Location
Lower part of Church St opposite old Congregational Church now British Legion (mill brae) on the gable end of the steading/shed behind 48 High St.
New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
Date
18th century
Description
A granite carving of a human head, mounted on the south gable of the shed. This apotropaic (averting evil) carving has an extremely atavistic quality, with its appearance of a severed head it is powerfully reminiscent of Celtic Iron Age works relating to the cult of the head. Indeed if found buried in the peat bog one might think it was such. However it is presumed to date from the origin of the building to which it is attached. This is one of the oldest structures in the village one can clearly see where corrugated iron has replaced thatch, some aspects of the shed suggest it may have originally been a dwelling. It is situated near what would originally have been a major crossroad pre-dating the village square crossroad to the south and the Fraserburgh-Banff turnpike junction a mile to the north. Possibly this structure was part of the hamlet of Cyaak that preceded the village. The house on whose feu it stands No 48 High St is itself nearly as old as the foundation of the village in 1787 and was once a butchers, at which time the shed may have been used for slaughtering.
Era
1700s
Categories
Iconography
- human face or head
Photographer
- David Watson Hood
Unavailable Data
- OS Map Reference
- Related Information
- Information Source
- Related Artefacts
- Creator
- External Links
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