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Monuments: G

1. Gosforth

Image
RecordAuthor Máirín Mac Carron
ISODate 2002-08-01
Date 1 August 2002
PictureCredit Jane Hawkes
County Cumbria
Townland Gosforth
OSMapRef NY 065035
Area England
GeneralContext Cross, west view.
Location churchyard at Gosforth.
Dimensions 442cm (174'') high.
GeneralContext Stone type: medium-grained red sandstone.
GeneralDescription West view of Cross, dated to the first half of the tenth century.
GeneralDescription The ring on the head is decorated with a three-strand bordered by a roll moulding. There is a boss at the centre enclosed within a frame formed by mouldings.
GeneralDescription The top part of the shaft is decorated with a full-length panel bordered by a roll moulding. At the top there is an animal's head. There is a form of ring chain, executed in double strands attached to this. This links to two parallel strips of three-strand plain plait below. These both end in downward-biting zoomorphic heads, identical to the animal at the top of the panel.
GeneralDescription Below the heads there is a staff held horizontally across the panel by a human figure who is also horizontal as he is depicted as standing on the left-hand moulding. He is holding a horn in his outstretched left hand.
GeneralDescription Below this figure there is an upside down horseman. His left hand is on the horse's neck and his outstretched right arm holds a spear behind the horse.
GeneralDescription At the bottom of the panel set into a curved part there is a human figure lying down with arms and legs in manacles. There is a cord around his neck that is knotted with a snake whose head is set above him. Over the man there is a kneeling, pigtailed, woman holding out a bowl.
GeneralDescription The lower part of the shaft is circular.

  1. Bailey, R.N., Cramp, R.J., Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture. Vol.II, Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North-of-the-Sands.1, Oxford University Press., Oxford (1988) Stones, Sculpture, Anglo-Saxons, England..