<< Our Photo Pages >> St Bartholomew's Church (Newbiggin by the Sea) - Ancient Cross in England in Northumberland
Submitted by Anne T on Friday, 28 September 2018 Page Views: 2929
Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: St Bartholomew's Church (Newbiggin by the Sea)Country: England
NOTE: This site is 0.847 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Northumberland Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Town: Newbiggin by the Sea
Map Ref: NZ3178588024
Latitude: 55.185486N Longitude: 1.502364W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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Anne T visited Ancient cross slabs, Newbiggin by the Sea: The website for St. Bartholomew’s announces that the church “has one of the most important collections of coffin lids and grave markers in the county, mostly re-set during the 1913 restoration, when the north aisle, demolished in antiquity, was reinstated. Other fragments are distributed around the church and in the South porch. There are around 20 pieces in all. Most of the slabs are of late twelfth or thirteenth century date; several show signs of post medieval re-use.”
I have included my photographs and notes here, as I think these grave markers are more spectacular than those in Kilmartin churchyard – their designs are less worn and Peter Ryder, archaeologist for the church, has written about them in his assessment of the church, dated January 2013.
On the day of our visit, the mid afternoon sun was streaming through the windows on the northern side of the church, which made photographing some of the fragments a little tricky (my photographic skills weren’t quite up to it!) and the stream of visitors into the church made me feel rude by continually using the flash.
Some of the cross slabs are in the vestry and some in the tower, but it was not possible to see these. Another three have been used as paving slabs on the external west wall of the tower, but I didn’t spot these, as they seem to be worn.
From the small guide book “The Church of St. Bartholomew”, centre right page:
The two (cross slabs) above the altar at the east end are outstanding with their richly carved borders, delicate florets and symbolic shears and keys. An engraving of one was published as long ago as 1854, shortly after their discovery, when they were recognised as being of national importance.
Built into the fabric of the church (mainly in the porch and internal walls) they are well preserved and (in my opinion) better than those to be found at Kilmartin Churchyard. The cross/grave slabs at Newbiggin by the Sea are dated to the 12th/13th century, whereas those at Kilmartin Churchyard are later (14th/15th/16th century). Some of the slabs are in the tower and vestry, which are not usually kept unlocked.
An archaeological assessment, dated January 2013 and carried out by Peter Ryder, Historic Buildings Consultant, which includes details and illustrations of the 20+ cross slabs in the church, can be found at Diocese of Newcastle, St. Bartholomew's Church, Newbiggin. More details can be found on the church's website - see Medieval Cross Slabs.
The church location is quite remarkable, being situated at the end of a low rocky promontory at the end of Newbiggin Bay. The church guide tells us that the church was originally founded as a chapel of ease to Woodhorn Church. The guide continues: "It may be assumed that a small church occupied the site before 1174, when a settlement between St Alban's Abbey and Tynemouth Priory includes a reference to a 'capella ... de Newbigginge'. Today the location is a little spoilt by the proximity to a large car park, but this also makes it very convenient for visitors!
Thanks to Peter Ryder for the descriptions of the cross slabs and architectural fragments (see his architectural assessment link above).
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