Page:VCH Derbyshire 1.djvu/370

 A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE ECCLES PIKE. A cross-shaft 4 feet 8 inches high and i foot 3 inches wide at the broadest part, tapering to 12 inches, was discovered in 1903 by Mr. W. J. Andrew in a rough stone boundary wall on Eccles Pike, in the parish of Chapel en le Frith. It was almost entirely hidden by the masonry of the wall, but when this was taken away it was seen to be set in a rough stone base 2 feet 10 inches in diameter and 10 inches high above ground level, and it appeared that the cross was in situ, there being no evidence of its ever having been out of its socket. The shaft is complete, the head only of the cross having been lost, and both faces and sides are covered with interlaced patterns within cable borders. EvAM. 1 The cross in the churchyard at Eyam is complete with the exception of the bottom arm of the head and the top of the shaft. It now stands in a modern base 3 feet 4 inches long by 3 feet wide. The shaft is 5 feet 9 inches high by I foot 8 inches wide at the bottom and i foot 4 inches wide at the top by i foot 3 inches thick at the bottom and i foot thick at the top. The head is 2 feet 6 inches high by 3 feet 5 inches in diameter across the arms. On the front of the head (facing west) are four angels holding sceptres over their shoulders one in a circular medallion in the middle of the head and one on each of the arms. On the top of the front of the shaft are two enthroned figures in panels with arched tops. The lower figure is holding a horn in front of his body. The remainder of the front of the shaft below is decorated with circular interlaced work. On the back of the head (facing east) are four angels, similarly placed to those on the front. The one in the middle holds a sceptre, and the three others on the arms are blowing trumpets. The whole of the back of the shaft is decorated with a magnificent piece of foliage, the stems of which form five very bold spiral coils, with leaves and bunches of grapes in the centre of each, and leaves and buds filling up the spandrels at the sides. On the end of the north arm of the cross is a figure holding a book, and on the end of the south arm an angel. The north and south faces of the top arm and the under sides of the two horizontal arms are decorated with looped interlaced work. The north and south faces of the shaft are completely covered with interlaced work composed of knot No. 6 (see Analysis of Ornament). FERNILEE HALL. The rounded shaft of a cross 5 feet 6 inches long, tapering from adiameter of I foot 3 inches to 7 inches at the top, is set up in the grounds of Fernilee Hall near Whaley Bridge as the pedestal for a sundial. Its real character was first noticed in 1903 by Mr. W. J. Andrew. The shaft is plain, but has a double necking, above which it is cut back to a square section, the four faces thus formed being outlined with rolls of slight projection. This feature may be to some extent due to its reuse, and one of the faces is inscribed H L 1720. The shaft is not in situ, but is believed to have been brought from the old road above. HopE. 2 In the grounds of the vicarage there stands a cross-shaft 6 feet 6 inches high, i clinches wide at the top and i foot 4 inches wide at the bottom by 7 inches thick at the top and I foot thick at the bottom, sculptured on all four faces. The east face is divided into three panels, containing (i) a six-cord plait merging into spiral knot- work at the top ; (ii) within a rectangular frame having slightly rounded corners, a pair of figures grasping a cross which stands vertically between them ; (iiia) a pair of oval rings crossed and interlaced and combined with a pair of concentric circular rings ; and (ii'ib) foliage. The west face is divided into three panels, containing (i) a figure carrying a cross over his shoulder ; (ii) within a rectangular frame having an arched top, a pair of figures wrestling or embracing ; and (iii) interlaced work composed of double concentric circular rings and double cords crossing diagonally in the middle of each ring. The north face is divided into two panels, containing (i) dragonesque monsters with pellets in the background ; and (ii) interlaced work founded on a four-cord plait. The south face is ornamented with interlaced work composed of figure-of-eight knots repeated in a single vertical row. The Hope cross has been illustrated by E. E. Wilmot in the I/am Anastatic Sketchbook. LUDWORTH. The pair of pillar crosses known as ' Robin Hood's Picking Rods ' stand on moorland about i,ooofeet high, at the junction of the townships of Mellor, Ludworth, Chisworth, and New Mills. They are first named on a rough survey map of Mellor Com- mons and Moor of 1 640 (P.R.O.), where they are roughly outlined and described as ' the two standinge stones called Maiden Stone.' They now stand in an angle formed by two 1 Reliquary, 1904, 200. 2 Ibid., 1905,95. 282