While a medieval stone etching of a knight is certainly not something out of the ordinary in Europe, finding one in New England is much more surprising. However, that is exactly what has been asserted about a mysterious carving in the town of Westford, MA. Could it be evidence of a Templar expedition to the New World?
Main Area of Westford Knight Site
The Westford Knight carving is on a flat piece of ledgerock that sits near the road in a suburban neighborhood. The clearest part of the image is the sword, where it is easy to make out the pommel, grip, guard, and some of the blade. The overall body of the knight is much harder to discern. This may be due to weathering over the years. There appears to be a lack on consensus on the exact shape of the overall carving, as there are different versions that have been traced and drawn. The shield and some of the other features are sometimes outlined in what appears to be white paint on the stone itself.
Westford Knight Carving
The earliest references to the carving date to the 1870s. At the time, people thought that Native Americans had made the unusual figure at some point in the past. In the 1930s, it was suggested that the figure was of Irish origin. Then, in the 1950s, a theory was proposed that has been maintained to this day. It derives from a belief that Prince Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, led an expedition from Scotland to North America in the late 1300s. (I’ve written about this previously in regard to the Newport Tower.) This carving would have been created as a memorial to a fallen member of Sinclair’s party. It was also suggested, based on perceived details and heraldry on the figure, that this person was a knight of Clan Gunn. Interestingly, some believe Prince Henry Sinclair was a member of the Knights Templar, so there’s an interesting connection to the mythos of that group.
Another view of the site
Of course, not everyone is convinced that this is indeed evidence of Pre-Columbian European contact. It has been argued that the punch carved sword dates to the 19th century, while the rest of the figure is simply scratches caused by glacial movement over the stone. It’s also been asserted that the stone would have been under at least of few feet of earth during the late 1300s.
Closer view of area
On one of the pictures I took, I have attempted to outline what could potentially be this mysterious carving. The sword is easily traced, but the rest of the alleged figure is quite challenging. To help guide my process, I began by using the painted lines on the stone (which were quite faded at the time of my visit). I also referred to various illustrations and tracings that have been made over the years. These all have certain differences, so there doesn’t seem to be a single definitive reference. Additionally, I used image-editing software to apply some filters to help identify any other potential shapes. My original photo, filtered image, and outline are presented below. Is this the famed knight? I can’t be sure, but it was fun to try to find him.
Raw Image of Carving
Filtered Image of Carving
Raw Image with Potential Outline Overlay
Next to the stone carving is an impressive sculpture of a recumbent knight, added to the site in 2015. A prominent stone centered above the effigies describes some of the asserted history. Surrounding the site are stone posts joined together with chains. Overall, the sculpture and stonework provide a nice gravitas to the location. There is also an informational plaque that shows a timeline of events related to the carving, as well as other facts.
Sculpture of Knight
The Westord Knight is located on Depot Street in Westford, MA, just south of the Abbot School. There is no parking at the site itself. However, according to the Westford Historical Society & Museum, you can park at the school lot and walk down. Depending on when you visit, there may be a box-like structure covering the knight to protect it from the elements. The top and sides of it are transparent plastic, so you should still be able to see the carving. Luckily, when I visited, the covering was not in place and I could see the knight unobstructed.
Cover for Knight Carving
Like other such sites that are associated to Pre-Columbian European contact in New England, it’s unlikely the debate over authenticity will ever come to a resolution. However, the stories, the legends, and the possibilities are captivating. Did the Templar Knights cross the Atlantic in the 14th century? Maybe the Westford Knight has the answer.
Location
Depot Street
Westford, MA 01886
Sources
Buote, Brenda J. “Rock in a hard place.” The Boston Globe. January 20, 2011. http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/01/20/westford_knights_mysteries_besieged_by_time_and_the_elements/.
Donovan, Marie. “Fact or hoax?” The Lowell Sun. January 15, 2007. https://www.lowellsun.com/2007/01/15/fact-or-hoax/.
Silva, Alexander. “Westford Knight sculpture unveiled.” Wicked Local. June 18, 2015. https://westford.wickedlocal.com/article/20150618/news/150615836.
“The Westford Knight.” The Westford Historical Society and Museum. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://museum.westford.org/research/the-westford-knight/.
Written by A. P. Sylvia
