Niche in north wall of church

First mentioned in 1888. Believed lost until rediscovered by J. Lang in 1961, standing against south wall of church, outside.

St Cuthbert

Broken and badly weathered

Just over half survives, type uncertain. The ridge is flat and there is no sign of ornament. The ridge issues from the jaws of the beast; its paws with four long claws clasp the ridge nearly at the crown of the monument. It is not clear whether the two prominent legs and paws are back legs or front, but on either side there appear to be two vestigial legs under the jaw which might be the front legs. The creature has long jaws with a very prominent raised muzzle, and the eyes or ears are set well back; they are round with hollowed centres. A rough slashed dressing seems to indicate the body pelt.

This piece seems a crude copying of the type represented more elegantly at Brompton, Yorkshire. There is no sign of interlaced embellishments or a niche. It seems to be a rather poor reflection of the Tees valley group.

Second quarter to end of tenth century

Brock 1888, 176, 408, fig. after 408; Wall 1930, 45; Lang 1967, 62-3 et passim, pl. 15; Morris 1976, 142; Lang 1984, no. 1

1. The following are general references to the Darlington stones. Hodges 1894, 78, also refers to three monumental crosses in transept and more stones in wooden gallery inside tower. Three crosses with interlace=nos. 1-2 and (?) 3; (—) 1927-8b, 81; (—) 1951-6a, 212; Pevsner 1953, 71.