ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS 



angular bends, the broken plait of four knots terminating in the Stafford 

 knot, the figure-of-eight knot, the three-cornered knot, and key patterns of 

 single strokes alternating with and without the central zig-zag line. 



In the churchyard at Whalley, in the hundred of Blackburn, are three 

 standing cross-shafts, all now upon the south side of the church, and in the 

 church are remains of other crosses. 



The first of these shafts here shown is a monolith standing 7 feet 

 6 inches above the turf, measuring 15J inches by 10 inches at the bottom, 

 and 9 inches by 10 inches at the top. It carries 'a small mutilated cross- 

 head, which apparently stood a foot or two higher up on a portion of the 

 shaft, which is missing. Thus the total height of the monument from the 

 ground level may have been about 11 feet.'^ The west front and the sides 

 are much weathered, but the design of the east front may still be made out. 

 It is divided into six panels, the uppermost and the two lowest having inter- 

 lacing patterns, while the three in the middle have respectively a bird, a 

 nimbed figure with upraised hands having a serpent on each side, and a beast. 

 The head of the cross has clearly been of a type rather Anglo-Saxon than 

 Celtic, with expanded arms rounded at the ends. 



The second cross is in fair preservation, although wanting a portion 

 of the shaft — a piece estimated by Mr. Taylor at about 2 feet in length. 

 Its total height would then have been about 9 or i o feet. The three 

 upper arms of the head, which is of the same type as the preceding, are 

 broken away, but the central boss is preserved. Both faces of the shaft 

 have a central roll ending in a circular boss, below which two rolls curve 

 outwards to the angles of the shaft. The ground is filled with spirals. The 

 shaft stands in a socketed base-stone. The third cross is also fitted into a 

 base-stone, which has holes at each end of it suitable for supporting two other 

 crosses or possibly figures of SS. Mary and John.^ Much of the shaft is 

 broken away, and the scrollwork which occurs on all four sides is almost 

 obliterated. The designs illustrated by the Whalley crosses are chiefly twisted 

 bands with angular bends, plaits of four and of eight cords, rings and crossbars, 

 the Stafford knot and scroll foliage. 



Another cross of pre-Norman work is that at Burnley, known from its 

 former situation as the Godley Lane cross. It ' consists of a tapering cham- 

 fered shaft, terminating in a small cross which has been much mutilated.' ^ 

 In the centre, at the intersection of the arms, which are broken away, is a 

 raised boss similar to that on the cross at Whalley, mentioned above, and 

 the head has had expanded arms with rounded ends. The total height 

 above ground is 8 feet 6 inches, and the estimated width across the arms 

 about 2 feet. 



The hundred of Lonsdale, and in particular the vicinity of Lancaster, 

 is that which yields most evidence of pre-Norman times in the remaining 

 early Christian monuments. No church in this region is directly mentioned 

 in the Domesday Book, possibly because there was none which came within 

 the purpose of the survey ; but the existence of some may be inferred with 

 certainty. 



At Lancaster itself there have been found the remains of nine distinct 

 crosses. Some of these monuments are of surpassing interest ; two of them 



1 Lane, and Ches. Hist. Soc. Trans. (1894), xviii. pp. 17-19. ^ Ibid. 50. 



I 26s 34 



