Fairlie, 'the Fairlie Stone'
Carved Stone (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Fairlie, 'the Fairlie Stone'
Classification Carved Stone (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 41177
Site Number NS25NW 29
NGR NS 2098 5559
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/41177
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Largs
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Ayrshire
Fairlie, Ayrshire, carved stone
Measurements: L 1.30m, H 0.38m
Stone type:
Place of discovery: NS 2098 5559
Evidence for discovery: seen re-used as a fireplace lintel in Chapel House, which was demolished in 1845. It was taken to the garden of the Fairlie Free Church manse in 1949. By 1956 it was at St Margaret’s Church, Fairlie, and around 1968 it was transferred to St Paul’s Church and built into the vestibule wall.
Present location: St Paul’s Church, Fairlie.
Present condition: only the carved face is visible, which is worn.
Description:
This appears to have been a recumbent monument cut down for re-use as a fireplace lintel. The visible face is carved in relief with a horizontal frontal human figure, a quadruped in profile with open jaws and another animal in profile with its head turned back to bite its own tail. Beneath all three is a double moulding above a wide plain border.
Date: ninth or tenth century.
References: PSAS 28 (1893-4), 234-6; ECMS pt 3, 475.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2019
NS25NW 29 2098 5559.
A sculptured stone taken from above a fireplace in Chapel House (see NS25NW 23) when it was demolished in 1845, was placed in the garden of the Free Church Manse (NS 208 546) at Fairlie in 1849. It measures 4 1/4 ft by 1 1/4ft and bears in relief, on one face, a human figure and two animals.
Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1894
Field Visit (21 September 1956)
The sculptured stone, which has been placed in the porch of St Margaret's Church (NS 209 552) is as described. The sculptures appear to be of Dark Age type.
Visited by OS (DS) 21 September 1956
Field Visit (8 February 1983)
When St Margaret's Church became redundant about 15 years ago, the stone was moved to St Paul's Church, Fairlie (NS 2098 5559) where it is now built into the vestibule wall, with only the carved side showing. It is labelled 'The Fairlie Stone' and is locally known by this name (I Thorburn, minister, The Manse, Fairlie).
Visited by OS (JRL) 8 February 1983
