St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Museum

The Museum of St. Vigeans in the Scottish county of Angus is home to cross- slabs, grave stones and Pictish symbol stones. In total, there are now 38, more or less fragmentary stones.

St. Vigeans is a small village 1.6 km on the northern edge of Arbroath. The old St. Vigeans consisted of a single road that wound around the foot of the church hill. The church was founded about 1242 and is built exactly like the lying around the Church Kirk style cottages made ​​of red sandstone. Two of them were for St. Vigeans " Museum of Carved Stones" remodeled, which was reopened in 2009. It is home to a collection skulpierter stones, from the time of the Picts ( 6th and 7th centuries ) and from the early Christian period. The stones and grave slabs appear to have been collected around the site and used in the construction of the new church. During the renovation and expansion of the church in 1871, the stones were detached from the wall bond and placed in the church vestibule. There they remained until 1960, when the collection came into the hands of " Historic Scotland " and was placed in the Kirk style cottages.

The History of St. Vigeans began in the 8th century with the founding of the monastery named after Saint Feichin. The name of the Irish saint who died in 664, is sometimes Latinized reproduced as St. Vigeanus. The importance of the monastery of St. Vigeans if it even still existed, waned as the Scottish king William I. (1143-1214) in Arbroath founded an abbey.

Of the five stones show those symbols that are usually found on Pictish symbol stones. Nine of them are former grave stones or parts. Eight stones show saints, including Anthony and Paul at the Last Supper of Jesus. Five of the stones were carved apparently simultaneously. They represent a group that was commissioned by a patron and destined for the new St. Vigeans church. Eight other stones are architectural fragments of the oldest church which was built in the 1100s.

Droste -Stone

The highlight of the collection is the so -called " bailiff -Stone ", a cross- slab of 182 cm height and 53 cm width. It is believed that he used to stand at the entrance of the monastery of St. Vigeans. He was eventually broken up into three parts. A smaller center piece is still missing. The front of the bailiff - stone wearing a long cross, which is designed with a knot pattern and is surrounded by fantastic creatures and demons. The back of the stone bears a mixture of Pictish symbols and animal figures. Two dogs pursue a deer, while an archer shot a wild boar. Carving of a bear, a unicorn, a fawn with fabrics and a bird, are also available. The peculiarity of the stone is an inscription: " Bailiff IRE UORET ETT forcus ". It could be " the bailiff in the reign of Uoret and forcus, " mean, but opinions about it differ.

But not all stones found around the Church have been brought to the museum. Some grave stones along the cemetery wall are emphasized quality, especially from the year 1746.