The Corpus: Stainton 01

Volume 6: Northern Yorkshire

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Current Display: Stainton 01, Yorkshire North Riding

Overview

Object type: Shaft fragment [1]

Measurements: H. c. 42 cm (16.5 in) W. c. 23 cm (9 in) D. Built in

Stone type: Medium-grained deltaic sandstone, weathered to a brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) colour. The stone is carious. Deltaic sandstone from the Middle Jurassic (Saltwick Formation, Aalenian) that caps the Cleveland Hills nearby.

Plate numbers in printed volume: Ill. 747

Corpus volume reference: Vol 6 p. 199

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Present Location

Built into the exterior north wall of the chancel, on its side, high up, between the east buttress and the east window

Evidence for Discovery

The fragments in the chancel wall were first noted by Lofthouse (1896–8, 17), and said to have been 'found in the course of repairs' (Page, W. 1923, 299). The chancel was rebuilt in 1861 (Bulmer 1890), and again in 1876 (Page, W. 1923; Pevsner 1966).

Church Dedication

St Peter and St Paul

Present Condition

Only one face visible, worn; inset with mortar at one point, but not apparently broken in two and cemented, as Collingwood'suggested (1907, 393).

Description

Only the right-hand edge moulding, which is plain, survives and it is extended by two transverse mouldings to form two panels. One contains a ring-knot of two concentric circles in modelled strand, laced by saltire strands, one of which terminates in the transverse moulding, forming a bar terminal. The other, very damaged panel, may contain two standing human figures, the left-hand one in a long gown, with one arm extended, the other with visible legs.

Discussion

Closely woven ring-knots are a feature of Anglo-Scandinavian carvings in the region. Collingwood'speculated that the figures were Our Lady and St John at the foot of the cross, but this seems to be extending the evidence too far, especially since the 'figures' are much less prominent than the ring knot. If indeed these are human figures they seem too damaged for identification.

Date

Late ninth to mid tenth century

References

Collingwood 1907, 271, 280, 288, 393, fig. a on 390; Collingwood 1912, 127; Collingwood 1915, 263; Page, W. 1923, 299; Pevsner 1966, 353; Morris, C. 1976a, 144; Morris, C. 1976b, 12

Endnotes

[1] The following are general references to the Stainton stones: Lofthouse 1896–8, 17; Morris, J. 1904, 361–2, 420; Collingwood 1908, 120; Morris, J. 1931, 362, 417; Mee 1941, 227; Brown, M. 1979, 44; Horton 1979, 159; Daniels 1995, 81.