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Stone Circles, a Modern Builder's Guide to the Megalithic Revival

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Gosforth Cross - Ancient Cross in England in Cumbria

Submitted by Thorgrim on Sunday, 28 March 2004  Page Views: 43682

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: Gosforth Cross
Country: England County: Cumbria Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Town: Whitehaven  Nearest Village: Gosforth
Map Ref: NY07230357  Landranger Map Number: 89
Latitude: 54.419077N  Longitude: 3.431176W
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.
3 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.
4 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

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Anne T visited on 24th Oct 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5 The Gosforth Cross and Hogbacks, Gosforth, Cumbria: This was a busy, busy little village. By this time, it was 3pm and I was more than ready for a cup of tea, but the cafe above the village store was closing. Away from the main car park for the village, we struggled to park, but in the end managed to get a spot outside the eastern end of the churchyard, where a delivery van had just pulled away. What a delightful little church, where we were given a very warm welcome. Rather than walk up to the lych gate, I opened the lower gate into the churchyard, where we were almost immediately greeted by some iron railings round a very unusual tree. We walked over the grass to the Gosforth Cross, and as I was taking photographs, we were greeted by a very jolly gentleman who told us he’d seen us come in through the bottom of the churchyard, and asked if we’d spotted the railings. “As far as we know, this is the most northerly growing cork tree.” He then proceeded to take us into the church and showed us where the Fishing Stone was, together with the light switches to see the other stones and hogback tombstones. There was a very busy group of ladies who were cleaning the church from top to bottom, using the space between the hogback tombstones to hide their handbags (I gingerly moved them and replaced them to get my photographs. I picked up a leaflet in the church about the grave covers and was taking (yet more) photographs in the porch. A gentleman with a sweeping brush came out to clear the leaves away and told us about the Grade 1 listed building at north east corner of church yard built out of grave stones, so we went to look. Fascinating! I’m glad I didn’t miss this feature.

nicoladidsbury visited on 8th Feb 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5 Escaping from the horrendous weather during a weekend in Wasdale, we took shelter in the Church and played with side lighting to perfect the pictures of the Hogbacks and the Fisher Stone. This is such a marvellous place, so full of ancient Viking carvings. It never fails to stir me, to make me think about the ancestors of Cumbria. One stone is called the Warrior Stone, and shows two Viking armies on one side, and the serpents on the other. The ends are possibly bears, and the roof may depict shingles. the other hogback is the Saints Stone, this one has a image of Jesus on the cross at the ends, and some fantstic carvings on the sides. The style is very reminisent of the Cross at Adlington, Penrith and Dacre.

AngieLake coin have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4 Access: 5

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by Thorgrim : Probably the finest Anglo-Scandinavian carving in the north of England, this red sandstone cross has stood for over a thousand years in the churchyard at Gosforth. Depicting Pagan scenes of Odin, Thor and Loki as well as of Christ crucified, the mixed symbolism is intriguing. Inside the church are fine Viking hog-back tombstones including one showing the famous scene of Thor fishing for the Mid... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Ancient cross depicting scenes from Scandinavian sagas and the crucifixion in Cumbria

Probably the finest Anglo-Scandinavian carving in the north of England, this red sandstone cross has stood for over a thousand years in the churchyard at Gosforth.

Depicting Pagan scenes of Odin, Thor and Loki as well as of Christ crucified, the mixed symbolism is intriguing. Inside the church are fine Viking hog-back tombstones including one showing the famous scene of Thor fishing for the Midgard Serpent. Gosforth in Cumbria is 12 miles from Whitehaven at map ref: NY 072036.

For more information see Pastscape Monument No. 1583060 which adds: "The whole patterning of the cross shows an original mind at work exploiting links and contrasts between Scandinavian mythology and Christianity, and reflects a radical theological approach which would otherwise never have been suspected in Viking-age Cumbria." This cross is also scheduled as Historic England List ID 1012643.

The Journal of Antiquities also features an entry for The Gosforth Cross, Cumbria, which includes a description, a drawing of the cross and a photograph, together with a list of reference sources for further information.
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Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by LivingRocks : The west face has a single panel bordered by roll moulding within which are animal heads, and below which is a human figure holding a horizontal staff and a horn. Beneath this human figure there is a horseman shown upside down and holding a spear. At the bottom of the panel there is a human figure with arms and legs manacled. Around his neck is a cord which is knotted by a snake and above there is... (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by AngieLake : Gosforth Cross: close-up of the carvings on the south aspect. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks Battling the serpents on the Saint''s Tomb hogback Viking stone in Gosforth church Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by LivingRocks : The magnificent 4.42metre tall Viking cross viewed from the west. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks One of the cross heads, missing its shaft, that originally stood outside as one of four crosses. Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Fishing Stone, depicting one of the Norse legends of Thor and the world serpent Jormungand. Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fishing Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Christ crucified on the Saint''s Tomb hogback stone Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Warrior Tomb, the end support, showing a sheild and crossed swords? Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Warrior Tomb, depicting the serpent Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Viking Saints Tomb, hogback stone, in Gosforth Church Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Viking Saints Tomb at Gosforth Church Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Hogbacks The Warrior Tomb at Gosforth Church Ancient Viking carvings showing Hogback grave covers, two cross heads and the Fisher Stone Image copyright: terrystaniforth (Terry Staniforth), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Cross Gosforth Cross A wild and windy day in Gosforth. The Gosforth Cross, which used to be one of four, now stands alone in the Churchyard. The four sides of the cross are covered in remarkable carvings. It is beleived to date from 940ad and has stood on this spot for well over 1000 years. Starting from the bottom, the base of the shaft is round, and thought to represent the world tree o...

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : The Hogback tombstones at St Mary's Church, Gosforth (1 comment)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : One side of one of the Hogback tombstones.

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Gosforth Norse Cross Driving northwards towards Gosforth I saw a magnificent rainbow in the east, lighting up the fells with wonderful colour. I prayed, please last until I get to Gosforth! I parked, jumped out of the car, ran across the graveyard (trying not to be disrespectful) and managed to get two shots of the fading rainbow. 60 seconds later I would have been too late! (1 comment)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by AngieLake : Hogback Viking grave stone showing Thor in a ship fishing for the Midgarð Serpent

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by AngieLake : Gosforth hogbacks. These Viking grave stones are intended to represent houses. Roof shingles can be seen quite clearly. An army marches along the side of one and a crucifixion is vividly depicted on the end facing. (2 comments)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by AngieLake : Gosforth Cross: close-up of the carvings on the west aspect. (2 comments)

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by Antonine : The Gosforth Cross with St Mary’s Church, 2011

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by Antonine : Detail of carving in cross, 2011

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by Antonine : Detail of carving on cross, 2011

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by Antonine : Photo taken in 2011

Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Cross submitted by Antonine

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 263m N 350° Gosforth Holy Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY07190383)
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"Gosforth Cross" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
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A film about the Gosforth Cross by Anonymous on Thursday, 19 May 2016
A film I've just made with some Camden school children about the Gosforth Cross:


Reading The Gosforth Cross from RogerLang on Vimeo.


https://vimeo.com/rwlang/gosforthcross

A more detailed one with a textured version of Professor Powelsland's 3D scan should be finished early next month.
Best Wishes
Roger Lang
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gosforth Cross by Anonymous on Wednesday, 17 June 2015
I am contemplating carving a replica of the gosforth cross. Could you help me find a accurate detail of the cross?
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Gosforth Cross by Anne T on Thursday, 18 June 2015
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Hi, Anonymous, Thanks for your query - Andy B has asked me to reply as I've seen this beautiful cross, and a Victorian replica at Aspatria in Cumbria.

    If you click here this will take you to the Gosforth Cross page on the 'archeurope' web site which has detailed drawings of each side of the cross.

    On the page that comes up by clicking on this link, you will see first of all see a colour photograph of the cross. Immediately underneath is a black and white drawing showing all four sides. Clicking on the drawing will enlarge it for you. Follow the links either on the page or on the menu on the left hand side of the screen to see more detail of the east and west sides of the cross.

    If you need more help, let me know. If you have a user name for the Portal, let me know and I can send you a private message rather than correspond here. If you don't then it's easy enough to register - use the log-in screen and type your details in.

    Let us know how you get on with your carving - not many people have the skills to be able to do this nowadays - so it will be really interesting to follow your work.

    Kind regards.

    Further notes, added 21st June 2015:
    I've found a book on the internet which has much crisper drawings of the cross. I understand this is still available to purchase and called "Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Art Geometric Aspects" by Derek Hill, published 2003, page 227 onwards. You can view the relevant pages on Google books.
    The Corpus of Anglo Saxon Stone Sculpture (Gosforth 01) record also gives the exact dimensions of the cross and head. Hope this helps!
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Gosforth Cross by nicoladidsbury on Wednesday, 30 August 2006
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St Mary's at Gosforth (Cumbria) is fantastic. What a place. The ancient Viking monuments are so inspiring, and its marvellous knowing that they have existed on this spot for over a thousand years.
Gosforth reminds me of Dacre Churchyard with its carved "bears" and the "Giants Grave" at St Andrews at Penrith. Are these monuments memorials to legendary people, who were possibly involved in the titanic power battles with Ethelred and invading his English Army?
I picked up a fantastic booklet at Muncaster Castle (which also has a Viking Cross in its church yard). This book relates a legend that I have not come across before.
The legend tells of a Viking princess, daughter of Olaf Cuaran, King of Dublin and of Royal Norse descent. Shelagh was married to a warrior called Vikar, and they had a son named Grice. The legend says that Grice was a leader with the armies that defeated Ethelred at Hardnott pass around 1000ad. The legend also says that Shelagh and Vikar were buried together in Gosforth Churchyard (perhaps beneath the Hogsback tombstones?)....... These Viking Tombstones, which are located inside the church, may possibly depict the humiliating defeat of Ethelred!
Around this time, 13th Nov 1002) Ethelred order a massacre of Danes living in England, was the battle at Hardnott Pass in reprisal for these murders?
Myth and mist, isn't it fantastic!
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Gosforth Cross by Thorgrim on Monday, 12 January 2004
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Viking gods are portrayed on the Gosforth Cross. There is Odin with the giant Mimir and the wolf, Garm. Faithful Sigyn holds a dish to catch the venom that falls from the serpent on to the head of the wicked god, Loki. Heimdall is there with his horn and there are many interlaced animals and warriors with sword and spear. In fact there is only one Christian scene on the cross and that is a depiction of the crucifixion.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Gosforth Cross by Anonymous on Monday, 22 June 2009
    I've a question for those who may know the answer...Is the 3 children of Loki and Angroba male or female? I haven't found where anything has said and I'm most interested in Lormungand since it involves a minor piece in a story I'm writing...I feel the serpent of Midgard seems to carry a femine air about her and so I want to refer to the great serpent as a female, but I don't want to be incorrect and I simply can't find any legend facts that specify.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Gosforth Cross by Anonymous on Monday, 22 June 2009
    Sorry, I came off as anonomous....just e-mail the replies to mustangluvr72@hotmail.com and people on the net call me Shadow or ShadowDancer
    [ Reply to This ]

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