Cross Kirk, Breckon, runic inscription

Heritage listing

Date Added 09/10/2001 Type Crosses and carved stones: inscribed stone Local Authority Shetland Islands Parish Northmaven NGR HU 21251 78028 Coordinates 421251, 1178028 — The monument comprises an inscribed gravestone of medieval date. The monument lies in Plot No.87 within Cross Kirk graveyard, Eshaness. It is situated at the foot of the headstone marking the grave of John Williamson of Hamnavoe (otherwise known as Johnny Notions) dating to 1803. The inscribed slab is of sandstone and has maximum dimensions of 1.53m long by 0.61m wide. As the stone is earthfast its thickness is not known. Low's account (1879) indicated that roughly 25 characters are portrayed, some Roman, some Runic, running around the top (square) end of the stone and enclosed by a framing line. This was confirmed by the recent surveys which also indicated the inscriptions extend round three sides of the stone: only the bottom edge of the stone is without written characters and its marked unevenness here may indicate a breakage. Unfortunately the surface of the stone has weathered so badly that only a small number of characters can now be read. The remaining Roman and Runic characters testify to a carefully executed carving. The Roman letters, where appropriate, have serifs and are neatly rounded. An evenly incised framing line divides the text from the centre panel, with a possible second framing line also indicated. The centre panel shows the remains of decorations: three conjoined semi-circles adorn the top end, covering the whole width of the panel between the inner framing on either side. The heights of individual runes cannot be measured precisely since none appears to be complete. The tallest is roughly 5cm. Some nineteen Roman letters are now partly or wholly visible, and Low's drawing indicate

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.