The Ancient Crosses of Nithsdale
ANCIENT CROSSES
NEW CUMNOCK
© Robert Guthrie
ANCIENT CROSSES
Nithsdale
Afton Water
Water of Deugh
Water of Ken
Loch Doon
Durisdeer
Glencairn
Thornhill
Closeburn
Dalgarnock
Firth of Clyde
Above : Mansfield Cross.
9th Century Anglian Cross
Right : Cairn Cross
10th Century Scandinavian Cross
Kirkconnel
Above : Fragments of 10th and 11th century crosses discovered in Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire and now in the Dumfries Museum, Dumfries.
Below : Remains of church of St. Connel Church , Kirkconn el
Durisdeer
A stone was found in the old parish church at Durisdeer. The church may stand on the site on ancient pagan grove if Durisdeer (Doresdore) is [Gaelic] dorus doire 'door , entrance, grove'.
Thornhill
Remnants of a large free standing highly decorated cross at the Nith Bridge on the road from Thornhill to Penpont, perhaps standing at a former fording place of the river.
Glencairn
Fragment of the Glencairn Cross, now in Dumfries Museum, Dumfries. The parabolic shape of the cross resembles the Anglian Cross at Mansfield, New Cumnock
Dalgarnock
The Templand Cross , Dalagarnock is the one remaining standing stone of a great stone- circle. A small incised cross can be found on the stone, completing the transformation of a once pagan site to the emerging Christian faith. The stone-circle would have stood in a grove and Dalgarnock may be [Gaelic] dail garn achadh 'place of the grove'.
Templand Cross Dalgarnoc
J. King Hewison 'Dalgarnoc: Its Saints and Heroe
s'
Glencairn
A highly decorated cross with beasts found at Closeburn, Dumfrieeshire and now in Dumfries Museum, Dumfries. Kylosbern, an earlier form Closeburn reveals the origin of the name [Gaelic] kil Osbern 'church of St.Osbern'
Dumfries Museum
Magnificent collection of cross fragments on display at Dumfries Museum