Islay, Cnoc Na Croiche

The following monuments formerly in the graveyard at Kilarrow see NR36SW 5, have been re-erected on the summit of Cnoc na Croiche, 30m N of the East Tower (nos.17-19). The others, 1-18 and 20-40 are in the burial-ground.

MEDIEVAL

(17) Part of a graveslab which in the 19th century was trimmed to shape and used to extend the cross-shaft number 18. It bears remains of interlace, followed by a sword resembling that on number 3 (see NR36SW 5) and flanked by a plant-scroll which issues from the tail of an animal above the right quillon. (Graham, 1895).14th-15th century.

(18) Lower part of a cross-shaft, augmented by the graveslab number 17 and standing in what was probably the original socket-stone. Despite various traditions that the cross was brought from another site, both the shaft and the base were described by Pennant in 1772 as being in the burial ground at Kilarrow. (Pennant 1772; The officers of the Ordnance Survey were told in 1878 that the cross was set up by Mr {Walter Fredrick} Campbell of Islay ' and brought from an old burying ground between Bridgend and Mulindry', presumably that at Ballitarsin {RCAHMS 1984}. The statement of J G MacNeill that it was brought by Campbell from Clachan an Tachair {Clachantachtree, NR 308 578} has been wrongly interpreted as referring to Hugh Morrison {Lamont 1968}. The shaft, which tapers perceptibly measures 1.37m in height, 0.33m in width at the foot, and 0.10m in thickness. The angles are wrought with double mouldings and the edges are undecorated. On one face, in descending order, there is a niche containing a kneeling woman with a rosary, and then attenuated foliaceous ornament, followed by a panel bearing an illegible inscription and a second niche containing the figure of horseman and some further letters of the inscription, the Lombardic capitals, of which only PAT/RIC(II] ('of Patrick) can be made out. The inscription continued on a further panel above a third niche, now almost completely effaced which appears to have contained a man wearing a bascinet The other face displays foliaceous ornament ending in a pair of beasts, and at the foot a much-worn panel of interlace.(Pennant, 1772; Graham, 1895). 14th-15th century.

(19) Socket-stone in which the cross-shaft number 18 stands. Raised on a modern pedestal, it measures 0.85m by 0.80m by 60mm in thickness and has been divided into panels by double-beaded mouldings. It is much worn, but it is possible that the corner panels contained the symbols of the evangelists since in one of them there is a bird, probably the eagle of St John. (Graham, 1895). 14th-15th century.

Visited October 1980

RCAHMS 1984

RCAHMS prepared measured drawings of the medieval cross (10), cross-shaft (18) and socket-stone (19) at Killarow in 1982/3. The drawings were published at a scale of 1:15 (RCAHMS 1984, figs. 186A and 187B)