Page:VCH Lancaster 1.djvu/347

ANGLO-SAXON REMAINS angular bends, the broken plait of four knots terminating in the Stafford knot, the figure-of-eight knot, the three-cornered knot, and key patterns of single strokes alternating with and without the central zig-zag line.

In the churchyard at Whalley, in the hundred of Blackburn, are three standing cross-shafts, all now upon the south side of the church, and in the church are remains of other crosses.

The first of these shafts here shown is a monolith standing 7 feet 6 inches above the turf, measuring 15½ inches by 10 inches at the bottom, and 9 inches by 10 inches at the top. It carries 'a small mutilated crosshead, which apparently stood a foot or two higher up on a portion of the shaft, which is missing. Thus the total height of the monument from the ground level may have been about 11 feet.' The west front and the sides are much weathered, but the design of the east front may still be made out. It is divided into six panels, the uppermost and the two lowest having interlacing patterns, while the three in the middle have respectively a bird, a nimbed figure with upraised hands having a serpent on each side, and a beast. The head of the cross has clearly been of a type rather Anglo-Saxon than Celtic, with expanded arms rounded at the ends.

The second cross is in fair preservation, although wanting a portion of the shaft—a piece estimated by Mr. Taylor at about 2 feet in length. Its total height would then have been about 9 or 10 feet. The three upper arms of the head, which is of the same type as the preceding, are broken away, but the central boss is preserved. Both faces of the shaft have a central roll ending in a circular boss, below which two rolls curve outwards to the angles of the shaft. The ground is filled with spirals. The shaft stands in a socketed base-stone. The third cross is also fitted into a base-stone, which has holes at each end of it suitable for supporting two other crosses or possibly figures of SS. Mary and John. Much of the shaft is broken away, and the scrollwork which occurs on all four sides is almost obliterated. The designs illustrated by the Whalley crosses are chiefly twisted bands with angular bends, plaits of four and of eight cords, rings and crossbars, the Stafford knot and scroll foliage.

Another cross of pre-Norman work is that at Burnley, known from its former situation as the Godley Lane cross. It 'consists of a tapering chamfered shaft, terminating in a small cross which has been much mutilated.' In the centre, at the intersection of the arms, which are broken away, is a raised boss similar to that on the cross at Whalley, mentioned above, and the head has had expanded arms with rounded ends. The total height above ground is 8 feet 6 inches, and the estimated width across the arms about 2 feet.

The hundred of Lonsdale, and in particular the vicinity of Lancaster, is that which yields most evidence of pre-Norman times in the remaining early Christian monuments. No church in this region is directly mentioned in the Domesday Book, possibly because there was none which came within the purpose of the survey; but the existence of some may be inferred with certainty.

At Lancaster itself there have been found the remains of nine distinct crosses. Some of these monuments are of surpassing interest; two of them 265