A carved Old Red Sandstone block from Strathmartine now rests in the McManus Galleries. The Strathmartine Castle Stone is a Pictish symbol stone, an early-medieval carved stone bearing Pictish motifs rather than a cross.
The stone matters because its simple history tracks movement from reuse in a wall to museum care. Once built into masonry southeast of Strathmartine Castle, it was moved to Dundee in the early twentieth century and acquired for the city’s museums in 1969.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
The Strathmartine Castle Stone came from Strathmartine in Angus.
It is a Class I Pictish stone made of Old Red Sandstone.
The stone bears a Pictish beast and a crescent and V-rod symbol.
It was formerly built into a wall southeast of Strathmartine Castle.
The stone was moved to a property in Dundee in the early twentieth century.
It was acquired for Dundee Museums in 1969.
It is now on display at the McManus Galleries in Dundee.
People
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Dundee Museums
Acquired the stone in 1969.
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McManus Galleries
Current display location for the stone.
Connections
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Strathmartine Castle
Later castle near the wall where the stone was reused.
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Photo: Laerol / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 McManus Galleries
Museum where the stone is now displayed.
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Photo: Val Vannet / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 Balluderon Stone
Another Pictish carved stone from the Strathmartine area.
What to look for
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Pictish beast
The Pictish beast is a distinctive animal symbol on carved stones.
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Crescent and V-rod
The crescent and V-rod is a common Pictish symbol pairing.
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Wall reuse
The stone was once built into a later wall near Strathmartine Castle.
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Museum display
The original is now preserved indoors in Dundee.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 56.5261°N · 3.0179°W
- Access
- Paid entry — managed visitor site
- Terrain
- Easy going
Opening & admission
- Displayed at the McManus Galleries in Dundee; check museum opening details.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is the Strathmartine Castle Stone?
- It is a Class I Pictish symbol stone from Strathmartine in Angus.
- What symbols are on it?
- It bears a Pictish beast and a crescent and V-rod.
- Where was it found?
- It was formerly built into a wall southeast of Strathmartine Castle.
- Where is it now?
- It is displayed at the McManus Galleries in Dundee.
Sources
Explore more: Carved stones · Pictish & early medieval · Angus
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