Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle upon Tyne, no. 1956.204. A

Find-spots of individual stones from this site not recorded. Presumably all at Newcastle found in the restoration of St Andrew's Church in 1887, either under floor, or built into south wall of chancel. Stones given to Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne by the Hon. the Rev. W. Ellis in 1888. Hodges (1893) records that all stones found were given to the Society. Only 6 of stones now in museum can be identified as coming from Bothal. Possible that some in museum with no known provenance also from Bothal, but rubbing by Hodges of Bothal stones, now in very poor condition and preserved in Library of Society in the Blackgate, Newcastle, only identifies stones of known provenance, while others appear to be missing.

St Andrew

Slight damage

The shaft tapers sharply and is deeply carved in a grooved technique.

A (broad): This is surrounded by a plain roll moulding on the same level as the plain-dressed panel in the upper half. In the lower half the stone has been cut back to form the outline of a figure. The body, which survives to the thighs, is upright and frontal; the arms are extended, and the body appears to be clothed in a short tunic.

B (narrow): Traces of a cable moulding survive on the left edge of the shaft. (i) A small strip of meander pattern 2, set horizontally. (ii) A panel of three-strand plain plait, deeply cut and with an irregular terminal.

C (broad): A heavy cable moulding survives on the left side; the right is broken but also cabled. Two strips of step pattern 1 enclose a bold meander pattern 2, six elements of which remain.

D (narrow): A panel of deeply cut three-strand plain plait, irregular in parts; the shaft was originally edged by a moulding but it is now too worn to identify.

This shaft is unique among the Bothal pieces in the depth and competence of its carving and the smoothness of its dressing. In shape it is similar to the so-called Tidfirth stone from Monkwearmouth (no. 3). which has figures on one face. The figure on face A here doubtless represents Christ crucified. Step and meander patterns were popular in the Viking period, and the depiction of the Crucifixion without the cross also seems to be a late feature (Coatsworth 1973).

Late tenth to early eleventh century

(—) 1887-3a, 17; Hodges 1887-3b, 234; Tomlinson 1891, 290; Hodges 1893, 15; (—) 1901-2e, 258, 260, pls. facing 260; (—) 1921-2b, 291; Briggs, Graham and Parsons 1961, 366; Coatsworth 1973; Coatsworth 1979, I, 217-18, II, 11, pl. 88; Cramp and Miket 1982, no. 31