Arthurlie - The Arthulie Cross

The Arthulie Cross

This stone is a 10th - 11th century cross-shaft made from a very hard and compact sandstone, and it now stands at NS 4997 5854, by the roadside, set in a modern rectangular base and protected by railings.

The cross measures 2.2m high, 0.5m wide, and 0.2m thick and is in good condition except that one face is badly worn. One side had an iron ring indented into it, almost flush with the surface, this being done during its time when it was being used as a gate post after it was no longer used as a bridge. In the 1857 Name Book it was believed that its original site had been at NS 4968 5813 in a field called Cross-stane-park. In 1795 it was acting as a footbridge over a stream in the Colinbar Glen area at the bottom of the Cross-stane-park (NS 497 580). It stayed there long enough to be worn smooth on one face; it was seen by the OS surveyor in 1857

In approximately 1870 it was erected in the grounds of Arthurlee House at NS 4979 5814 as shown in the photograph. Sometime prior to 1942 it was moved yet again by Barrhead Council to its present position.

The stone is said to be associated with Arthur, King of the Britons. Locally it was said to mark Arthur's grave or a conspicuous leader of that name.