The Corpus: Winchester (Old Minster) 73

Volume 4: South-East England

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Current Display: Winchester (Old Minster) 73, Hampshire

Overview

Object type: Fragment

Measurements: H. 7.5 > 6 cm (3 > 2.4 in); W. 7 > 4 cm (2.8 > 1.6 in); D. 7 > 5 cm (2.8 > 2 in)

Stone type: Pale yellowish-grey, medium- to coarse-grained, slightly shelly, oolitic limestone; Combe Down Oolite, Great Oolite Formation of the Bath area, Great Oolite Group, Middle Jurassic

Plate numbers in printed volume: Ills. 623-624

Corpus volume reference: Vol 4 p. 308-309

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Present Location

Winchester City Museum, Historic Resources Centre, Hyde House, Winchester, accessions no. 2943 WS 243

Evidence for Discovery

Found in archaeological excavation north of Winchester cathedral in 1964 in rubble from demolition of central crypt and earlier east end of Old Minster; Final Phase 58 (Provisional Phase 795), c. 1093-4

Church Dedication

Old Minster

Present Condition

One dressed face survives; the carved surface is well preserved and there are traces of whitewashed render.

Description

The carving is on a curved surface with a diameter of about 57 cm (22 in). The dressed face lies at about 40 degrees to the curve. In Ill. 623 the dressed face is seen vertically to the right. The carving consists of two elements: a moulding, c. 2.5 cm wide, with a flattened top curving slightly to the right, and a small part of another moulding curving away to the left.

Discussion

The carving is precisely done, but cannot be understood.

Date

Seventh to eleventh century

References

Biddle and Kjølbye-Biddle forthcoming a, fig. 150, no. 74

M.B.; B.K.-B.

Endnotes