OS1/13/19/28

Continued entries/extra info

28 Parish of Largo. Plan 18C Trace No.4

(Entry for Gilston Burn - Deleted)


[Quotation]
"On an artificial rising ground or tumulus to the north or Largo House, called Norrie's Law, a very singular relique was found about the year 1819, which it is infinitely to be regretted has not been preserved entire. A man digging sand at this place came accidentally upon a stone coffin, in which he found a complete suit of Scale Armour which with the Shield, Sword handle and Scabbard was entirely of Silver. No bones, ashes or human remains appear to have been found in or near the grave but there is every reason to believe hat the body of some man of importance in ancient times had here been interred, arrayed in this splendid Suit of armour though from the remoteness of the period his remains had entirely disappeared. A considerable number of Silver coins were also at the sametime found. and almost the whole of it concealed by the finder. A few portions however of the armour was obtained by the late General Durham, and is still preserved at Largo House these consist of two circles or amulets rather rudely formed and but indifferently preserved the one seven inches in diameter and the other six and a half inches two bodkins Seven and a fourth inches in length, with heads beautifully ornamented and of exquisite workmanship one of which had he symbol of a broken Sceptre engraved on the back of the head,two oval- shaped plates, on which are engraved symbols often found on the class of stone monuments of which Largo cross is a specimen, Viz two ornamented circles joined together by straight lines and intersected by a broken sceptre and the head of an animal somewhat like a horse. A beautiful finger ring in the form of a coiled serpent; a small sword hook the mouth piece and the lip of a large sword scabbard, an ornamented circular plate and various other lesser fragments the uses of which are not very easily determined. It does not appear however that any of the coins have been preserved but it said by those"....(contd)