Recent Discoveries of Early-Medieval Sculpture at St. Vigeans

On 27 August, the third in the 2009 Groam House Lecture Series was presented by Dr Jane Geddes, Senior Lecturer in the History of Art at Aberdeen University. The title of her lecture was Recent Discoveries of Early-Medieval Sculpture at St. Vigeans.

Groam House is famous for its sculptures from Rosemarkie but there are Pictish stones in other parts of the North and East of Scotland. Dr Geddes delivered an exhilarating lecture in the 2009 series, describing the discovery, preservation and display of some of these stones in East Scotland, in particular at St Vigean’s on the outskirts of Arbroath.  The Museum there is beside the old Church of St Vigean’s, dating from the 12th century, and has now been completely refurbished to a high standard.  Interestingly many of the Pictish stones were identified actually built into the walls of St Vigean’s Church and, under expert supervision, were recently extracted and mounted in the new museum there.

As an addendum to this exciting development Groam House members and friends went a few days later on a one-day outing to St Vigeans’s to see these stones and learn about the historical background. The trip took in also the Pictish displays at Pictavia, Brechin, and at Meigle where there are wonderful displays of these amazing Pictish relics.

For more information about the sculptures and museum at St. Vigeans please click here.