occupied by an earlier church. A Class II symbol stone, which is now a coping stone in the manse garden at NO 6090 5025, was found on the site, but a second stone, on which two animals had been carved, is no longer extant.
RCAHMS 1978, visited March 1978
(Warden 1880-85,iv,44-5; Allen and Anderson 1903,iii,225-6)
Field Visit (May 2006)
Kinnell 2, probably a fragment of a Pictish cross slab, is built into the retaining wall of the lower garden terrace, to the W of the stair.
A third small fragment bearing at least 5 concentric incised arcs was lying loose near the stair leading to the lower terrace.
Visited by J Borland (RCAHMS), May 2006.
