Print

MHG62688 - Pictish symbol stone - St. Martin's Chapel, Ulbster

Summary

A Pictish symbol stone - St. Martin's Chapel, Ulbster

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A Pictish symbol stone found in St Martin's burial ground, Ulbster in 2022.

The stone was discovered by F Wade during cleaning and revealing of gravestones within the graveyard of St Martin’s Chapel, Mains of Ulbster (see MHG31351)in September 2022. The stone lies as a grave marker in a row of gravestones on the east side of the C18 Sinclair mausoleum (see MHG42258) which stands at the centre of the graveyard. A previous find of a Pictish cross-slab (see MHG1406) occurred in the same graveyard in 1770. The Ulbster cross-slab had been later re-used as a graveslab in the same manner as the present discovery. On the front of the stone are two incised symbols, a double-disc and Z-rod and a mirror. The double-disc the upper of the two symbols is damaged with the lower part of the Z-rod missing. The upper part of the Z-rod has a very well formed termination, in the form of an elaborate ‘U’. The handle of the mirror is deeply incised, but the face of the mirror is only traceable in certain lights. Other symbols (and perhaps a comb) could have been present on parts of the stone now delaminated. <1>

Footnote from Sir John Sincair's First Statistical Account
(Wick Parish 1794)
....... There is also a rock near Ulbster called Lechan Ore, a name which, according to tradition, is obtained from the following cicumstance : Gun, of Clyth, a gentleman of Caithness, going over to Denmark, prevailed upon a Danish Princess to marry him. In returning home to make preparations for the reception of the lady and her attendants, the vessel, with the expected guests, was wrecked upon this rock, and every soul perished. It hence obtained the name of Lechan or golden flag. The body of the Princess was thrown ashore and interred in the neighbouring burying ground at Ulbster where Sir John Sinclair's family tomb is situated. The stone, which is said to cover her grave is still extant, and has some Hieroglyphick characters inscribed, though now much eroded. <2>

Note: this historical reference may relate to this stone or the 'Ulbster Stone' (TB 27/1/25)

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 3358 4185 (5m by 5m)
Map sheet	ND34SW
Civil Parish	WICK
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (0)

External Links (0)