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Monuments: H

1. Hovingham

Image
RecordAuthor Máirín Mac Carron
ISODate 2002-09-06
Date 6 September 2002
PictureCredit Jane Hawkes
County East Yorkshire
Townland Hovingham.
OSMapRef SE 565755
Area England
GeneralContext Shrine Slab.
Location Church at Hovingham.
GeneralContext Stone type: Find-grained, very micaceous, finely bedded, flaggy, yellow to light grey sandstone.
Dimensions 62cm (24.5'') high, 160cm (63'') in width, and 18cm to 11cm (7.1'' to 4.3'') in depth.
GeneralDescription Shrine slab dated to early ninth century.
GeneralDescription There is an eight-fold arcade carved on this slab. A flat, plain moulding, runs along the top and sides of this and on the bottom there is inhabited plant scroll.
GeneralDescription Each arch contains a single figure and the pillars between them don't have bases.
GeneralDescription The figure in the first arch is an angel with a halo and large wings. He is holding a slender wand. He is facing right. The next figure is sitting on an X-shaped stool facing left, also haloed. These two arches represent the Annunciation, New Testament, Luke 1:26.
GeneralDescription The next two arches (3 and 4) show two nimbed figures facing each other. These are thought to be Mary and Elizabeth in the Visitation, New Testament, Luke 1:42.
GeneralDescription The figure in arch 5 is very damaged and difficult to make out, may have had a halo. The figure in the next arch is facing to the right and the head is hooded. The fore-arms may be raised before the head or else they are holding a swaddled child. The figure in the seventh arch is seated on an X-shaped stool with its right hand raised to its chest. This figure has a halo. The last arch has a standing angel facing left. Its right arm extends behind the pillar to the seated figure. Hawkes suggests that these are a Resurrection scene.

  1. Lang, J., York and Eastern Yorkshire. Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, Vol. 31st, Oxford University Press, Oxford. (1991) England - Civilisation, Crosses, Sculpture, Anglo-Saxons..