A FAMOUS piece of Angus heritage will soon be visible to thousands of drivers if in name only.
Plans are under way to pay tribute to the Dunnichen Stone with the opening of a Forfar pub by the Marston’s group.
The 1,400-year-old Pictish lith has been chosen as the name and theme for the pub, one of the chain’s first Scottish outlets, and will be visible from the A90.
Angus Council museum manager Norman Atkinson said the choice of name was interesting and would be a talking point for visitors and passers-by.
“The stone itself is much admired,” he said. “The replica is at Dunnichen Church.
“When the original moved to St Vigeans, then to Dundee, there was a huge outcry and it embroiled the then Angus County council.
“A loan was arranged and it came back to Angus, and it’s stayed the same since the changes to the councils.”
A Marston’s spokesman said: “We hope to be on site early next year subject to licensing applications.
“In regards to the pub restaurant’s name, The Dunnichen Stone, it has been chosen because of the local stone that was discovered in 1811 at Dunnichen, Angus.
“That stone is now on display at the Meffan Institute in Forfar.”
The development area at Orchardbank, which houses Angus Council’s HQ Angus House and a McDonald’s fast food restaurant, has been slow to attract development but interest is picking up.
Angus Council and the Muir Group developed the £2.5 million business park, with 69 acres of serviced land, adjacent to the dual carriageway.
Marston’s joins KFC as an incoming tenant, and there are rumours of further interest in vacant sites.
The artwork for the tavern is inspired by its roots but it is not known whether any facsimiles or other heritage features are being considered.
The Meffan piece still attracts visitors as an excellent example of Dark Ages sculpture, and the Dunnichen Church replica is wearing well in its adopted home.
Mr Atkinson added: “We used to get moans of how unrealistic the replica was that it was plastic.”
“Jim Boone, the curator, said to give it a couple of years and it would look more the part, as the lichen grew on it.”
He added: “I got into trouble a couple of weeks ago from someone who said it needed a good clean.”
riwatt@thecourier.co.uk