Mr. Dickson on Rothbury and its Saxon Cross. 69 



perhaps the best specimen we have of transitional architecture 

 in England. 



And nearer still is the romantic Thrum, the dark and deep 

 shade of the Debdon Burn near the Fulling Mill. Whitton 

 Tower with its beautiful grounds should be seen. Here is one 

 of those strong Peel Houses, fortified to resist the marauding 

 excursions of the Scots, in border warfare. Almost every 

 vill had its Peel tower, many of which remain, but none in 

 better order than that of Whitton. 



The church has lately been almost rebuilt, still a portion of 

 the ancient structure has been preserved. 



Surrounding the church is the burial ground. A part of it 

 is called the Cartington Porch ; it got out of repair, and the 

 owner being a Roman Catholic, omitted to keep it up, and it 

 was therefore excluded from the church in a. d. 1658, by the 

 arch being built up. It has since so continued, and is the 

 burial place for that lordship. 



The burial ground is of considerable extent, and many a 

 beautiful form lies entombed there, blighted and destroyed by 

 that insidious disease — consumption. 



" Beneath, these rugged elms, that yew tree's shade. 

 Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap ; 

 Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, 



The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." — 



It is, however, the shaft or pillar of the Font in the church 

 to which I wish at present to direct the ^attention of our 

 members. 



In the first place, I must refer to Dr. Charlton's account of 

 an ancient Saxon cross, from the church of Rothbury, read 

 at the meeting of the Antiquarian Society, at Newcastle, 

 March, 1850, (4 Arch. ^1. 60) in which he gives a minute 

 description of portions of this cross, accompanied by careful 

 drawings. 



That portion was discovered when the old church was re- 

 stored, and I think they have been preserved at the time of 

 the Reformation, by being buried in some part of the floor of 

 the building. They were claimed by the contractor as old 

 materials, and were carried off by him to Newcastle, and are 

 now in the museum of the Antiquarian Society. 



Dr. Charlton regrets that so small a portion of this fine 

 cross has been recovered, but he does not appear to be aware 

 that a part still remains in the church at Rothbury. That at 

 Newcastle consists of the limbs of the cross and a portion of 

 the shaft. 



The limbs contain on the western side the figure of our 

 Lord. 



