This piece of masonry sits out of context in the grounds of Pitscandly House, near Forfar. The family crest is for the family Cuninghame Smith whose family seat is Caprington Castle, Kilmarnock. When or how the piece came to arrive from the opposite side of Scotland is a mystery. Although not shown the masonry has a piece of iron projecting from the top, suggesting a ball or similar rested on it. Caprington Castle was owned in around 1385 by descendants of William Wallace, it then passed to Adam Cuninghame Smith in 1400. Not seen in the model as it is obscured by moss is a crest of a right hand holding a plumb rule and a motto above “Ad Amussin” (With precision) and applies to the Cuninghame family. To the right of this is a crest of a ship in distress and the motto “At Spes Infracta” (Yet my hope is unbroken), this being associated with the Dick family of Prestonfield who married into the family further back in the family tree. The third motto being Via Tuta Virtutis (Is the safe way of virtue).
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