Old Meldrum

Old Meldrum
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Kirkton of Bourtie Recumbent Stone Circle
Kirkton of Bourtie RSC

The remains of this recumbent stone circle are situated in a cultivated field and comprise the recumbent, the E flanker, and two stones on the W arc. All the stones are of granite, the recumbent measuring 5.1m in length by 1.9m in height and 1.7m in thickness. The E flanker measures 2.9m in height by 1.45m in breadth and 1m in thickness. A large void beneath the E end of the recumbent has been filled in antiquity with a large boulder. The erect stones on the WSW and WNW of the circle measure 1.7m and 2.2m in height respectively. RCAHMS
Remains of a stone circle; consisting of the recumbent, now broken, the east flanker and two other stones. The recumbent lies on a definite mound and at one time the circle was -rudely paved-. The area has been used as a dump for field clearance & has been ploughed. Now there is no trace of paving or any internal features. SMR
While the circle itself is fragmentary, it has perhaps the largest recumbent stone known, the setting makes it worth a visit and the nearby occurrence of 3 early carved stones (although not in situ, they have probably not travelled far) suggests an important site with a long continuity of respect.

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Meldrum Arms and a datestone
Meldrum arms and a datestone

Situated above the entrance to Old Meldrum town hall are a polychrome armorial plaque of the 'Meldrum Arms' modelled in high relief and bearing the date 1741 in Roman numerals, immediatley below is a datestone also in Roman numerals bearing the date 1877

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Old Meldrum Sailor
The Old Meldrum Sailor

Near life size stone statue of a sailor in period costume holding a pipe in one hand and an anchor in the other.

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Old Meldrum War Memorial
Old Meldrum  War Memorial

A kilted soldier type, light coloured stone war memorial almost identical to the one at Portsoy except for this one having a smooth dressed pediment. It commemorates the dead of both World War I & II. It is rectangular with a splayed base standing on a two-stepped plinth. It is surmounted with the statue of a kilted soldier with a Glengary bonnet, standing head bowed and holding an inverted rifle.

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The Eternal Present
Inscription

A sculpture consisting of three large spheres of granite, gneiss and gabbro; sourced from Aberdeenshire quarries. Carved in designs based on the enigmatic neolithic stone balls known as 'petrospheres' that are estimated to have been produced between 5,000 and 2,000 B. C. These neolithic objects, of hand holding size, and of unknown function are peculiar to Scotland (except for 1 Irish and 4 Northern English finds) and have been found in considerable number particularly in the North-east, currently 425 known . They are decorated with varied numbers of knobs or more precisely convex discs anything from 3 to 160. Perhaps the best known because one of the most highly decorated is the Towie Ball. See external link to NMS

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