Campbeltown Cross

A particularly fine Mediaeval cross located in the centre of what is now a roundabout between Main Street and Old Quay Street in the centre of Campbeltown (Argyll and Bute), the Campbeltown Cross dates from c.1380. The stone is 3.3m (11 feet) in height and includes the largest-known disc head at 81cm (32 inches). It is formed from distinctive rock, a schist from Loch Sween, and intricately carved, with Celtic designs, featuring foliage, Saints, a mermaid, sea-monster and other animals. It was erected at a church at Kilkivan near Machrihanish and an inscription suggests it commemorates Sir Ivor MacEachern, its parson, and was commissioned by his son Sir Andrew MacEachern. It seems to have been moved to Campbeltown after the Reformation, being slightly defaced in the process. Subsequently, it served as the town's Mercat Cross. It stood outside the Town House in the middle of Main Street until the Second World War, when it was removed to prevent damage. After the war it was re-erected in its current location.


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