A section from a large grave-cover of mid-Kesteven type. This fragment has been reused as a tank, possibly a font, in the post-Conquest period. It has been carefully hollowed out to make a container over 30cm deep, with walls approximately 4cm thick. This container has also had two holes drilled through its base and (presumably subsequently) it has had a large irregular hole knocked through its base.

Face F (bottom) has been completely recut (presumably to give the tank a steady base). Face C (end) is an undecorated original surface, but face E (end) has been smoothly recut. The original decoration on face A (top) is reduced to the slight remains of its two cable-moulded borders along the lip of the tank. The ornament on the remaining parts of the two long faces (B and D) survives in good condition, decorating, as it were, the sides of the container. This decoration is interlace in low relief.

B (long): The angle between the lid and the side is cable moulded. Within, the face is divided into the characteristic arrangement of two panels – one long and horizontal and one transverse and vertical – by a vertical band of double cable moulding. The transverse panel contains an asymmetric interlace motif of type i (Fig. 10) with a medial line. The long horizontal panel contains the start of a run of interlace bounded on the lower side by a cable moulding within the undecorated plinth. The interlace itself is consequently off-centre and begins with a type vii motif (Fig. 10). Beyond this initial motif, the run appears to develop as a three-strand plait.

D (long): Between the cable moulding marking the junction between the side and lid of the monument and the zig-zag decorated plinth, the face is divided into two panels – a transverse panel at one end and a longer horizontal one – by a double cable moulding. In the transverse panel there is an interlace knot of type viii (Fig. 10). The interlace in the long horizontal panel also begins with a pattern E knot and a free ring, but this is the start of a four-strand design, probably plaitwork. The interlace strands in both panels have an incised medial line.

This simple cross form (type A1) is common in Lincolnshire; for example an incised variant also decorates a coped cover at Castle Bytham nearby (no. 1, Ill. 88). Such a simple form is not easy to date with precision, but where it occurs in association with more datable motifs (e.g. Ewerby 1, Ill. 170) it appears to have a date range between the late tenth and the early twelfth centuries. The pronounced taper on this cover (relative, for example, to Ewerby 1 or to grave-covers from Lincoln St Mark's) probably suggests that it should be placed towards the end of this period, however. This cover type has quite close similarities with several other coped slabs with a plain A1 type cross in the county; there are examples at Langton by Wragby (nos. 1 and 2, Ills. 228–9), Friskney 1 has a related cross form (Ill. 400), and crosses of this type may also have been found on the lost covers Friskney 2 and Irnham 1 and 2.