Old Luce, Burial-ground

Glenluce 1, Wigtownshire, cross-slab

Measurements: H 1.47m, W 0.38m, D 0.13m

Stone type: greywacke.

Place of discovery: NX 1969 5742.

Evidence for discovery: found during grave-digging in Glenluce kirkyard in the mid nineteenth century and used as a seat outside a nearby cottage until 1878 when it was returned to the kirkyard. Two years later it was presented to NMAS in Edinburgh.

Present location: National Museums Scotland (X.IB.45)

Present condition: worn but in reasonable condition.

Description:

This is a tall, round-headed cross-slab carved on one broad face in a mixture of low relief and incision. At the top is a Maltese cross, plain apart from an inner incised outline and a central double-ringed boss, and the narrow armpits contain scrolls and bosses. Below is a panel of interlace using median-incised cords, and at the base a small panel of knotwork.

Date range: early medieval.

Primary references: Craig 1992, vol 3, 75-8, vol 4, pl 119.

Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2019.

NX15NE 22 1969 5742

(NX 1969 5742) Church (NR)

OS 1:10000 map (1978)

See also NX15NE 41.

Old Luce parish church dates from 1814, but stands on the site of its predecessor, said to have been erected in 1637, of which traces still remain, the most notable being an arched doorway, now built up, with fluted jambs and drip-course, which is hidden in a modern furnace-shed at the east end of the church. St John Street running up the side of the old burial ground suggests that the dedication may have been to St John, though there is no record or tradition to substantiate this.

Sculptured cross fragments recovered from in and around the graveyard suggest that the church-site may be as early as the 8th c. Some of these fragments are built into the north wall of the church (F C Eeles 1910). A complete Class III cross slab from the churchyard, was donated to

NMAS by the Local Authority in 1880 (Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1880).

R S G Anderson 1936; J R Allen and J Anderson 1903

This church (built 1814) has now been extensively redecorated. The caretaker informed me that the furnace shed at the east end of the church has been removed and the 17th c doorway is now completely hidden beneath harling and whitewash. This also applies to the sculptured fragments built into the north wall.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 5 March 1968

The present parish church of Glenluce (built in 1814) stands within its walled burial-ground upon the site of its predecessor, said to have been erected in 1637. On the S side of the church there are several 17th and 18th century gravestones. It is probable that the medieval parish church also stood here, and a cross-slab of early medieval date, together with fragments of a number of others (described below), have been found within or in the vicinity of the burial-ground (see also NX15NE 23).

(1) In 1935/36 the fragment of a cross-slab, now in the Royal Museum of Scotland (IB 239), was found incorporated in a wall about 183m N of the church. On both faces it bears a portion of the incised outline of a Greek cross, which has a central boss, wedge-shaped arms and ringed armpits framed by a flat-band moulding.

(2), (3) In the N wall to the E of the N transept, and now obscured by harling, there are fragments of two crosses probably of 11th century date: the first, is part of a cross-head, which has a central boss and wedge-shaped arms incised with triquetra; the second bears a portion of the incised outline of a Greek cross within two concentric circles, and has a two-strand knot at the edge of the slab.

(4) At the E end of the N wall of the church, and obscured by harling, there is a fragment of a cross-slab bearing the incised outline of a Greek cross within two concentric circles. The arms of the cross are compass drawn, and the space betwe en each is filled with a lobed strand; the edge of the slab has an incised key pattern border.

(5) A freestanding cross-slab is now in the Royal Museum of Scotland (IB 45); it is carved in low relief and bears a Maltese cross above a vertical panel of complete pattern interlace (eight-strand, median-incised plain plait) and a horizontal panel filled with a four-cord plait.

RCAHMS 1987, visited February 1986.

NMRS MS/28; RMS MS 578, p.21.