Location
Macduff near the Doune Church on the other side of the road
Macduff, Aberdeenshire
OS Map Reference
NJ 701 643
Date
1783
Description
Category B listed granite cross incorporating small carved plaque at apex, inscribed narrow slabs as arms mounted on square tooled granite plinth. Carving on apex depicts a figure on horseback and bears the arms of the Earl of Fife. Dated 1783 but incorporating earlier fragments. The cross bears the inscription, on 2 panels one on either side: Macduff Cross. Rebuilt at Macduff by the Earl of Fife, 1783 when the town was constituted a Royal Burgh by George III. May it flourish, increase in number and opulence, ----- while it's inhabitants gain the blessing of life by industry, diligence and temperance." The words on the inscription are taken to refer to the fact that a stone was taken from the ancient Macduff Cross in Fife and built into the Macduff one, to form some sort of symbolic connection between the ancient and modern bearers of the name Macduff. At the beginning of the last century it was popular for youths to light fires at the foot of the cross. As a result the cross fell and is now shorter.
Era
1700s
Information Source
Macduff and its Harbour by Robert Henry, James A S McPherson and Alasdair E D Paterson.
Related Artefacts
Categories
Iconography
- cross, Roman
- heraldic motifs
- horse
- human figure
Photographer
- Stanley Bruce
Unavailable Data
- Related Information
- Creator
- External Links
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