Loose, by the pulpit

Identified by Dr L. A. S. Butler (letter to author, 8 March 1989). This may be the Saxon cross fragment noted in the vestry in 1890, and said to have been discovered when the church was restored in 1859. That fragment and some later grave-covers were found built in as lintels to the windows in the south aisle (Bulmer 1890, 373).

St Mary

The upper part of a shaft; one side lost, very worn

This was originally a wheeled cross with ring type (a).

A (broad) : The edge moulding is cabled, though worn. The face is panelled, the lower one containing closed circuit interlace in a very worn broad flat strand. A transverse plain moulding separates it from the upper panel that contains damaged elements of a three-cord closed circuit.

B (narrow) : The edge moulding is cabled. The panel contains disorganised ring-twist in modelled strand. At the top is the stump of a wheel: ring type (a).

C (broad) : Very damaged, apart from the cabled edge moulding. Near the base is a picked triangular feature, probably the remains of a second panel.

D (narrow) : Scabbled.

Few diagnostic features survive, though the ring-twist is a common Anglo-Scandinavian pattern for narrow linear surfaces, like the hogback ridge on Brompton 17 (Ill. 82). It has a rare Irish occurrence on the North Cross at Castledermot, Co. Kildare (Henry 1967, pl. 71), where it occupies the same position as on this piece.

The stump of the ring is enough to show that this was a wheel-head with pierced arm-pits, the ring meeting the shaft below the neck, as on St Mary Bishophill Junior 3 in York and North Frodingham 1 in the East Riding (Lang 1991, 42, ills. 228–31, 695–8). The ring helps to date the cross to the tenth century (Bailey 1978b, 178–9).

Tenth century

?Bulmer 1890, 373; ?Morris, J. 1931, 417; Hatcher 1990, 29

None