A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



Weapons not associated with interments are reported from Rossendale, 

 where, in the Red Moss which formerly lay within the Forest of Rossen- 

 dale, iron arrow-heads were commonly found in the same vicinity as the gold 

 torque already described. An urn, sword, and dagger are recorded as found 

 at Crossmoor.^ 



Two ancient ' chessmen ' of fine jet were found in the tumulus known as 

 the Mote Hill at Warrington, and are generally described, without much 

 evidence, as pre-Norman.* Another find of miscellaneous character contains 

 an object which seems more likely to be of Saxon times. This is a wooden 

 drinking cup, with two handles and bronze bands round it, found in the moss 

 at Stalmine, which lies 3 J miles south of Fleetwood. A brass stirrup also is 

 recorded from the same site.' 



Sculptured Crosses 



The best archaeological evidence of Christian settlements of Anglo-Saxon 

 date is to be gleaned from the occurrence of ecclesiastical or religious monu- 

 ments which can be assigned to this period. Their character and extent may 

 be appreciated from the papers on this subject which have appeared at various 

 times in the transactions of the Historic and Antiquarian Societies of Lanca- 

 shire.* As might be expected from the situation of the county, the monu- 

 ments bear witness to the influence not only of the Anglian school of 

 Northumbria, but also to Irish, Anglo-Saxon, and Norse tradition. It is 

 probable that none of these monuments are earlier than the eighth century, 

 but it may be noted that in the opinion of the late Rev. W. S. Calverley * 

 a few fragments in this corner of England might be survivals from the times 

 of SS. Ninian, Patrick, and Kentigern. 



In the hundred of West Derby the most important monument is the 

 fragment of a cross in the churchyard at Winwick. The centre and arms 

 alone remain, but they show that the diameter of the head of the cross was 

 4 feet 1 1 inches, and that it was of Irish type, the arms being connected by 

 a circular ring. There is a large boss in the centre of each face, and the 

 whole surface of the best preserved face is taken up with a symmetrical 

 arrangement of two patterns of ornament, one consisting of a double row of 

 Stafford knots, the other a diaper founded on the key pattern. The other 

 face is much worn, but shows remains of beasts with interlacing tails. The 

 ends of the arms show in one case a man carrying two rectangular objects 

 with handles, which have been called bells or buckets, and in the other two 

 men holding a third who is hung up by one foot and seems to have lost his 

 hands. The two men seem to be cutting off the legs of the hanging figure. 

 The dismemberment of the Northumbrian king St. Oswald is probably the 

 subject of the sculpture, for the church and a well, distant only three-quarters 

 of a mile, are both dedicated to that saint. An attractive theory," indeed, 

 identifies the local Makerfield with the Maserfield where St, Oswald met 



1 Fishwick, St. Miclwel's-m-fVyre, z. 



' j4nb. Joum. ii. 304. ' Lane, and Chei. Hiit. Soc. Trans, iii. 120. 



* ' Pre-Norman Sculptured Stones in Lancashire,' G. F. Browne, Lane, and Chei. j4ntiq. Sue. Trans, v. i ; 

 papers on the Heysham sculptures, ibid. Ix. 30-90 ; ' The Ancient Crosses of Lancashire,' H. Taylor, ibid, 

 xviii. I ; xii. 1 36; xx. 145 ; rri. I ; 'The Early Christian Monuments of Lancashire and Cheshire,' 

 J. RomiUy Allen, Lane, and Ches. Hist. Soc. Trans. (New Ser.), ii. I. 



6 'Sctes tn the Early Sculptured Crosses in the present diocese tf Carlisle, pp. 3, 12, 23, 302, etc 



* Baines, Lancashire (Harland), ii. 205. 



262 



