More information : [Area centred SJ 60399280] Winwick Churchyard Cross:
"Nothing now remains of the pre-Norman churchyard cross....except
the centre and cross consisting of a block of stone four feet
eleven inches long, eighteen inches deep, and eleven inches
thick. The stone was found in the year 1843, in digging a grave,
and was then placed in its present position on two short stones
pillars, the wrong way up, in the church-yard close to the east
wall of the chancel".
Both sides of the stone, the ends and the soffit have been
eloborately carved. The east side of the cross is covered chiefly
by interlacing rope ornament. A raised boss is in the centre of
the cross, back and front. The ornament of the west side of the
cross was almost obliterated when the stone was used as a monument
in the year 1793; the faint lines which are left indicate the
figures of beasts. On the north end is carved the figure of a
man dressed in a long robe, and carrying in each hand either a
bucket or a handbell. The sculpture on the other end of the cross
is popularly supposed to represent the dismemberment of St. Oswald.
Mr. J. Romilly Allen (a) (b) believes that the scene carved on the
south end of the cross, represents the martyrdom of Isiah.
[AO/55/301/1 Taken from (1)] (1)
A fragment of a Saxon cross, dug up in the churchyard at Winwick
in 1830, is commonly spoken of as a memorial of King Oswald; it
may possibly have been an ordinary preaching cross of pre-Norman
times. (2)
Comparison of the Winnick Cross with other Free Wheel-head
crosses, and dispersion map. (3)
SJ 60379284 The remains of the cross are displayed on the window
sill in the Gerard Chapel at the E.end of the N. aisle of Winwick
church. (4)
Condition unchanged. (5)
Included in a survey of pre-conquest sculpture. (6)
Full description of the 10th century cross which is one of the largest pre-Conquest cross-heads to survive in England. The scene formerly interpreted as the dismemberment of St Oswald is dismissed because of an inaccurate drawing by Romilly Allen. It is reinterpreted as naked souls in hell from Gaelic comparisons.(7) |