Tiree, Soroby
Cross(S) (Period Unassigned), Cross Slab(S) (Early Medieval)
Site Name Tiree, Soroby
Classification Cross(S) (Period Unassigned), Cross Slab(S) (Early Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Cladh Sorobaidh
Canmore ID 21467
Site Number NL94SE 6.02
NGR NL 983 416
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/21467
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Tiree
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NL94SE 6.2 983 416.
NL 983 416. Within Cladh Sorobaidh is the greater part of the shaft of a cross, 1.90 m long and tapering in width from 0.32 m to 0.23 m. It is recumbent and broken into two pieces. On the front, separated by an inscription, there are two niches, the uppermost of which contains a figure of St Michael in the act of slaying the dragon, and the lower a hooded and cloaked female figure attended by Death, represented as a cadaver bradishing a spade. The inscription reads: HIC EST CRUX / MICHAEL(IS) AR / CHANGE (L) I DEI / ANNA PRIOR / ISA DE(Y) ('This is the cross of Michael, Archangel of God. Anna, Prioress of Iona'). Since the inscription is in black letter, it can be assumed that the prioress in question was Anna MacLean, Prioress of Iona from before 1509 until her death in 1543.
A further six slabs and cross-shafts within Cladh Sorobaidh, datable from the 14th to early 16th centuries are described by the RCAHMS, as are a few 18th/19th century stones.
RCAHMS 1980.
