

ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 



arrival of the congregation of St. Cuthbert and the building of the first 

 church on the plateau. 



The most important of these crosses was built into the west wall of the 

 fifteenth-century tower of the existing church and was in two pieces. One 

 piece was removed from the church to the Cathedral Library in 1880. A 

 few years later another portion of the same cross was taken from the tower, 

 and these two were found to fit each other. In 1895 the other stones 

 forming this group were taken out of the wall of the churchyard which 

 divides it from Church Street. 1 As there can be no question of their early 

 date, the finding of those additional examples is an important factor in the 

 history of this portion of the city. The ornamentation on the largest cross 

 is well executed and extends to all four faces. Two of the designs exhibit 

 the lacertine monsters already referred to in other cases. One of these has 

 two beasts, their heads respectively pointing upwards and downwards, their 

 bodies contorted, and the limbs and tails elongated into bands, which are 

 interlaced with, and hamper, the bodies. On the opposite side the lowest 

 panel also has two somewhat similar monsters, but differently treated. Their 

 bodies are crossed saltire-wise and their heads and tails roll inwards in a 

 spiral form. The remaining panels contain interlaced designs similar to those 

 of the local type. Another cross-shaft is 4 feet 1 1 inches long, i foot 6 inches 

 wide and 9 inches thick. The lower portion of the cross-head remains, and 

 as the shaft is complete at the foot it is evident that the whole was worked 

 out of one stone, and when complete would be about 8 feet in height. 

 The knot-work is flatly executed and is of simple but effective character. 

 The two sides are alike and contain two groups, each of them independent 

 circles, through which four bands are plaited and joined at their ends. One 

 of the narrow sides has five parallel bands interlaced at either end and at two 

 intermediate places. The other side has similar bands treated somewhat 

 differently. The angles have a bead moulding, which is double on the two 

 broader sides. Another cross, of practically the same size, also containing 

 the lower portion of the head, has on either of its sides a single ornamented 

 panel consisting of two complete circles through which are passed diagonally 

 four bands joined at their ends. The sides are plain. A small fragment of 

 the head of a cross is I foot 10 inches long and 9 inches wide. It seems to 

 be the upper and lower arm, and is ornamented with knot-work. In the 

 centre is a raised boss. A fragment of a cross-shaft, 8 inches high, has a 

 portion of one side and the half of the two faces. It is ornamented with 

 knot-work of the local type. It was found loose under the ' Black Staircase ' 

 at Durham Castle, and there is no record of its previous history. 



The most important find of sculptured stones in the city of Durham occurred 

 in the spring of 1891, when the foundations of the eastern portion of the 

 Chapter House, part of which had been erected during the episcopate of Geoffrey 

 Rufus (1133-1140), and destroyed in 1796, were taken up to be replaced 

 with new foundations. It is known that the cemetery of the monks was in 

 the open ground to the south of the quire, and east of the Chapter House, 

 and occupied the same spot as the cemetery of the old congregation of 

 St. Cuthbert, which occupied the church at Durham from 995 to 1083. 



l Haverficld and Greenwell, tf. (it. 73, 78 ; Trani. Dur. Ntrthumb. Arch. Sor. iii. 32 and plate ; iv. 281, 

 pi. 1-4. 



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