The Corpus: Walton on the Hill 3

Volume 9: Cheshire and Lancashire

Select a site alphabetically from the choices shown in the box below. Alternatively, browse sculptural examples using the Forward/Back buttons.

Chapters for this volume, along with copies of original in-text images, are available here.

Current Display: Walton on the Hill 3, Lancashire

Overview

Object type: Socket-stone [1]

Measurements: H. 43 cm (17 in); W. (E–W) 140 > 79 cm (55 > 31 in); D. (N–S) 128 > 78 cm (50.5 > 30.75 in); socket: 43 x 37 cm (17 x 13.5 in)

Stone type: Cross-bedded, pale red (5R 6/2), well-sorted, clast-supported, quartz sandstone. The sub-angular to sub-rounded clasts range from fine-grained (0.2 mm) to medium-grained (0.4 mm), but are mostly medium-grained at 0.3 mm; a few small scattered flakes of white mica. ?Helsby Sandstone, Triassic

Plate numbers in printed volume: Ills. 657-8

Corpus volume reference: Vol 9 p. 241

(There may be more views or larger images available for this item. Click on the thumbnail image to view.)

Present Location

Outside south porch of church

Evidence for Discovery

First recorded by Cox in 1895 (Cox, E. 1895, 238; Taylor (1906, 179–80) claims that it was 'dug up by the gravedigger a few years ago'.

Church Dedication

St Mary

Present Condition

Heavily worn

Description

Three-step monolithic socket-stone with inward-sloping risers; no decoration visible

Discussion

For three-stepped bases see Halton St Wilfrid 10 (p. 193).

Date

Probably tenth century

References

Cox, E. 1895, 238; Taylor, H. 1901, 194–5, pl. facing 232; Taylor, H. 1903, 78; Garstang 1906, 263–4; Taylor, H. 1906, 179–80, pl. facing 217; Edwards, B. 1978a, 67

Endnotes

[1] The following is a general reference to the Walton stones: Blair 2005, 310.