Monument record MHG7082 - Princess' Stone, Glenferness

Currently on private land, no access without permission. DL30/8/99

NH94SW 10 9366 4261 moved from to 9364 4253.
(NH 9364 4253) Princess' Stone (AT) (Sculptured) (NAT)
OS 6"map, Nairnshire, 1st ed., (1869)

Princess Stone (NAT) OS 6"map, (1959)

An upright sculptured cross-slab of greenish soft sandstone, standing under an ash-tree on a small cairn of earth and stones.
The slab is rectangular, broken away at the top, 5'6" high by 2'2" wide by 4" thick. It has been broken in three pieces which are now carefully joined with cement and kept in position by a stone post on each side supported by iron stays. The surface of the stone is weathered to such an extent that parts of the sculpture have disappeared, and its interpretation is further complicated by hard bands of quartz across the stone.
It is sculptured in relief on four faces, the front bearing a cross interlacing spirals and human figures. The back bears interlacing, an archer the elephant symbol, the crescent and v-rod, double-disc, z-rod and a hound. Interlacing on both sides of the stone is now hidden by the supporting posts.
Allen (Allen & Anderson 1903) calls the stone 'the Princes' Stone but the legend associated with it is of a princess who drowned in the river nearby.
G Anderson and P Anderson 1842; J R Allen and J Anderson 1903.

'Princess Stone' (sic) a sculptured stone generally as described by Allen, was removed to NH 9366 4261 about 14 years ago because it was endangered by floods. Nothing was found beneath it. The stone now protrudes 1.6m above ground level, part of the 'elephant' symbol being below ground.
Visited by OS (R L) 4 February 1971.

Class II symbol stone ( known as the Princess Stone).The cross is on SW face and below are figures.On reverse the lower of two panels holds an elephant over a crescent and V-rod below which are a double disc and Z-rod and another elephant. To left of the upper symbols are figure of a hooded crossbowman and a hound.
A.Mack 1997 p.108