The Kilberry Sculptured Stones

Kilberry’s sculptured stone collection is thought to have come from the site of the medieval parish church on the Kilberry Castle estate, a little to the east of the castle itself. The church is first mentioned in about 1350. It was burnt down in the 1640s by the Campbells of Kilberry to prevent the besieging Royalist force of Alistair MacDonald making use of it. The churchyard fell into disuse in the following century and probably now lies under the bowling green. The stones were moved to the castle’s basement in 1948 by local historian and archaeologist Marion Campbell of Kilberry, who invited the Ministry of Works to take them into State care. They were moved from the basement to the current purpose-built shelter in 1951.