The Corpus: Gainford 25

Volume I: County Durham and Northumberland

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Current Display: Gainford 25, Durham

Overview

Object type: Fragment [1]

Measurements: H. 17 cm (6.75 in); W. 14 cm (5.5 in); D. Built in

Stone type: Very coarse-grained, massive pale yellow sandstone

Plate numbers in printed volume: Pl. 74.362

Corpus volume reference: Vol 1 p. 88-89

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Present Location

Built in at east end of south aisle, outside

Evidence for Discovery

First noted 1846(?) built in as lintel of entrance to clock-room tower

Church Dedication

St Mary

Present Condition

Broken and much weathered

Description

Only one carved face is visible. Two registers of complete pattern A with a cross-joined terminal, surrounded by a fine roll moulding.

Discussion

This type of fine line pattern A is also found at Hurworth (no. l ). This stone could be among the earlier pieces at Gainford.

Date

Late ninth to tenth century

References

Hodges 1905, 231; Morris 1976, 142

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.