A HISTORY OF DURHAM 



curled in spiral fashion, its body divided into three sections by parallel lines. 

 Its tail divides on leaving the body, and forms a regular plait, without break, 

 of double cords; it returns and crosses the body, and disappears where the 

 stone is broken. The sides have knot-work designs. 



The head of a cross, almost complete, has raised bosses at the intersec- 

 tions, containing four triquetras joined together. The arms are filled with 

 interlacing plaits divided down the middle. A small fragment is the central 

 part of a crosshead and has an open cross in the boss and knot-work on the 

 surface. A still smaller fragment is the centre of a cross-head, tlie circular 

 boss of which contains a key pattern. Another fragment is part of a limb of 

 a cross-head, much weathered, but on one face an interlaced pattern is visible. 

 Another consists of a portion of the lower limb and the upper part of the 

 shaft of a cross. It is ornamented with knot-work, having divided bands 

 arranged in a very unusual manner. 



Two more fragments are parts of the limbs of cross-heads with simple 

 but bold knot work. 



The next is a portion of a shaft of a cross. On one face is a complete 

 panel and a portion of another. The former contains three figures with their 



arms raised and placed together, behind 

 which passes a bar or cord which binds 

 them all together. In their hands are square 

 objects which may represent books. The 

 broken panel contains the lower portions of 

 two figures. The other face has what ap- 

 pears to be the stem of a cross, tapering, 

 and divided into three. 



The next is a portion of the top of a 

 cross-shaft, sculptured on all four sides. On 

 one face is a man on horseback, his hair 

 curled behind, and a spear on his right side. 

 On the opposite face is part of a figure with 

 hair curled on two sides of the head. An- 

 other face has the head of an animal, a com- 

 plete bird, and knot-work combined with 

 them. The last face has a simple knot-work 

 design with a divided band. 



Four small fragments have carving on 

 two of their sides, mostly of simple knot-work. One has a fret pattern on 

 one of its sides. 



A portion of a grave-cover is of very unusual character. Its angles are 

 beaded, one having a cable moulding, another a plaited cord moulding. On 

 one of the edges is part of a much-worn inscription which appears to read : 



ALDIHESETAE. 



Two pieces of another grave-cover have on one side two bands of 

 carving, the upper showing a twisted band forming a continuous looped 

 cord,' the lower a four-cord plait with divided bands. 



Another grave-cover to be noticed here is of a very unusual form. 

 It is rectangular with straight and slightly tapering sides, with a fiat top. 



' Romilly Allen, Proc. Sor. Aut. Scot. xvii. Z2|;, I'ig. i I. 



230 



Portion of Cross Shaft from Gainford. 



