Monks' Dormitory, Durham cathedral, catalogue no. 64

According to Canon Greenwell, it was 'found in the churchyard' with no. 5 and given to Durham by William Brown of Arncliffe Hall (Haverfield and Greenwell 1899, 127); but Brown himself reported that it was discovered about 1860 in a hedge bank at the upper end of the Hall garden (c. NZ 454002), which was being dug through in order to build a wall (Brown, W. 1901, 21).

All Saints

A complete hogback, slightly damaged on the crest but in good condition

The end-beasts are rounded and plain. Only the forelegs are depicted, the paws with four toes. Neither eyes nor ears are discernible, but the mouth-slit ends in a drilled hole behind a rolled muzzle. The paws touch the ridge.

A (long) : Below a plain ridge issuing from the end-beasts' jowls are three vertical panels of four-cord plain plait, boldly cut and modelled, though a little awry. The first and second interlace panels are separated by a roll moulding, but this is omitted between the second and third. Below is a perfectly semicircular niche, recessed.

B and D (ends) : Plain.

C (long) : As face A, but there are roll mouldings between all three interlace panels, two of which are damaged. Two panels have gaps below the interlace, but not the third.

This is a classic type c (niche) hogback (Lang 1984a, 97–9, fig. 7). Despite the mistakes in the interlace panels, the carving is bold and assured, with bevelled edges and deep cutting. The surfaces are smoothly dressed. The sculptural effect of this monument is remarkable when compared with the low-relief conventions of the crosses in Yorkshire. The modelling and the arrangement of mass make this a simple yet powerful piece of carving. The niche may well have derived from the holes in the sides of reliquaries, like the tumba of St Chad, through which the faithful could touch the primary relics (Bede 1969, 346, iv.3; see Chapter IV). Brompton 22 (Ills. 94–5) and Sockburn 17, co. Durham (Ill. 1195; Cramp 1984, 141–2, pl. 143, 761–2) may be copies of this hogback.

First half of tenth century

Hodges 1894, 195; Allen 1895, 148; Haverfield and Greenwell 1899, 126, no. LXIV, and fig.; Brown, W. 1901, 21–2, pl.; [Brown, W.] 1902a, 139–40, pl.; Collingwood 1907, 272, 337–8; Collingwood 1912, 124; Collingwood 1915, 273, 284; Page, W. 1923, 242; Collingwood 1927a, 169; Burgess 1963, 87, fig. 16; Cramp 1965a, 9, no. 64; Lang 1967, 89–90, pl. XXVII; Schmidt 1973, 74–5; Bailey 1981, 89, cat. F6; Cramp 1984, 65, 142; Lang 1984a, 97, 142, no. 2, fig. 11a, pl. on 143; Schmidt 1994, 152; Bailey 1996a, 83, fig. 41

[1] The following are general references to the Ingleby Arncliffe stones: Allen 1889, 230; Hodges 1894, 195; Allen 1895, 148; Collingwood 1908, 120; Collier 1910–11, 21; Morris, J. 1931, 417–18; Elgee and Elgee 1933, 220, 248; Brown, M. 1979, 41; Lang 1984a, 87.

[2] The following is an unpublished manuscript reference to no. 4: BL Add. MS 37552 no. XIV, item 493 (Romilly Allen collection).