Upper room of Anchorage, Chester-le-Street

Uncertain how many stones found at Chester-le-Street altogether. Hodges describe sixteen apparently all existing in 1905, but earlier (1894) reports that `the best piece' disappeared from porch in 1882. One cross (no. 3) figured by Stuart (1867) certainly missing; Greenwell ((-) 1862-8a, xlv) compares one with stones from Hexham, Lowther and Bewcastle, which may imply a stone with plant-scroll, now lost. There were then at least seventeen stones, and perhaps more, of which only twelve now accounted for. These found on at least two different occasions: i, a stone with 'interlacing and other ornament' found when sedilia and piscine opened ((-) 1855-7c); ii, (-) 1862-8a records that several fragments of Anglo-Saxon crosses found during restoration of church, which therefore before May 1868, and possibly contemporary with or later than i. (-) 1865a notes several interlaced crosses in porch, some with traces of red pigment, and Stuart (1867) records two crosses, but says they were found at various times in walls of church and churchyard; iii, remaining stones found in fabric of church during restoration of 1883. Nos. 1, 5, 10, 14-15 certainly found at this time, but uncertain whether there were any more.

St Mary and St Cuthbert

Incomplete but not very worn

A (broad): Surrounded by a flat-band moulding which at the top divides the shaft from traces of interlace on the neck. Below, a small panel of interlace has gone severely awry; the carver may have been attempting a form of pattern E. Below, three registers of spiralled half pattern A.

B (narrow): A flat-band moulding encloses five and a half registers of spiralled half pattern A.

C (broad): Enclosed within a flat-band moulding which also runs across the top are three and a half registers of spiralled half pattern A.

D (narrow): Enclosed within a flat-band moulding are five registers of spiralled half pattern A.

The carver only managed one pattern successfully, but, although he carved free-hand and in a single grooved technique, he gives the impression of flowing competent carving. He also managed to vary the scale of the motif on the broad and narrow faces. The affinities of this pattern are with Lindisfarne 3 and 6 and Alnmouth, but it is also found at Sockburn (no. 8).

First half of tenth century

Stuart 1867, 46-7, pl. xci, 2; Hodges 1905, 222; Adcock 1974, 313, no. 5

1. The following are general references to the Chester-le-Street stones: (—) 1869-79a, i; (—) 1880-9a, v; Hodgkin 1882-4; Jackson, 1933-4, 343.