Museum
A GREAT EARLY CHRISTIAN TREASURE OF ANGUS
See one of the finest collections of Pictish stones at St Vigeans Museum, 3-4 Kirkstyle, St Vigeans, Arbroath. DD11 4RB Tel. 01241 433739
The stones rank in importance alongside the early Medieval carved stone collections at Meigle, St Andrews, Whithorn and Iona. The most famous item in the collection is the Drosten Stone, a cross slab with an ornate cross and fantastic beasts, as well as a rare Latin and Pictish inscription, dating from before 843AD
Fresh academic research into the 38 stones and fragments strongly suggests that St Vigeans was once home to an important royal monastry. It may also have been a significant pilgrimage centre, perhaps due to the presence of relics of the Irish St Fechin, from whom the village took its name. Back in the 9th century Arbroath was a small port serving the needs of the more important settlement at St Vigeans. The large stone crosses would originally have been set up as monuments, boundary markers and gravestones on the church hill at St Vigeans.
St Vigeans Museum
Recently refurbished, the museum is open all year round, 5 days per week (closed Mondays and Fridays). Summer opening hours are 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Winter opening hours are shorter. Special visits can be arranged – phone 01241 878756. A computer database is available to view in the museum and a CD-ROM of the database is available for purchase. For further information visit the website of Historic Scotland.