The Corpus: Durham 10

Volume I: County Durham and Northumberland

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Current Display: Durham 10, Durham

Overview

Object type: Cross-arm or architectural fragment [1]

Measurements: H. 21 cm (8.25 in); W. 11.5 cm (4.5 in); D. 12 cm (4.75 in)

Stone type: Fine-grained, massive yellow sandstone

Plate numbers in printed volume: Pl. 48.226-228, 48.230, 48.233

Corpus volume reference: Vol 1 p. 72-73

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Present Location

Monks' Dormitory, Durham cathedral, catalogue no. XIX

Evidence for Discovery

Found among carved stones collected from various sources by old Durham Architectural Society, on the Black Staircase of Durham Castle. Original findspot unknown

Church Dedication

Cathedral Chapter House

Present Condition

Good but broken

Description

A (broad): One large ring-knot (closed circuit) pattern C with outside strands and unpinned loops.

B and D (narrow): Broken away.

C (broad): Part of a ring-knot similar to that on A.

E (top): Double free rings with two crossing diagonals and bar terminals.

Discussion

This piece is possibly the end of a cross-arm but, as it has no curve on top, it might be some form of impost. It is interesting that the plait type and technique have been linked by Adcock (1974, 334-6) to the work of the carver of the Durham grave-cover (no. 11). Similar work is also found at Hart (no. 9).

Date

Eleventh century

References

Haverfield and Greenwell 1899, no. XIX, 78 and fig.; Hodges 1905, 225; Cramp 1965a, 4; Adcock 1974, 334-6, pl. 171E-F

Endnotes

1. The following are general references to the Durham stones. Allen (1889, 229) includes Durham in the list of sites with coped stones and hogbacks, but the chapter house discoveries were not made by them. He appears to be referring to the collection in the Monks' Dormitory. Greenwell (1890-5a, xlix) makes general mention of discovery of nos. 5-8; Boyle (1892, 267) mentions discovery of stones in the chapter house; Collingwood 1932, 53.