The Corpus: Melsonby 04

Volume 6: Northern Yorkshire

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Current Display: Melsonby 04, Yorkshire North Riding

Overview

Object type: Fragment

Measurements: L. 22 cm (8.7 in) W. 20.5 cm (8.1 in) D. 14 cm (5.5 in)

Stone type: See Melsonby 1 (St James the Great)

Plate numbers in printed volume: Ill. 652

Corpus volume reference: Vol 6 p. 177-178

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Present Location

See Melsonby 3 (St James the Great)

Evidence for Discovery

None; first noted by C. D. Morris in 1976

Church Dedication

St James the Great

Present Condition

One corner of a slab; carved on one face only

Description

A (broad) : Within plain edge mouldings, curving on one side, is a tightly coiled serpent.

Discussion

This is probably the corner of a flat grave-cover. The coiled serpent motif has a very close parallel nearby on the shaft at Forcett (no. 1, Ill. 251), and there is a similar taste for snakes in the Lower Wensleydale workshop (Chap. VI, p. 49).

Date

Tenth century

References

Morris, C. 1976a, 144

Endnotes

None