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Papil Stone

The Papil Stone was discovered in 1877 in the old churchyard to the south of Papil Kirk on West Burra, and is now in the National Museum. It had been reused as a grave cover for John Inkster, a local Baptist minister. A copy stands in the churchyard.

A tall, narrow slab, it features a distinctive circular crosshead, and carvings of monks and a Pictish lion. Below this are two “birdman” figures holding a human head between their beaks. These lower carvings differ in style from the rest of the slab, suggesting they were made at a different time.

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Alternative names for Papil Stone

St Laurence's Church; West Burra

Where is Papil Stone?

Papil Stone is in the parish of Lerwick and the county of Shetland.

Grid reference: HU 3687 3150

Lat / long: 60.0670707557817, -1.33882735968984

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

OS Map for Papil Stone

OS map 466
Shetland – Mainland South (Lerwick, Sumburgh & Fair Isle)
OS Explorer map 466


Directions to Papil Stone

Enter a starting point

Weather at Papil Stone

11°C
max 11°C / min 11°C
27km/h W
1022mb
88%
7%
02:40 21:32

Clear sky
Weather observed at Sandwick at 21:58

References (books)

The Pictish Guide
Elizabeth Sutherland
Edinburgh, 1997

References (websites)

Canmore
  • Shetlopedia - Papil Stone

    Pictish stones near Papil Stone

    Mail Class I symbol stone

    7.3km away

    Lerwick Class I symbol stone

    13.8km away

    Breck of Hillwell Class I symbol stone

    16.9km away

    Bressay Stone Class III cross slab

    18.6km away

    Sumburgh Class I carvings

    21.0km away

    Eswick Class I carving

    25.2km away

    Sandness Class I symbol stone

    31.5km away

    Uyea Class I symbol stone

    71.4km away

    Yell Class I symbol stone

    74.5km away
    more Pictish stones....
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    Pictish sites near Papil Stone

    St. Ninian's Isle hoard

    10.6km away

    Gaulcross hoard

    279.1km away

    Burghead fort

    288.9km away

    Parkhill silver chain

    319.7km away

    Nigg silver chain

    331.1km away

    Torvean silver chain

    331.6km away

    Dunnicaer fort

    349.6km away

    Norrie's Law hoard

    433.3km away

    Traprain Law silver chain

    462.1km away
    more Pictish sites....

    Pictish placenames near Papil Stone

    Pittulie

    267.3km away

    Pitsligo

    267.5km away

    Aberdour

    270.8km away

    Aberscross

    278.3km away

    Pitgrudy

    284.3km away

    Aberchirder

    287.8km away

    Pitlurg

    299.4km away

    Pitmedden

    306.7km away

    Aberlour

    307.1km away
    more Pictish placenames....
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    Ancient sites near Papil Stone

    Old Scatness broch

    21.0km away

    Green Hill broch, cists

    169.0km away

    Green Hill of Scarton broch

    173.6km away

    Outer Green Hill broch

    173.7km away

    Burrowston (possible) broch

    174.1km away

    Green Hill broch

    174.2km away

    Green Hill of Hestigeo broch

    174.5km away

    The Skeo broch

    178.3km away

    Duncansby Head (possible) (site of) broch

    184.0km away
    more ancient sites....
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    Castles near Papil Stone

    Scalloway Castle

    8.4km away

    Castle Holm

    16.2km away

    Muness Castle

    74.3km away

    Carrick House

    122.0km away

    Noltland Castle

    124.2km away

    Sealskerry Bay Castle (site of)

    129.2km away

    Castle Of Stackel Brae

    129.5km away

    Cubbie Roo's Castle

    139.2km away

    Westness Castle

    140.8km away
    more castles....
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    Accommodation near Papil Stone

    Lerwick SYHA Hostel
    hostelLerwick
    14.2km away
    Kveldsro House Hotel
    hotel, restaurant, barLerwick
    14.6km away
    Hurdiback Backpackers Hostel
    hostelPapa Stour
    34.5km away
    St Magnus Bay Hotel
    hotelHillswick
    46.4km away
    Saxa Vord Hostel
    hostel, restaurant, barUnst
    86.3km away
    Ayre's Rock Hostel (Sanday SYHA Hostel)
    hostel, campsiteSanday
    114.2km away
    Papay Youth Hostel
    hostelPapa Westray
    117.7km away
    Eday SYHA Hostel
    hostelEday
    122.5km away
    Lav rockha Guest House
    hotelKirkwall
    151.0km away
    Birsay SYHA Hostel
    hostelIsle of Birsay
    151.1km away

    Accommodation search

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    more accommodation....

    Cafés, restaurants & bars near Papil Stone

    Kveldsro House Hotel
    hotel, restaurant, barLerwick
    14.6km away
    Saxa Vord Hostel
    hostel, restaurant, barUnst
    86.3km away
    The Storehouse
    caféJohn O'Groats
    185.2km away
    Ackergill Tower
    hotel, restaurant, barWick
    202.5km away
    Holborn Hotel
    hotel, barThurso
    203.7km away
    Red Pepper Restaurant
    restaurantThurso
    203.7km away
    Royal Hotel Thurso
    hotel, restaurant, barThurso
    203.8km away
    Rockpool Café
    caféCullen
    276.7km away
    Castle of Park
    bed and breakfast, caféCornhill
    284.1km away
    Royal Golf Hotel
    hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
    285.3km away
    more food.... / more drink....

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    Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 4:49 pm. Updated on the 13th of April 2019 at 11:16 am.

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    About

    Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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