The Corpus: Lancaster (Priory) 10

Volume 9: Cheshire and Lancashire

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Current Display: Lancaster (Priory) 10, Lancashire

Overview

Object type: Fragment [1] [2] [3]

Measurements: Not recorded

Stone type: Unobtainable

Plate numbers in printed volume: Ill. 602

Corpus volume reference: Vol 9 p. 229

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Present Location

Lost

Evidence for Discovery

Recorded in a drawing, labelled 'Fragment of Norman cross found in Lancaster Church Yard', in Lancaster Central Library Scrapbook, vol. V, part 2, p. 40. This record was noticed independently by Dr R. Trench-Jellicoe and Dr A. White. White (A. 2003a) argues that the scrapbook was assembled in the late nineteenth century, but if the stone was found during grave digging in the churchyard, then its discovery would pre-date the closing of that burial site in 1855.

Church Dedication

St Mary

Present Condition

Not known

Description

Only one face is recorded. The drawing shows, at the top, two rosette berry-bunches terminating a trumpet-spiral shoot facing back towards two stems. Beneath are two scroll stems. To the right is a possible curved roll-moulding edge.

Discussion

If the drawing is re-aligned so that the fruiting shoots are set to the right, then the fragment can be interpreted as one showing a typical Lune valley scroll, combining a 'western split-stem' with tightly spiralled offshoots, which is familiar on several shafts at Heysham, Lancaster and Halton (Chapter IV, p. 20, Fig. 11). The pelta-like arrangement of the fruiting spirals is closely paralleled at Heversham and Lowther in Westmorland (Bailey and Cramp 1988, ills. 354, 439).
If, on the other hand, this is part of a cross-head then it is a unique example in this area of scroll decorating a head.

Date

Ninth century

References

White, A. 2003a, 7–8, fig. on 7

Endnotes

[1]Though all the Lancaster sculptures may have originated at the priory church site, the carvings are here divided into three groups which reflect their find spot. See also Capernwray Hall 1 (p. 169).

[2] The following are general references to the Lancaster stones: Taylor, H. 1898, 42; Farrer and Brownbill 1914, 3, 22; Fellows-Jensen 1985, 273, 402, 405; Higham, N. 2004a, 27, 167, 206; Blair 2005, 216, 309; Salter 2005, 49.

The following are unpublished manuscript references: BL Add. MS 37550, items 666–98, 734 (Romilly Allen collection).

[3] The following is an unpublished manuscript reference to Lancaster (Priory)10: Lancaster Central Library Scrapbook, vol. V, part 2, p. 40.