Kirkdale Saxon Artefacts
Ornate sarcophagus lids and Saxon
artefacts to be found in Kirkdale Minster and embedded into its walls which
will transport you to the Eighth century CE
Directions
and orientation
The page
about the Kirkdale Sundial
explains how to get to Kirkdale Church.
You can read
about Anglo Saxon Kirkdale and
about the Anglo Saxon
Community of Kirkdale.
The earlier
history of the church is evidenced by artefacts at Kirkdale dating to as early
as the late eighth century CE. This page explores the artefacts which you can
find and see at Kirkdale today. This page will help you to observe the features
that still mark the Anglo Saxon characteristics of this ancient place.
Characteristically Anglo-Saxon architectural features include the height and
narrowness of the western arch; and the simplicity of the bases and capitals of
the angle-shafts of the western and chancel arches.
Crosses
built into the walls
Look closely
at the surviving walls of Kirkdale and you will find three large stone crosses,
much weathered, which are built into it. Two are built into the outside of the
south wall of the nave and one in the outside of the west wall to the north of
the tower.
These are
gravestones of an Anglo-Scandinavian design which was introduced to northern
and eastern England by the Danes and Norwegians who settled here in the late
ninth and early tenth centuries. They are probably dated to the tenth century
or early eleventh, and presumably were gravestones in the cemetery of the
church which preceded Orm's rebuilding.
Heather O’Donaghue refers to the Christ like figure on the Kirkdale
cross, built in to the wall of the church, having a forked beard, suggesting
Scandinavian influence.
It may seem
odd that builders should use gravestones which had been erected in the fairly
recent past, especially at a place where good building stone lies ready to
hand. However this practice was not uncommon in buildings of this period.
There’s another example in the church at Middleton between Kirkbymoorside and
Pickering.
Grave
Covers
Two
elaborate grave covers, have been called the Cedd
Stone and the Æthilwald Stone. These two tomb-slabs
are to be seen inside the church, under the arcade which separates the nave
from the north aisle.
These too
were incorporated into the fabric at Orm's rebuilding. They were moved to their
present position at the time of the restoration of 1907 to 1909. Scholarly
opinion dates these to the Anglian or pre-Scandinavian period, that is before
about 870 CE. One of them appears to be of the eighth century and the other of
the ninth.
For their
day they demonstrate a relatively sophisticated craftsmanship. Features of
their design suggest that they originally stood inside a church. It is likely
that the individuals once buried beneath them were of significant status and
prestige. The church, which originally housed these tombs, may well have been
an imposing one.
One of
these, upon which is a fine cross, was said, a century ago, to bear the
inscription in runic characters, 'Cyning Æthilwald,'
but no writing is now decipherable. There was an attempt to link the other
grave cover to Cedd. This inscription was one
of the foundations of the theory that Kirkdale was the true site of Lastingham monastery founded by Cedd in the 7th century. These theories have
been dismissed though and they are likely to have been the graves of
significant elite individuals associated with Kirkdale, but evidence of Lastingham’s foundation.
The above
ground grace structures were designated ST 7 and ST 8 by the archaeologists.
They were found at the west exterior of the Church and have been interpreted to
have been significant above ground grave structures, likely associated with
elite members of society. Their position in the building might have been
focused with vibrant paint and possibly the play of light.
Artefact
ST 7
Artefact ST 8
Reconstructed designs of ST7
and ST 8
ST 8
ST 7
The
symbolism of these finds was likely understood by an informed audience. A
design on ST 12 was probably reference to a chalice. Designs on ST 7 and ST 8
were probably theological messages. Symbolism on ST 7 has been linked to Bedean
end of the world millenarianism. There was also symbolism associated with the
dead themselves, marked out as ‘special’ dead, of more than usual value in the
community, particularly associated with ST 8, probably also ST 7 and OM 3. ST 8
has been interpreted to be associated with some local recognition of sainthood.
Other
artefacts
Other
artefacts which can’t be seen at the church today include pieces which suggest
Roman associations and are probably of the late eighth to early ninth century.
Artefact
GL2
Find ST 42,
found in Trench II, stands out from other stone found at Kirkdale. It may have
been imported from a significant, possibly Italian centre and was perhaps a
relic fragment.
Artefact
ST 42
Artefact
OM 3
or
Go Straight to Chapter 4 – Anglo
Saxon Kirkdale
Go Straight to the History of Anglo
Saxon Kirkdale
You can also visit the following pages of the website.
· The church in Anglo Saxon
Scandinavian Times
· The community in Anglo Saxon
Scandinavian Times
You might also like to read more
about:
· The Deira, Bernicia and
Northumberland
· Alcuin and the birth of modern
education
· Carlin How and Saxon witches
You will
find a chronology, together with source material at the Kirkdale Page.