Kilted fortnight holiday in scotland & france

[Jock Scot]

Mael, what a wonderful series of pictures. Might I suggest that you set up your own version of the Scottish tourist board, as these pictures are doing Scotland a great service. Thank you so much.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Great photos, my friend !


Best,

Robert

[Mael Coluim]

Chris had another delight to see before the day was done. It was to see the Macmillan Cross at Kilmory Knap Chapel.


The drive was along the coast.

[Mael Coluim]

This 13th century Chapel ruins now houses some wonderful medieval burial slabs which some believe to have ties to the Knight Templars. Of prime importance for us was to see the Macmillan Cross. Another carving of interest was a huntsman that many believe to the oldest reference to a kilt!

The roof is long gone but a ‘Plexiglas’ replacement protects the monuments which are housed inside.

[Mael Coluim]

[Mael Coluim]

Inside the chapel are these memorials which some are from Kilmory and elsewhere. It is a magnificent collection and fills the entire chapel.

The stone on the left top is a fragment of a stone from Iona carved 14 – 15th century. The one below it is from Kilmory, carved 15 – 16th century. The one to the right and the ones following are from the area before 1000 AD.





10-11 The grave slab to the left is of a soldier carved in Kintyre in the 14 -15th century. To the left of waist is a otter chasing a salmon. The soldier effigy to the right was carved on Iona during the same period.



12, 13, The soldier effigy to the left was carved in the Loch Awe area 14 -15th century. It shows the unruly exuberance typical of the carvers of the Loch Awe area. The effigy to the right was carved locally in 14 -15th century. His feet rest on a dog while next to his head is a mason or carpenter’s square which suggesting he was more than a soldier.

[Mael Coluim]

14-The one to the left is from the Kintyre area of the 15th century. The galley may show allegiance to the Lord of the Isles. Below is a defaced deer hunting scene. 15 - To the right is a grave slab of the same period and place, but with more detail to the left of the blade is a lion chasing its tail, a bird pecking at an salmon which is being chased by an otter, a comb, a pair of shears and a casket with binding straps.



16-The grave slab to the left is locally carved in the 15th century. To the right is a fantastical creature whose tail turns into curving plant stems. 17- The gravel slab to the right was carved on Iona in the 15th century for John Carpenter and his brothers Mael-Moire and Cristinus Faber. Faber comes from the Latin word craftsman, and John Carpenter’s trade is also referenced to in the carving of a block of wood with axes to the left of the sword hilt.


18 – A grave slab made locally in the 25 – early 16th century. Below the fine cross head is a casket, a comb with a bird on it, a dog with what appears to be a bell around its neck, shears, a round mirror, two animals whose tails turn into plant ornament. One strand appears to be holly and is being bitten by another animal. 19 – the one to the right was made locally in the 14th century. At the bottom there is a hammer and anvil, set into a block, a casket with binding straps and shears.



20 - Grave slab carved locally 14 – 16th century. At the bottom there is a pair of large clothier shears. Large shears like this were used to finish woolen cloth by trimming off the knap. To the left is a battle axe. It appears this person too, was a soldier and craftsman.
21 – Locally carved stone that appears to be made for Henry Tulloch, a clothier of the 14th century. Later it was used by Cristinus Faber whose metal working tools were added below Tulloch’s large shears. Cristinus may have been a relative of namesake on stone 17 since it was common for families to use the same names over and over again.



22 – Effigy of craftsman carved on Iona in the 15th century. This effigy, showing a man in civilian dress is unique. Sadly the inscription is nearly illegible so the only thing we know is his name Johanes (John). Whoever he was he must have been of sufficient social status and wealth to be bold enough to have such an unusal grave slab.
23 – Grave slab carved in 14 – 15 th century for a priest or perhaps a deacon.

[Mael Coluim]

25 – Local carved grave slab from 14 – 16th century. Highly unusual showing a priest kneeling before an altar in prayer
26 – Grave slab from the +15th century at the bottom is a comb and a pair of shears


27 – Grave slab carved on Iona during 14 – 15th century. Although worn shows the famed craftsmanship of the Iona carvers.
28 – Grave slab carved on Iona during 14 – 15th century
29 – Grave slab of Loch area of the 14 - 15th century


30 – Far left Grave slab carved in the Loch Awe area in the 15 – 15th century. Still to be seen at the bottom is a casket and pair of shears.
31, 32, 33 – Broken grave slabs carved on Iona in the 14 – 16th century.


34 – Grave slab of a priest carved on Iona in the 14 – 15th century. He is in a position of prayer. He is wearing fine robes which are heavily decorated.


Archibald McCormick

[Mael Coluim]

Macmillan Cross - The carving was commissioned by clan Chief Alexander MacMillan around 1450 who lived in the nearby Castle Sween. It was carved locally. This side shows the crucifixion with Virgin Mary and St. John to each side.


Macmillan Cross – reverse shows a hunt scene that has cleverly twisted to show the scene on the shaft.

Macmillan Cross – reverse; Hunt scene


Macmillan Cross – reverse; Hunter
This is claimed by some to the oldest reference to a kilt.





Macmillan Cross – reverse; Hunter base

[Mael Coluim]

Leaving Kilmory we went into Kilmartin for a dinner at the Inn. Now I have been feasting on Haggis for breakfast, lunch and dinner during my holiday in Scotland. My dinner was meatloaf with haggis in the middle!

Dropping me off a the B&B we were greeted by the amazing Duff.