The Corpus: Gainford 17

Volume I: County Durham and Northumberland

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Current Display: Gainford 17, Durham

Overview

Object type: Part of ring-headed cross [1]

Measurements: H. 24.2 cm (9.5 in); W. 28 cm (11 in); D. 14 cm (5.5 in)

Stone type: Fine-/medium-grained, massive yellow sandstone

Plate numbers in printed volume: Pl. 68.331-334

Corpus volume reference: Vol 1 p. 86

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Present Location

Monks' Dormitory, Durham cathedral, catalogue no. XXXVIII

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

Worn and broken

Description

Ring, type a. The arm which is of indeterminate type is surrounded by a pick-outlined flat-band moulding and there seems to be evidence of a broken-off ring.

A (broad): A knot with pointed-loop terminals enclosing a free ring.

B (narrow): Part of a very worn section of indeterminate interlace.

C (broad): A panel of eight-strand plain plait.

D (narrow): On the right, a wavering incised moulding. Possibly traces of interlace.

Discussion

Although the plain plait and free ring are commonplace during the Anglo-Scandinavian period throughout the north, the ring-head is uncommon north of the Tees.

Date

Possibly mid tenth to mid eleventh century

References

Stuart 1867, 64-5, pl. cxiv, 17; Haverfield and Greenwell 1899, no. XXXVIII, 103 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.