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Norrie's Law


Between 1819 and 1822, during the excavation of a cairn known as Norrie’s Law at Balman farm, a hoard of silver was discovered.

At the base of the cairn a cist was found, and it was either near or within this that the hoard was uncovered. Weighing around 12.5kg in total it included two penannular brooches, a pin with decorated pinhead, some rings, fragments of plates, four Roman coins and a pair of leaf-shaped engraved plaques.

The plaques are of particular interest, being engraved with the double-disc and Z-rod symbol along with a stylised dog’s head which are reminiscent of the Lindisfarne style, and are thought to date to the 7th or 8th centuries AD.

Some of the hoard was sold for scrap by a pedlar with the name Forbes, while other items were “bestowed” locally. Later the proprietor of Largo, General Durham, seems to have commissioned a dig at the cairn and discovered more items. In the 1830s the remaining six items were donated to the then National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, now the National Museums of Scotland, by Lady Durham.

The surviving items include a diamond-shaped mount decorated with a Pictish double disc and Z-rod symbol and an animal head, possibly a dog. It may possibly have been one of several mounts used to decorate a helmet.

Another surviving item is a spiral-decorated sheet of silver which has been interpreted as another kind of mount although its exact purpose is unknown. It has been partially cut up, presumably for the silver to be used for payment or in other items.

A brooch pin that also survived features a terminal decorated with three spiral pattern designs.

A forged brooch consists of two flat sections of silver connected by a twisted bar (labelled as “2” in the photo below – the brooch labelled “1” is from Tummel Bridge and the brooch fragment labelled “3” is from the Gaulcross hoard).

The remaining two items are another silver brooch which was restored in the 19th century when two halves were joined by a silver sleeve, and a silver spiral finger ring of a type which were more normally made from bronze. Both these items can be seen in the photo at the top of the page.

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Alternative names for Norrie's Law

Norries Law; Norrieslaw Cottage

Where is Norrie's Law?

Norrie's Law is in the parish of Largo and the county of Fife.

Grid reference: NO 4095 0733

Lat / long: 56.254836, -2.954582

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Norrie's Law

OS map 370
Glenrothes North, Falkland & Lomond Hills (Auchtermuchty & Cupar)
OS Explorer map 370


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Directions to Norrie's Law

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Weather at Norrie's Law

6°C
max 6°C / min 4°C
44km/h W
1009mb
78%
75%
08:10 16:39

Light rain
Weather observed at Ceres at 06:16

References (websites)

Canmore
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Pictish sites near Norrie's Law

Haddington silver chain

35.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

36.8km away

Whitlaw silver chain

60.1km away

Hoardweel silver chain

60.4km away

Borland silver chain

70.2km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

71.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

90.7km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

105.5km away

Nigg silver chain

109.3km away
more Pictish sites....
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Pictish stones near Norrie's Law

Largo Class II cross slab

4.1km away

Walton Class I symbol stone

5.2km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

6.2km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

11.9km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

11.9km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

11.9km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

11.9km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

11.9km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

11.9km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish placenames near Norrie's Law

Pitcruvie

2.7km away

Pittarthie

11.3km away

Abercrombie

11.7km away

Pitcullo

11.9km away

Pitmilly

18.0km away

Pitcairlie

18.7km away

Pitlochie

20.2km away

Pitgorno

21.8km away

Pitlochie

23.0km away
more Pictish placenames....
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Ancient sites near Norrie's Law

Lundin Links stone circle

4.6km away

Drumcarrow Craig broch

7.7km away

Newton of Collessie standing stone

13.1km away

Balfarg henge and stone circle

13.4km away

Kilmany cursus

15.3km away

Bogleys standing stone

16.7km away

Reedieleys cursus

18.2km away

Balgay Hill rock art

23.6km away

Abernethy Den stone circle

23.7km away
more ancient sites....
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Castles near Norrie's Law

Castle of Tacis (site of)

1.2km away

Pitcruvie Castle

2.7km away

Craighall Castle (site of)

3.3km away

Largo Castle

3.9km away

Struthers Castle

4.0km away

Lundin Tower

4.5km away

Aithernie Castle

4.8km away

Clatto Castle (site of)

5.1km away

Scotstarvit Tower

5.5km away
more castles....
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Accommodation near Norrie's Law

Lundin Links Hotel
hotelLundin Links
4.5km away
Old Manor Hotel
hotelLundin Links
4.7km away
The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
6.7km away
The Caledonian Hotel, Leven
hotelLeven
7.1km away
Dairsie Castle
self-cateringCupar
8.7km away
Kilconquhar Castle Estate
hotel, restaurant, self-catering cottagesElie
9.5km away
Elie House Apartment 11
self-catering apartmentElie
10.8km away
Rufflets Country House Hotel
hotel, self-catering lodgesSt Andrews
11.2km away
Craigsanquhar House Hotel
hotelStrathkinness
11.8km away
Fernie Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLetham
11.9km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Norrie's Law

The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
6.7km away
Kilconquhar Castle Estate
hotel, restaurant, self-catering cottagesElie
9.5km away
Station Buffet Bar
barElie
11.0km away
Fernie Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLetham
11.9km away
Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
13.3km away
West Port Bar & Kitchen
hotel, restaurant, pubSt Andrews
13.3km away
Macdonald Rusacks Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
13.5km away
Best Western Scores Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
13.6km away
Zizzi St Andrews
café, restaurantSt Andrews
13.7km away
St Andrews Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
13.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 20th of April 2015 at 10:09 am. Updated on the 19th of March 2020 at 6:43 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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