Rare standing stone

“Perhaps your readers would be interested in a recent visit by Carmyllie Heritage visit to the Camus Cross and the Panmure Testimonial near Monikie School with kind permission from Mr Jeffrey,” says Anne Law.

“Norman Atkinson, previously head of Angus Cultural Services, enlightened the visitors on the heritage of the monuments.

“The soft stone Camus Cross is almost 1000 years old, dating back to 1025 and is an Irish/Christian cross depicting the Crucifixion. This area had been an important church centre where there was a chapel (possibly wooden). The art on the cross is similar to the figures in Brechin Cathedral and the Brechin Round Tower.

“In 1678 it was reported that the cross had fallen down (the chapel lost without trace) and was re-erected. In 1853 it was moved two metres by Lord Panmure to be in line with an avenue of trees.

“This type of free-standing stone is the only one in Angus and is very rare.

“A short distance to the west of the cross, stands the Panmure Testimonial, 105 feet high, built in 1839 with the motto ‘Live and Let Live’.

“Subscriptions were collected from the Panmure tenants to honour William Maule, 2nd Earl of Panmure, who wavered the rents in a year of bad harvests in 1826.

“No access to the tower is permissible now, although at the top, seven counties can be viewed on a clear day.”

Derek Sives, of Carnoustie, has supplied today’s photograph and says: “I was Petty Officer in the Royal Navy from 1949-56. I was aboard HMS Forth, a submarine depotship, in Malta, berthed alongside HMS Magpie. It was too small to have an officers’ fast...

Christine Roberts, of Ladybank, has been in touch regarding the recent correspondence about the Alvis car. “This photograph shows me with the Alvis car in which I learned to drive in 1955,” she says.