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Object type: Cross-head
Measurements: H. 39 cm (15.25 in); W. 46.5 cm (18.25 in); D. 11.5 cm (4.5 in)
Stone type: Medium-grained, micaceous red sandstone (St Bees sandstone)
Plate numbers in printed volume: 365 - 6, 369 - 70
Corpus volume reference: Vol 2 p. 117-118
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Cross-head, probably type A9, with circle, type 3, and outer narrower circle. The decoration of the circle is bordered by a roll moulding.
A (broad): Three-strand plain plait is visible in the upper right and lower left quadrants of the circle, the strands carrying a median-incised line; vestigial remains of similar plait occur elsewhere on the circle. A crude incised linear cross, with slanting transverse member, is carved at the centre of the head.
B (narrow): No decoration visible.
C (broad): Possible traces of step pattern 1 are visible on the upper left quadrant of the circle; on the lower right, the decoration seems to be a form of plait.
D (narrow): No decoration visible.
Circle-head of Cumbrian type (Introduction, pp. 31–2). This form of circle-head with additional outer ring is repeated exactly at Gargrave, Yorkshire, on a cross which has decorative links to the Cheshire group of circle-heads (Collingwood 1927a, fig. 156; Bailey 1980, 180). This additional ring is also found on Cumbrian ring-heads at Kirkby Stephen (no. 7) and Burton in Kendal (no. 4) and was locally popular among Viking-age sculptors in Ryedale, Yorkshire (Bailey 1980, 183). Though found in Irton parish it is possible that this head belongs to the Muncaster shaft.
