Volume I: County Durham and Northumberland
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Current Display: Gainford 15, Durham
Overview
Object type: Part of shaft and head of cross [1]
Measurements: H. 27.5 cm (10.75 in); W. 21.6 cm (8.5 in); D. 14.6 cm (5.75 in)
Stone type: Coarse-grained, massive yellow sandstone
Plate numbers in printed volume: Pl. 66.320-323
Corpus volume reference: Vol 1 p. 85
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Present Location
Monks' Dormitory, Durham cathedral, catalogue no. XXXVI
Evidence for Discovery
Found in restoration of 1864, possibly in south wall of nave, which was taken down. Kept in Vicarage garden until 1896 when donated to chapter library, Durham
Church Dedication
St Mary
Present Condition
Broken and weathered
Description
Head, type uncertain.
A (broad): Part of a plain plait changing from six-strand to eight-strand, enclosed in a wide grooved moulding which edges the chamfered neck and shaft of the cross.
B and D (narrow): Plain.
C (broad): Part of an interlace pattern weathered away so that it is indecipherable.
Discussion
The stone type, shape and ornament of this piece are all very similar to 1. However, since that piece possesses its lower arm, 15 cannot belong to it, but must be part of a cross of similar date.
Date
Tenth century
References
Stuart 1867, 64-5, pl. cxiii, 9; Haverfield and Greenwell 1899, no. XXXVI, 102 and fig.; Hodges 1905, 230; Cramp 1965a, 6
Endnotes
1. The following are general references to the Gainford stones: Greenwell 1880-9b, lxviii; Allen and Browne 1885, 352; (—) 1887-8b, 373. Brock 1888, 176, refers to stones in a graaden (later taken to Durham) and mentions illustrations by STuarts but does not describe them individually. (—) 1905-6b, 343-4, refers to discovery of stones in 1864-5 restoration, and there is also a reference to the finding in 1905 of another stone in the field west of the churchyard wall, and to the discovery of bones and a sword in the churchyard in 1889.
