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A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE The analogy of the Halton cross and others indicates a pre-Norman date, which is helped by the mention of the church of this place in the Domesday Book. Mr. Taylor believes that a cross from Simonswood, which is not to be found, may have been pre-Norman. In the east wall of Ormskirk church is part of a cross-shaft, the exposed face showing two human figures side by side.

At Manchester, in the Cathedral Library, is a well-known sculptured stone, believed to be of pre-Norman date, on which is the inscription, 'In manus tuas domine commendo (meum) spiritum.' The sculpture represents an angel, in archaic fashion, and recalls, as Mr. Taylor points out, those over



the chancel arch in the pre-Norman church at Bradford-on-Avon. In the Manchester Museum, at the University of that city, there is a fragment of stone found during the excavation of the Ship Canal in the Barton reach. It is recognizably a portion of a Saxon cross-shaft bearing a deeply cut and unusual device.

Elsewhere in this hundred of Salford are a portion of a cross found on the banks of the Irwell near Eccles, and a cross and other early sculptures at Bolton le Moors. The latter cross illustrates some interesting varieties of decoration, as indicated by Mr. Allen, in twisted bands, with and without 264