Dunbeath Heritage Centre
Location
Caithness , Scotland, KW6 6ED
Accessibility and amenities
Easy access
See full details below
Entry fee
Dunbeath Heritage Centre
Location
The Old School , Dunbeath,
Caithness , Scotland, KW6 6ED
Accessibility and amenities
Easy access
See full details below
Dunbeath Heritage Centre
Ionad-Dualchais Dhùn Bheathadh
Ballachly Cross Slab
Leac Croise Bhaile a’ Chlaidh
An inscribed stone, dating from the 7th century AD, with a Christian cross and details which may represent the sun, moon and stars. The discovery of the stone at nearby Chapel Hill in 1996 confirmed Chapel Hill as a significant early Christian site.
The stone is displayed in Dunbeath Heritage Centre where visitors can journey to the past, places and people of Dunbeath through the centre’s unique collections, displays and local history archives. Unearth the history of Dunbeath’s ancient landscape and earliest peoples right up to the nineteenth century and the expansion of Dunbeath village and harbour.
Dunbeath is also the birthplace of celebrated Scottish author Neil Gunn and the Heritage Centre has a large collection of material relating to Gunn and his work.
Further information
This style of cross is more often seen on stones from Iona and Ireland. The carved spokes may represent stars, with the curved hooks symbolising the sun and the moon. The hook may also stand for the P-shaped Greek letter ‘Rho’ which was often combined with the cross to form Chi-Rho, the first letters of Christ’s name in Greek. The fish was another early symbol of Christ and the carving between the top and right arms of the cross possibly has this meaning.
Fragments of a sculpted cross have also been found in the vicinity. These date in style from the 8th century AD. The carving is of high quality, again suggesting that, even a century later, this was an important religious site.
https://www.dunbeath-heritage.org.uk/4-chapel-hill-ballachly
Accessibility and amenities

Visit website for opening hours

Entry Fee

Email: info@dunbeath-heritage.org.uk

Tel: 01593 731233

Local amenities close-by

Public toilets

Free parking

Less than 100m from parking

Wheelchair access to building

Accessible by public transport (bus)
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