Graveslab

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the tower house (TS060-097001-) at Golden there is a medieval limestone graveslab (L 1.1m; Wth 0.55m) of 13th/14th-century date, reused as a staircase lintel. It is decorated with an incised unfinished cross, comprising a plain shaft and the very rudimentary beginnings of what was obviously intended as a cross head. The top and bottom of the slab are obscured where they are bonded into the side walls of the staircase so that the remains of the upper part of the design of the head and the base of the cross are not discernible. There is an almost perfectly circular three-strand spiral scored over the surface of the slab at its centre and cutting across the shaft. In addition, there are six scored intersecting circles on the dexter side of the spiral. These marks most likely represent trial pieces or blue-prints for other works. It seems that the 13th/14th century graveslab was never finished and subsequently used as a mason's layout block before finally being taken by the 15th/16th century tower house builders for reused as a lintel.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011