Black Hill

Ruthwell Parish Church is a pretty, well-kept church serving the village and parish of Ruthwell on the Solway Firth between Dumfries and Annan. It is most notable as the location of the Ruthwell Cross which is located inside the church. Most of the building dates from 1803 when the earlier parish church was remodelled, incorporating fabric from the original church. The church has a T-plan, with the apse added centrally on the long north wall in 1887, to house the Ruthwell Cross. It was further remodelled in 1906 when it was re-roofed and the door and window openings were altered. The building is Category B-listed (LB17247 Link Historic Environment Scotland).

When the church was remodelled in 1803, some features from the original church were incorporated. The armorial panel in the Murray aisle is from 1687 (Link Historic Environment Scotland).

The Ruthwell Cross is a stone Anglo-Saxon cross probably created in the early 8th century when the village of Ruthwell, now in Scotland, was part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. It is widely regarded as one of the most famous and elaborate Anglo-Saxon monumental sculptures and possibly (depending on the date allocated to the cross itself) contains the oldest surviving text, predating any manuscripts containing Old English poetry, surviving today as one of the most beautiful and sophisticated monuments of early medieval Christianity. Historic Environment Scotland notes that: “The monument is of national importance as the finest example in Scotland of the Anglo-Saxon Jarrow-Monkwearmouth school of sculpture. The cross is considered to be one of the outstanding monuments of the early church in western Europe, and as such has the potential to inform an understanding of social and religious structures, and of contemporary artistic expression” Link. The two main sides of the cross (north and south) feature figurative relief carvings, now considerably worn. The largest panel on the south side of the cross depicts Mary Magdalene drying the feet of Christ; below this is the Healing of the man born blind from John 9:1. The cross was smashed in 1642 following the reformation; the broken fragments remained in the earthen floor of the church until sometime after 1772 when they were again removed to the churchyard. In 1823 the cross was reconstructed in its present form: the cross-head we see today is largely the work of this restoration. The cross was moved to its current location in 1887 when the apse in which it stands was specially built. The cross was designated as a scheduled monument in 1921 although this designation was removed in 2018 because it “is within a securely curated environment and scheduling is not an appropriate mechanism to manage such an artefact” (SM90256 Link Historic Environment Scotland).

Ruthwell church is most notable for housing the Ruthwell Cross (NY1068 : The Ruthwell Cross), one of the most beautiful and sophisticated monuments of early medieval Christianity in the apse. It is seen here from the Murray Aisle.

The Ruthwell Cross is a stone Anglo-Saxon cross probably created in the early 8th century when the village of Ruthwell, now in Scotland, was part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. It is widely regarded as one of the most famous and elaborate Anglo-Saxon monumental sculptures and possibly (depending on the date allocated to the cross itself) contains the oldest surviving text, predating any manuscripts containing Old English poetry, surviving today as one of the most beautiful and sophisticated monuments of early medieval Christianity. Historic Environment Scotland notes that: “The monument is of national importance as the finest example in Scotland of the Anglo-Saxon Jarrow-Monkwearmouth school of sculpture. The cross is considered to be one of the outstanding monuments of the early church in western Europe, and as such has the potential to inform an understanding of social and religious structures, and of contemporary artistic expression” Link. The two main sides of the cross (north and south) feature figurative relief carvings, now considerably worn. The largest panel on the south side of the cross depicts Mary Magdalene drying the feet of Christ; below this is the Healing of the man born blind from John 9:1. The cross was smashed in 1642 following the reformation; the broken fragments remained in the earthen floor of the church until sometime after 1772 when they were again removed to the churchyard. In 1823 the cross was reconstructed in its present form: the cross-head we see today is largely the work of this restoration. The cross was moved to its current location in 1887 when the apse in which it stands was specially built. The cross was designated as a scheduled monument in 1921 although this designation was removed in 2018 because it “is within a securely curated environment and scheduling is not an appropriate mechanism to manage such an artefact” (SM90256 Link Historic Environment Scotland).

Ruthwell Parish Church is a well-kept church serving the village and parish of Ruthwell on the Solway Firth between Dumfries and Annan. It is most notable as the location of the Ruthwell Cross which is located inside the church. Most of the building dates from 1803 when the earlier parish church was remodelled, incorporating fabric from the original church. The church has a T-plan, with the apse added centrally on the long north wall in 1887, to house the Ruthwell Cross. It was further remodelled in 1906 when it was re-roofed and the door and window openings were altered. The building is Category B-listed (LB17247 Link Historic Environment Scotland).

Ruthwell Parish Church is a well-kept church serving village and parish of Ruthwell on the Solway Firth between Dumfries and Annan. It is most notable as the location of the Ruthwell Cross which is housed inside the church. Most of the building dates from 1803 when the earlier parish church was remodelled, incorporating fabric from the original church. The church has a T-plan, with the apse added centrally on the long north wall in 1887, to house the Ruthwell Cross. It was further remodelled in 1906 when it was re-roofed and the door and window openings were altered. The building is Category B-listed (LB17247 Link Historic Environment Scotland).

Ruthwell Parish Church is a well-kept church serving village and parish of Ruthwell on the Solway Firth between Dumfries and Annan. It is most notable as the location of the Ruthwell Cross which is housed inside the church. Most of the building dates from 1803 when the earlier parish church was remodelled, incorporating fabric from the original church. The church has a T-plan, with the apse added centrally on the long north wall in 1887, to house the Ruthwell Cross. It was further remodelled in 1906 when it was re-roofed and the door and window openings were altered. The building is Category B-listed (LB17247 Link Historic Environment Scotland).

Damaged several years ago this milestone has been repainted so is once again obvious to the passer-by. It is opposite Telegraph Pole 22 1 mile west of Cummertrees.

Easy to spot at the base of the banking and near the field entrance, even though the milestone is slightly sunken.

Westwards on the B725 after going under the low railway bridge, the 6 miles from Annan milestone is seen on the verge just before the lane to Newfield. In 2011 it was well painted but now the paint is peeling. The bright celandines add some sparkle.

Looking eastwards from the milestone towards the skew railway bridge. Plenty of celandines on this April day.