Site Summary Information
Site Name:
Millport, Great Cumbrae
Alternative Name(s):
Site Type:
Cross; Cist
Map Sheet:
NS15SE
Council:
North Ayrshire
Parish:
Cumbrae

Site Report

WoSASPIN 5251

A mediaeval stone cross and stone coffin were found in 1823 about 5 or 6 ft below the surface of a natural sandhill and about 10 or 12 ordinary paces (i.e. 25-30ft) southwards from the west window of 14, Guildford Street, Millport. This street is erroneously called Guildhall Street on some OS plans.
The coffin, empty and lidless, was about 8 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide by 1 1/2ins thick and divided into 2 parts by a ridge, 3 feet from one end, almost half the depth; the head piece was hollowed out and the coffin rested upon red soil. Near the head and broader end was an upright cross originally about 5ft overall, with the shaft 2ft into the soil and the carved face towards the coffin above which it rose 1 1/2 ft. The coffin was broken up for building stone and the cross shaft was accidentally broken and mislaid. The cross head was recovered by Drummond and passed into the possession of Cumbrae College in which churchyard it may be seen.
Hewison (1893) and Lytteil (1886) refer to the Cross as the "Trahoun Cross". Hewison adds that it is apparently a High Cross" and is now within the Cathedral Church at Millport.
NSA 1845 (J Drummond); J Stuart 1867; J MacGown 1883; Valuation Rolls 1964-5

Sited at NS 1625 5492. No further information was found. The cross fragment is still in the cathedral.
Visited by OS (JTT) 6 November 1964

In 2002/3 this site was examined as part of the Coastal Zone Assesment Survey of the Firth of Clyde (GUARD/CRG for HS,Firth of Clyde Forum and the SCAPE Trust). The site was visited on 02/12/2002 its location was/is 'not identifiable' The sites condition was noted as 'Unknown' and the erosion class of the coast at this point is noted as 'No Access' (HS defined erosion classes) Further action reccomended by GUARD/CRG for this site is 'Nil' .

GC39. Nothing of significance was located in the vicinity of the mediaeval stone cross and stone coffin found in 1823.
Sneddon, D., 'Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Firth of Clyde', GUARD, 2003
Entered WoSAS (MO'H) 11/04/08

Further Reading

Stuart, J , Sculptured Stones of Scotland. Vol 2, Edinburgh.(1867)

NSA , The new statistical account of Scotland by the ministers of the respective parishes under the superintendence of a committee of the society for the benefit of the sons and daughters of the clergy. Edinburgh.(1845)

MacGown, J , 'Ancient sepulture in Cumbrae', Trans Glasgow Archaeol Soc, Vol 2, 1883, pp.114-20.(1883)

Hewison, J K , The isle of Bute in the olden time. Edinburgh.(1893)

Curle, C L , 'Some little known early christian monuments in the West of Scotland', PSAS, Vol 95, 1961-2, pp.223-6.(1964)

Lytteil, W , Guide book to the Cumbraes.(1886)

Bute Valuation Rolls , Valuation rolls of the county of Bute.(1964)

Cross, M A , Sculptured stones in the county of Bute, pp.(1984)

Fisher, I , Early Medieval sculpture in the West Highlands and Islands, Edinburgh(2001)