ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 



Sockburn. The ruined church here occupies the southernmost point of 

 the county. The ruins were cleared of rubbish and the Conyers porch 

 repaired and roofed in 1900. It was known, before this was done, that a 

 large number of remains of the pre-Conquest period existed on the site, 

 for when the church was unroofed and abandoned in 1838 many fragments 

 were taken from the walls. All these are now collected together in the repaired 

 Conyers porch, and are arranged so that they can be examined without 

 difficulty. Twenty-five are of the pre-Conquest period. For convenience 

 of reference it has been thought well to take them as they would naturally 

 be referred to from a plan of the porch. Facing east, and ranging from left 

 to right, there are six rows of stones fixed in bases or lying on the floor. 

 The others are detached fragments. The larger cross-shafts are fixed in 

 stone bases, the smaller ones are cemented to the floor. The first measures 

 2 feet 3 inches high, i foot wide, and 8 inches thick. Only the side facing 

 west retains its ornament. In the upper part are the lower portions of the 

 bodies of four serpents twisted together in pairs, while below these the surface 

 is covered with an undivided plait without breaks. 



The second stone measures 3 feet high by i foot 8 inches wide by 7 inches 

 thick. The remaining ornamentation is confined to the side facing west, and 

 is in a very damaged condition. It seems to consist of a very irregularly 

 arranged double band connected with monsters. 



The next is of a very coarse-grained sandstone and measures 2 feet 3 inches 

 by i foot 7 inches by 6 inches. The ornament is again confined to the west 

 face and consists of a series of circular rings forming a chain, with a straight 

 band carried vertically through their centres. All are double or divided. 1 



The second row are hog-backed stones, which are all described together 

 below. 



The first in the third row is a portion of the upper part of a cross-shaft 

 which measures 2 feet 9 inches high, i foot i inch wide, and i o inches thick, 

 and shows that the whole was in one stone, as it retains part of the lower 

 arm of the cross. Carving remains on all four sides, that facing west showing 

 that the head of the cross was ornamented with the usual triquetras with 

 divided bands. Below this a large serpent appears, his body tied into a knot 

 and his head downwards. Beneath is a man on horseback, hawking. His 

 right hand holds the bridle, his left the hawk. The horse, with head inclined 

 downwards, stands on a transverse twisted band. Under this is a portion of a 

 scene representing a combat between two men. Their arms are crossed, and 

 the dexter figure appears to be wounded in the head. Between them, and 

 below their arms, is a circular shield with a boss. On the side facing east 

 are again two figures apparently in combat, much damaged, but they appear 

 to wear helmets. Under them is a double spiral, and below that a six-cord 

 plait with divided bands. The side facing north has a very curious and 

 unusual design of a chain, the links of which consist of triangular objects with 

 rounded tops, and are double, or divided by a line. Only a very small 

 portion of the fourth side remains. It shows the bodies of two monsters 

 twisted together. 



The next measures 2 feet 2 inches by i foot 2 inches by 9 inches, and 

 has upon its west face a panel containing an animal, probably a deer. Its 



1 Rorailly Allen, Prof. Soe. Ant. Scot. xvii. 125, Fig. 17. 

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