Appendix B item (stones wrongly associated with pre-Conquest period)

Decorated lintel (or possibly a cross-shaft) reused as part of a tympanum above the west doorway (now leading from the base of the tower into the nave). It is carved in low relief with three creatures and an irregular mesh of squares and rhomboid and triangular shapes. The two central creatures are upside down and face one another. One is probably intended to be a lion; the second creature may be a camel. Behind (to the right of) the 'lion', and very similar to it, is a third creature which stands the right way up. Behind (to the left of) the 'camel' lies the mesh of squares. This mesh may be intended to be interlace, but a net seems to be a more likely interpretation (as suggested in the church guide).

The tympanum itself has a hood-moulding composed of straight, square-section blocks, and an infill of small stone blocks on which are carved various 'saltire' crosses, some within circular frames. These also seem to be reused. At the top, set in a gap in the hood-moulding, is a rather flat carving of a man's head with a long pointed beard.

This 'tympanum' is really a collection of rather disparate pieces brought together into a single composition. The man's head and the crosses are probably early twelfth century. The lintel, which is the subject of this entry, might also be of similar date, but some details suggest that it could be earlier. The carving probably depicts a hunting scene. It seems strange that the two central animals are upside-down, and it is possible that the stone has been set the wrong way up. However, the stone tapers from south to north and it may, therefore, have originally stood upright as a cross-shaft. The three creatures would then face left and right and the 'net' would be above them. Possibly late eleventh century in date, but more probably twelfth century.