Stone sculpture

The National Monuments Service's description

This record refers to a carved stone known as the ‘Angel stone’. It was listed in the RMP (1995) as 'Cross fragment', based on Wood-Martin’s (1882, 303-304; fig. 19) interpretation of the stone as being ‘a portion of the shaft and one arm' of a cross. Wood-Martin’s published illustration shows the stone lying on its side and partly embedded in the ground; a carved human figure or angel extends the length of the stone, with a long wing-like element visible along one side of the body, the other side of the body being concealed below ground level. He does not record the dimensions of the stone. Stokes (1901, 555, note) recorded that this 'piece of medieval sculpture called the Angel Stone was found near the round tower, and is now built into the bottom of the wall on the road side. The image of an angel with outspread wings, much mutilated, is carved upon it.' The stone was noted in the fabric of the roadside wall in 1980 (pers. comm. P. Walsh & M.A. Timoney), but was not located during an inspection in 2005.
A free-standing subrectangular block of worked sandstone (L 1m; Wth 0.55m; H 0.6m) is currently located adjacent to the round tower. The two vertical long sides and one short end of the stone have rough, uneven surfaces. The horizontal upper surface of the stone has a lower ‘shelf’ along one long side, which exhibits a punch-dressed band (Wth 0.12m), with three small notches (each Wth 0.05m; D 0.04m), spaced 0.15-0.17m apart, cut into its outer edge. The other vertical short end of the stone exhibits a carved figure in very low relief on a dressed surface. The figure (H 0.44m; Wth 0.17m) is located at one edge of the stone and extends almost the full height of the surface. The outline is simple, consisting of a head with a pointed chin resting directly on the shoulders of a rectangular body. No facial features are evident, the body is plain, and nothing resembling wings is evident. The provenance of this stone is unknown. Its original form and purpose is uncertain, but it was clearly worked to allow its incorporation into a structure or building. It is possible that it Wood-Martin’s ‘Angel stone’.

Attached images:
SL008-084007-_01.JPG Low relief carving of human figure
SL008-084007-_02.JPG Low relief carving of human figure
SL008-084007-_ 03.JPG Low relief carving of human figure
SL008-084007-_ 04.JPG Notches at top edge of long side of the stone
SL008-084007-_ 05.JPG Worked surface and notches on upper surface of the stone

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 10 November 2020