Featured: Ark of Secrets - Neolithic spirit alive in the Middle Ages

Ark of Secrets - Neolithic spirit alive in the Middle Ages

The Quest for the Shaman: Shape-shifters, Sorcerers and Spirit-healers of Ancient Europe

The Quest for the Shaman: Shape-shifters, Sorcerers and Spirit-healers of Ancient Europe

Who's Online

There are currently, 482 guests and 0 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Rockcliffe (Cumbria) - Ancient Cross in England in Cumbria

Submitted by Anne T on Saturday, 19 August 2017  Page Views: 5452

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) Alternative Name: St Mary's Church (Rockcliffe)
Country: England County: Cumbria Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Town: Carlisle  Nearest Village: Rockcliffe
Map Ref: NY35896162
Latitude: 54.945098N  Longitude: 3.002364W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

Anne T visited on 17th Aug 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5 The Rockcliffe Wheel-headed Cross, Cumbria: From the centre of Carlisle, we followed the signs heading north on the A7, out to the large Asda by the M6. Just before junction 44, a road north west into the industrial estate, clearly signposted to Rockcliffe. This road leads straight into the village, with the church being on the south western corner of the village where the minor road turns right. There is room to park by the main iron gates to the church, next to the mounting block, in a small triangular piece of road. Immediately inside the gates, the cross is straight in front of you, just to the right of the path leading to the south porch. Nearby is a modern grave marker in a smaller, but similar shape. The church sits on a promontory, and as you walk down to the south porch a bend of the River Eden comes into view. On the north side of the church the land drops sharply down to Rockcliffe Beck with some graves on the terrace below. Even I was intrigued enough to walk the narrow path along the northern side of the church because I wanted to see the layout of the churchyard. Sadly the church was locked, as I’d loved to have seen inside.

Rockcliffe (Cumbria)
Rockcliffe (Cumbria) submitted by Anne T : First view of the Rockcliffe Cross from the iron gates by the mounting block. It sits to the right of the path leading to the south porch. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The cross is located on the south east side of St. Mary's churchyard, to the right of the path leading from the gates by the mounting block to the south porch. A modern grave marker, smaller, but of similar shape, sits by the tree just in front of this cross.

Historic England List ID 1007169 describes the Rockcliffe Wheel-head Cross as "well-preserved." Their entry adds: "The sandstone cross, which is understood to stand in its original position, stands on a rectangular stone base above which is a shaft topped by a complete wheel-headed cross decorated with interlace and knot patterns along with two bear-like beasts. The style of the cross indicates it to date to the 10th century. The monument is a Listed Building Grade I."

St. Mary's sits on a promontory to the east of a bend in the River Eden and Rockcliffe Beck to the north, both largely hidden by trees, but it is well worth walking towards the south porch to appreciate the glory of the location.

Pastscape Monument No. 10834 has little detail but does tell us the cross is much weathered and dates it to the 10th or 11th century.

More information can be found at the Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture - see their entry for Rockcliffe.

The Diocese information tells us there are 12th and 13th century grave covers inside the church, which is kept locked, so please arrange with a church warden if you want to visit.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Rockcliffe (Cumbria)
Rockcliffe (Cumbria) submitted by Anne T : Close up of the northern face of the wheel head. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rockcliffe (Cumbria)
Rockcliffe (Cumbria) submitted by Anne T : Close up of the southern face of the wheel head, looking up past the church to where a bend of the River Eden lies just beyond. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rockcliffe (Cumbria)
Rockcliffe (Cumbria) submitted by Anne T : Standing between the cross and the south wall of the church looking across its northern face to the minor road beyond. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Rockcliffe (Cumbria)
Rockcliffe (Cumbria) submitted by Anne T : Side view of the cross looking north east across the church yard. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.

Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
NY3561 : Two access methods into St Mary's Church churchyard by Luke Shaw
by Luke Shaw
©2021(licence)
NY3561 : The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe and Cargo, Stone cross by Alexander P Kapp
by Alexander P Kapp
©2010(licence)
NY3561 : Benchmark on tower of St Mary the Virgin Church by Roger Templeman
by Roger Templeman
©2021(licence)
NY3561 : The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe and Cargo, War Memorial by Alexander P Kapp
by Alexander P Kapp
©2010(licence)
NY3561 : The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Rockcliffe and Cargo, Gate by Alexander P Kapp
by Alexander P Kapp
©2010(licence)

The above images may not be of the site on this page, they are loaded from Geograph.
Please Submit an Image of this site or go out and take one for us!


Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.6km SSW 204° St Mary's Motte (Beaumont)* Misc. Earthwork (NY3480459296)
 3.1km S 188° St Andrew's Well (Kirkandrews-on-Eden)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY35395851)
 3.4km WSW 257° King Edward's Monument* Cairn (NY3257460920)
 4.8km SSE 158° Stainton West Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry (NY3759457137)
 6.2km SE 141° Hyssop Holme Well (Carlisle)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY3974856801)
 6.2km SE 142° Roman Bridge Remains (Bitts Park)* Ancient Trackway (NY3961056670)
 6.4km NW 312° Lochmaben Stane* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NY3123665983)
 6.4km NNE 18° Arthuret Church cross* Ancient Cross (NY37936766)
 6.4km SE 134° Homeacres Holy Well (Stanwix)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY40415709)
 6.4km NNE 17° St Michael's Holy Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY3789967755)
 6.7km SE 144° Tullie House Museum* Museum (NY3978556106)
 6.9km SE 144° Carlisle Anglo Saxon Crosses* Ancient Cross (NY39885595)
 7.1km SE 143° Carlisle Cross* Ancient Cross (NY4008455931)
 7.5km NNW 327° Gretna Sculptured Stone (NY319680)
 9.5km WSW 238° Finglandrigg Spa Well (Chalybeate)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY2770956749)
 10.6km NNE 20° Castra Exploratorum Ancient Village or Settlement (NY39607160)
 10.8km NNE 17° St Andrew's Well (Kirkandrews-on-Esk) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY3913071970)
 10.9km NW 312° Mossknowe 3* Cairn (NY2793169102)
 10.9km NW 314° Mossknowe 2* Cairn (NY2806469266)
 11.2km NW 314° Mossknowe Tumulus* Cairn (NY27836948)
 11.4km SSE 158° Tarn plantation* Stone Circle (NY4051)
 11.5km SE 146° St Ninian's Well (Brisco)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY42265201)
 11.6km SW 224° Fairy Well (Aikton)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY27635340)
 11.7km S 174° Chapel Flat Stone Circle (NY370500)
 11.9km NNE 12° Scots' Dike* Misc. Earthwork (NY38507325)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Dattykh hillfort

Creag Bhreac Cairn >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Prehistoric Monuments of the Lake District

Prehistoric Monuments of the Lake District

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Rockcliffe (Cumbria)" | Login/Create an Account | 12 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Anne T on Wednesday, 06 September 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
I've had a reply from Prof. Bailey of the Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculptures this afternoon, which reads as follows:

'Whilst acknowledging the possibility that the cross may have been moved to its present site from elsewhere, I see no reason to change the dating and decorative analysis published in the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, II, 1988, 143-5. The zoomorphic ornament, Borre-related knotwork, head-shape and shaft banding are all characteristic of regional and Irish Sea tastes in the tenth century.'
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Hatty on Thursday, 07 September 2017
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    We have reached the position where all these enquiries end because, no matter how thin the evidence or unlikely the circumstances, somebody once declared this to be Anglo-Saxon and everybody else has cited this person, or one another, ever since. It’s in all the books! Professor Bailey himself acknowledges the whole thing rests solely and entirely on artistic interpretation of what is, or is not, tenth century. He does not acknowledge a) there is not a single securely dated example of this kind of tenth century art, or b) anybody at any time can carve a cross of ancient style. You can order a zoomorphic ornament with Borre-related knotwork for your own tombstone from any monumental mason. It’s in all the pattern books! With the bonus that somebody might one day declare you were a tenth century Anglo-Saxon.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Hatty on Monday, 04 September 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
Hallo Anne (and Sunny!)

Very interested to read your posts. I think the problem with all the sources, reputable as they are, is that they simply quote one another but there is no primary evidence since stone cannot be dated.

The stone crosses, being above ground, lack archaeological context. They may be mentioned in historical sources but these are suspect for the period (at least according to 'Meetings with Remarkable Forgeries' which I helped to research). Meanwhile, researching the sequel, it transpires there is no archaeological evidence of early Anglo-Saxon churches at all. The reason for now is something of an enigma though any suggestions you might have would certainly be welcome.

[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Anne T on Tuesday, 05 September 2017
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hi Hatty and Sunny,
    I've passed along all your comments from your PMs to the Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculptures for them to consider and come back to us on. It will be interesting to see how they respond. Nothing like a good debate!
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Sunny100 on Tuesday, 22 August 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
Having another look at your photo of Rockcliffe Cross Anne, it looks like the bottom section and its base are older than the rest, that part could, perhaps, date back to the late Saxon period.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Anne T on Friday, 01 September 2017
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hi, Sunny100,
    Many thanks for having a closer look, and for your thoughts.
    I've had an interim reply from the Corpus of Anglo Saxon team this morning to say they will speak with Prof. Cramp to get a definitive answer, but I may not hear for a couple of weeks, until University term recommences.
    I've got so much else for the next couple of weeks, I'm content to wait to hear from them. In the meantime, if anything else occurs to you, I'd be delighted to hear.
    Best wishes,
    Anne T.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Anne T on Monday, 04 September 2017
      (User Info | Send a Message)
      Hello both Sunny100 and Hatty,

      The Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture have replied this morning, but they are asking for your reasons for thinking the cross is of a later date.

      I've sent both of you a private message with their full reply, and look forward to hearing from you.

      Best wishes, Anne T.
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Sunny100 on Saturday, 19 August 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
I would think the Rockcliffe cross is more likely Medieval, but would not like to say for certain, but maybe 12th to 15th century? But this is only my opinion, I could be wrong.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Anne T on Monday, 21 August 2017
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hi Sunny100,
    Given the Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture (see the response to Hatty below) quotes a 10th century date, I've sent the team an email to enquire whether or not the date of 12th/13th to 15th century both you and Hatty are suggesting might be more accurate.
    Strangely, on the OS map there is a nearby village called Rockcliffe Cross and I wondered if there was either another cross at this site, or if this cross might have originally been located there. I'll let you know if I hear anything (which might be a while given people might be on holiday).
    Best wishes,
    Anne T.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Hatty on Saturday, 19 August 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
Rockcliffe cross is unlikely to be 'tenth century' since the church was built 12th-13th century. Context is everything!
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Rockcliffe (Cumbria) by Anne T on Saturday, 19 August 2017
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hello, Hatty,

    Thanks for your comment. I agree that context is everything. Crosses often pre-dated the buildings they are located near; in this case there are four different sources which all agree on the date of the cross:

    Historic England says the cross is in its original position;
    Historic England, Pastscape and British Listed Buildings all give a date of 10th or 11th century;
    The Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture (the source I mainly rely on for dating and descriptions) for Rockcliffe gives a detailed description and discussion, concluding: "The animal forms and the Borre-derived ring-chain point to a tenth-century date."
    The links are given in the main text above.

    According to Carlisle Diocese notes, the church itself (like many in this area) was rebuilt in 1848 replacing an earlier medieval style building. They also quote a 10th century date for the cross. See Rockcliffe St. Mary Carlisle Diocese.

    Hope this helps.
    [ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.