Mugdrum Cross is one of the most interesting antiquities in the village of Newburgh and is of such a great age that all thoughts about it can only be conjecture.

The stone stands 12 feet '7 ins, high and is decorated with characteristic interlacing celtic ornamentation. On the eastern side is a pictorial representation of what seems to be a boar hunt.

Dr. Laing, the eminent local historian believed that the stone had originally been in the shape of across which would place the stone as being erected subsequent to the time of St. Columba, possibly in the late half of the sixth century. He suggests that the picture may represent some now forgotten incident in the locality. The name Mugdrum he believes to be a corruption of the celtic Muc -- a sow and drum -- a ridge.

Another theory, put forward by the Earl of Southesk who made a special study of the subject, is that the boar represents the goddess Freia, one of the Scandinavian Triad, adopted by the Picts into their religion and that the picture on the stone represents symbolically the heathen religion being driven out by Christianity.

Mugdrum may also be a curruption of Macgridin (possibly St Adrian) as was written on Macduffs cross.

If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:

Return to Fife