The Corpus: Gainford 31

Volume I: County Durham and Northumberland

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Current Display: Gainford 31, Durham

Overview

Object type: Fragment [1]

Measurements: H. 38 cm (15 in); W. 15.2 cm (6 in); D. 16 cm (6 in)

Stone type: Not known

Plate numbers in printed volume: Pl. 75.368-371

Corpus volume reference: Vol 1 p. 89-90

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Present Location

In possession of Mrs Surtees Raine, West Edleston, Gainford

Evidence for Discovery

In collection of stones, presumably from church, assembled by Mrs Edleston. Information supplied by E. Coatsworth

Church Dedication

St Mary

Present Condition

Good where not dressed back

Description

A: This is the only carved face and appears to be about half the total width. It is edged by a broad flat-band moulding, containing interlace with median-incised strands: parts of three registers of complete pattern A with a cross-joined terminal.

B, C and D: Dressed back.

Discussion

The strands are coarsely cut and closely packed, but there is still an attempt at modelling. Complete patterns such as this are common in the Tees valley in the late period.

Date

Tenth century

References

Unpublished

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.