Village to bear its cross again

Published on Tuesday 16 September 2008 10:15

A FIVE-metre high reconstruction of an ancient, intricately-carved stone cross is to be built in Aberlady – more than 1200 years after the original towered over the village.

The original cross welcomed Anglo-Saxon pilgrims travelling between the monasteries of Iona and Lindisfarne, and is thought to have been put up around the year 750. Just one fragment of it is known to survive, and is kept in the Museum of Scotland.

Local historians have now been given a 26,000 grant to re-create the monument and hope that within a year it will once more take its place on the East Lothian skyline.

Ian Malcolm, secretary of the Aberlady Conservation Society, said: "Obviously we won't know exactly what the original cross looked like because we only have one fragment, but it was thought to have been carved by the same man or team as carved the Abercorn cross, which has three fragments remaining. So using these we should be able to do quite a good reconstruction."

He has helped research the design for the new cross, which incorporates influences which would have been familiar to the monks who created the original.

Mr Malcolm, 58, said: "The side panels have grapevines, which are demonstrative of a Mediterranean influence – Iona would have had links with centres of learning throughout the Mediterranean area; it wasn't an isolated outpost as many people think.

"We also have zoomorphic figures – intertwined animals of various descriptions. These are thought to represent the bounty of nature. And on the other face we have very distinctive seabirds, which are based on work in the Lindisfarne gospels."

Sculptor Barry Grove, 40, who created the design,

said the original monument would have had an enormous impact on the pilgrims: "I think it would have been quite an awe-inspiring sight.

It would probably have been painted in different colours – brilliant reds, yellows, blues and greens – so it would have been like a physical representation of the Gospels. I think it would have taken your breath away."

However he has no plans to re-create the colours of the original, which will be carved from clashach sandstone.

"It's an abhorrent thought now to paint such a beautiful natural material," he said.

The original site is now a cemetery, so to avoid disturbing the graves, the new cross will be placed just a few metres away in the neighbouring memorial garden.

The grant for the project has been given by the Tyne Esk Leader Programme, which gives European funding for rural projects.