As Collingham 3

Probably found with other stones in 1840–41 (see Collingham (St Oswald) 1 and 2). In Haigh (1856–7, pl. 2) and Pettigrew (1864, fig. 4), and as described by Allen (1891), it was cemented on top of Collingham (St Oswald) 3, which in turn was cemented to the lower part of Collingham (St Oswald) 2. These disparate fragments had been separated before being drawn and described by Collingwood (1915a, 159).

St Oswald

Incomplete and damaged. The neck has been recut to fit this arm to the shaft fragment no. 3 (see above, p. 122).

One arm of a cross-head, probably of type E10. The triple strands are quite finely cut and modelled, and the background is dressed flat.

A (broad): Triple strands emerge from the centre to cross as they lace through a triple-stranded loose ring. The outer strands join along the line of the edge moulding at the end of the arm, the two inner strands terminate in inward-facing curls. A battered flat moulding survives around most of the original edges of the piece.

B (narrow): Roughly dressed

C (broad): A triple-strap interlace extends from either side of the (missing) centre, terminating in a Stafford Knot (simple pattern E) at the end of the arm. A fragment of roll moulding survives on one curved edge.

D (narrow): Broken away and recut

E and F: Plain

This is one of a group of heads, with a limited local distribution, which displays right-angled crossing interlace of a type with links to the Isle of Man (see Aberford 3, Kirkby Wharfe 1 and 3, and Saxton 1 (Ills. 11, 432, 440 and 688); see also discussion in Chap. V, p. 49). However, as suggested in the discussion of Aberford 3, a version of the right-angled crossing is already found on face C of the cross-head Ilkley 8 (Ill. 373), and the case for similar influence is strengthened here at a site at which there is conscious indebtedness to other prestigious Anglian monuments. This suggestion is strengthened as the geology appears to show that Collingham 3 and 5 could be parts of the same cross. The triple-strand, loose ring and space-filling curls are all undoubtedly Anglo-Scandinavian features, however.

Late ninth to tenth century

Haigh 1856–7, 512, pl. 2; Pettigrew 1864, 312, pl. 21, fig. 4; Stephens 1866–7, 390, 391, figs. on 391; Stephens 1884b, 121–2, fig. on 122; Allen 1890, 300, 304; Allen 1891, 160, no. 3; Collingwood 1912, 128; Collingwood 1915a, 159, 262, 279, 289, figs. i–j on 160; Collingwood 1915b, 328, 333; Howorth 1917, I, 91, pl. facing 92; Collingwood 1927, 88, fig. 188i–j; Pevsner 1959, 166; Page 1973, 136, fig. 24; Bailey 1980, 219, pl. 49; Bailey 1984, 24; Richards 1991, 121; Tweddle et al. 1995, 84; Page 1999, 134, fig. 39

[1] The following are general references to the Collingham stones: Browne 1880–4a, lxxiv; Browne 1885c, 157; Allen 1887, 85; Allen 1890, 293; MacMichael 1906, 359–60; Morris 1911, 155; Pevsner 1959, 20, 165–6; Faull 1981, 212, 218; Ryder 1991, 19; Ryder 1993, 17, 147; Cambridge 1995b, 144n, 145.