The Corpus: York City Walls 01

Volume 3: York and Eastern Yorkshire

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Current Display: York City Walls 01, York

Overview

Object type: Part of cross-head

Measurements: H. 47 cm (18.5 in); W. 28 cm (11 in); D. 16.5 cm (6.5 in)

Stone type: Medium-grained, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) sandstone; probably Millstone Grit, Namurian, Upper Carboniferous; probably reused Roman ashlar, originally from Hetchell Crag (Thorner) or Otley areas (see Fig. 5)

Plate numbers in printed volume: 373-376

Corpus volume reference: Vol 3 p. 112

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Present Location

Yorkshire Museum, York

Evidence for Discovery

'Found in January, 1874, with a Roman altar, under the City Wall, in the archway leading from the Old Station to the new. Given by the Directors of the North-Eastern Railway, 1874' (Wellbeloved 1875, 48).

Church Dedication

None

Present Condition

Much broken; worn, especially on face C

Description

The arms are lost though the arm-pits were wide curves.

A (broad): A double roll moulding is picked out on the edge of the arm-pits. In the centre is a flat, circular boss surrounded by a ring of pellets, and that in turn by a plain ring.

B and D (narrow): Plain.

C (broad): Identical with face A, but more worn, and without beads about the boss.

Discussion

This austere type of free-armed cross is typical of early Anglian Sculpture in the city. It is in the same tradition as Bishophill Junior 5 (Ills. 234–5) and The Mount 1 (Ills. 354–6).

Date

Eighth century

References

Wellbeloved 1875, 148, no. 12; Wellbeloved 1881, 68, no. 11; Wellbeloved 1891, 76, no. 11; Collingwood 1909, 178, fig. on 179

Endnotes