Featured: Lost Secrets - an adventure during Neolithic times

Lost Secrets - an adventure during Neolithic times

Random Image


Huesby Dolmen

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, 310 guests and 0 members online.

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

Sponsors

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

Submitted by nicoladidsbury on Sunday, 28 March 2004  Page Views: 31644

Early Medieval (Dark Age)Site Name: Bewcastle Cross
Country: England County: Cumbria Type: Ancient Cross
Nearest Town: Carlisle  Nearest Village: Bewcastle
Map Ref: NY5653574550  Landranger Map Number: 86
Latitude: 55.063511N  Longitude: 2.682071W
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

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

lichen would like to visit

Anne T visited on 11th Oct 2014 - their rating: Cond: 3 Access: 5 Bewcastle Cross. Fourth visit, 22nd August 2015. We first came here back in 1992/1993 not long after we'd moved to Dumfries. Funny, as from dim and distant memory both my husband and I remembered this (falsely) as being the Ruthwell Cross. After having taken a photo of our 3 children gathered round the foot of the cross in the mist and drizzle, for the last couple of years I'd wanted to recreate this photograph, so for my **th birthday, the family (complete with next generation) gathered. The skies were still murky and grey although the cross doesn't appear to have changed one bit.
After taking a photo of the children as they are now, we gathered to whole family, complete with next generation, taking photos with the remote shutter control.
The museum display has improved a lot since our visit in 2014, and I came prepared with printed sheets from the Anglo Saxon Corpus but didn't find any of the Saxon grave covers in their inventory, although there was one on display, very simply carved, which was labelled as being from the 8th to 11th century.
11th October 2014: Third visit. We last came here on 15th August 2013, but I was really quite ill (a bug, not a hangover!) and had to find a quiet corner of the churchyard, so I don’t remember very much of the visit to the church. I do remember walking around the castle with the farmer and his wife gardening nearby so I felt like a trespasser. Today, as we reached St. Cuthbert’s church, the sun came out and highlighted the cross and many of the carvings showed clearly, especially the worn and weathered runes on the eastern face. The exhibition has been improved since our visit, with displays about the runes and their meanings and a new painting of what the cross might have looked like when it was first erected. There were less fragments in the exhibition outbuilding than I remembered.

nicoladidsbury have visited here

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Bewcastle Cross, Cumbria Image shows the detail from the north and east sides of the 15m cross. These sides are very well preserved. The north side is divided into five compartments. In the highest and lowest are vines running in graceful curves and bearing foliage and fruit. "In the second and fourth divisions are two curiously-devised and intricately-twisted knots." The third divisio... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Early Cross in Cumbria. Nicola Didsbury writes "Isn't Bewcastle Cross incredible. In fact the whole area is fasinating. My Grandparents were from Bewcastle, and are buried in the church yard. I thought you may be interested in this translation of the runes:-

Each of the four sides of the monument is profusely sculptured: but the west side is the most interesting to the archæologist, as it contains a long inscription in runic characters, the interpretation of which reveals the origin of the column. It is thus read (substituting Roman letters for the runic) by the Rev. Mr. Maughan: + THISSIG BEACN THUN SETTON HWAETRED WAETHGAR ALWFWOLTHU AFT ALCFRITHU EAN KYNIING EAC OSWIUING + GEBID HEO SINNA SAWHULA, that is "This slender pillar Hwætred, Wæthgar, and Alwfwold set up in memory of Alefrid, a king and son of Oswy. Pray for them, their sins, their souls." The reader will observe that nearly all the above words (the proper names excepted) are still in use, though slightly altered, in modern English. Thissig has become this; beacn, a sign or token, is now beacon: thun is thin; setton, set; aft, is the root of after; ean is ane or yan, still used in the northern counties for one; kyniing has become king; gebid, the syllable ge is simply an expletive, and bid, to ask or pray, is still so used in "bidding to funerals"; sinna is now sins; and sawhula, souls, the vulgar pronunciation of which (sawl) is not far removed from the Anglo-Saxon. It is from this webpage It says Alefrid ruled just before 670ad."

Bewcastle is in the bleak lonely landscape to the north of Hadrian's Wall. Now no more than a farm, church and rectory lying within the walls of a Roman fort, yet Bewcastle has this wonderful early cross. The cross head has been lost, but the shaft depicts carvings of Christian significance. You can still see Viking runes cut into the shaft and there is reference to Kynnniburga, the wife of King Aldfrith who reigned in Northumbria from 685 to 704. Located a long way from anywhere at NY 565746 on an unclassified road from the B6318 off the A69 Nearest town is Carlisle.

For more information see Pastscape Monument No. 12965 and Historic England List ID 1015728, which covers the Roman fort, high cross shaft and Bew Castle medieval shell keep castle. The Journal of Antiquities also includes an entry for the Bewcastle Cross, Bewcastle, Cumbria, which includes photographs, directions for finding the church, cross, fort & castle, plus a list of reference sources for more information
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Thorgrim : Bewcastle is in the bleak lonely landscape to the north of Hadrian's Wall. Now no more than a farm, church and rectory lying within the walls of a Roman fort, yet Bewcastle has this wonderful early cross. The cross head has been lost, but the shaft depicts carvings of Christian significance. You can still see Viking runes cut into the shaft and there is reference to Kynnniburga, the wife of Ki... (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Anne T : The northern face of the Bewcastle Cross. The sun highlighted the pattern of alternating raised and sunken chequers. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Anne T : From my archives - a photograph of the Bewcastle Cross and our young children, taken back in 1992/1993. The cross hasn't changed a bit although the children have grown up since this was taken. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Anne T : Although not listed in the Anglo Saxon Corpus of Stone Sculpture for Bewcastle, this simple grave marker is listed (in the much improved museum display) as being from the 8th to 11th century. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by durhamnature : North and east sides (Vote or comment on this photo)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by durhamnature : South and west sides

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Sunny100 : Illustration of The Bewcastle Cross. This sculptured cross stands at a massive 14 and half feet high and may date from the 7th/8th century. An inscription commemorates King Aldfrith of Northumbria who reigned (685-704 CE). As well as faint runic inscriptions, there are figures of St John the Evangelist, St John the Baptist and Christ.

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : An old film photo of Bewcastle Cross

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Bewcastle Cross I dug this out of my old film photos. The scan is not too good, and made me appreciate how easy life is with a digi camera

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Thorgrim : Sundial on the south face. This is a cast on display in the Science Museum, London (4 comments)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Sunset in Bewcastle Churchyard, with a silhouette of the church tower and the cross.

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Photo of a plaque in the small museum, showing the runic carvings, which translates into- THISSIG BEACN THUN SETTON HWAETRED WAETHGAR ALWFWOLTHU AFT ALCFRITHU EAN KYNIING EAC OSWIUING + GEBID HEO SINNA SAWHULA, that is "This slender pillar Hwætred, Wæthgar, and Alwfwold set up in memory of Alefrid, a king and son of Oswy. Pray for them, their sins, their souls." The carvings are quite fai...

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by nicoladidsbury : Bewcastle Cross My niece stares up in wonder at Bewcastle Cross, which stands 20m away from where her great grandparents are buried. (2 comments)

Bewcastle Cross
Bewcastle Cross submitted by Thorgrim : Runic inscription on the early 8th century cross at Bewcastle. NY 565746 (2 comments)

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
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
 66m E 98° Priest's Well (Bewcastle)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY56607454)
 1.7km N 349° Hobbie Nobles Well (Bewcastle) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY5624076200)
 1.8km S 169° Towerbrae Cairn* Cairn (NY56867282)
 1.9km NNE 24° Grey Hill Settlement Ancient Village or Settlement (NY57317626)
 2.0km ESE 105° Woodhead Round Cairn* Round Cairn (NY58507402)
 3.1km SSE 158° Robin Hood's Well (Askerton) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY57677161)
 3.8km S 171° Gillalees Ring Cairn (NY571708)
 4.1km SSW 193° Askerton Park* Ancient Village or Settlement (NY55567053)
 6.9km SSE 154° Waterhead Holy Well (King Water)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY5951068340)
 7.0km WSW 241° Bride's Well (Stapleton)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY50397119)
 8.4km ESE 107° Standingstone Rigg Standing Stone (Cumbria) Standing Stone (Menhir) (NY6458271969)
 9.5km SE 132° Popping Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NY63556815)
 9.7km SE 134° Gilsland Spa Sulphur Spring Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY63476776)
 9.7km SE 133° Gilsland Spa Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY6354067815)
 9.9km S 174° Banks East Ancient Village or Settlement (NY574647)
 10.1km W 275° Holywell (Catlowdy)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY4649175570)
 10.2km W 275° Solport Holy Well (Catlowdy) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY4637075490)
 10.8km SE 140° Hadrian's Wall (Poltross Burn)* Stone Fort or Dun (NY6340166198)
 10.9km SSW 203° St Mary's Church (Walton)* Ancient Cross (NY5220864492)
 11.0km WNW 282° Priest's Well (Catlowdy)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY4573976887)
 12.3km NW 322° Carby Hill* Ancient Village or Settlement (NY4906084360)
 12.3km NW 313° Will O'Greena's Stane* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NY47578303)
 13.5km SSW 205° Irthington Mill* Misc. Earthwork (NY50776237)
 13.6km SSW 193° Brampton Castle Mound and Well* Misc. Earthwork (NY5333261284)
 13.9km SE 124° King Arthur's Well (Walltown Gap)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NY68066664)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Ingshowe

The Howie of The Manse >>

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:

"Bewcastle Cross" | Login/Create an Account | 6 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Bewcastle Cross by Anne T on Monday, 17 July 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
There is a small museum display in a small building in the churchyard. Whilst here, pop next door to the remains of Bewcastle Castle next to the farmhouse (free of charge, and the farmers often graze their alpacas in the same field).

Just outside the gate to the churchyard, the low banks you can see are the remains of a Roman fort.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Bewcastle Cross by Andy B on Monday, 28 September 2015
(User Info | Send a Message)
Thoughts on the cross from Prof. Howard M. R. Williams

https://howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/16/bewcastle-cross/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Bewcastle Cross by Anonymous on Monday, 08 November 2010
Bewcastle Cross is also like the Cross than stands in the village of Hawsker not far from the Abbey of St. Hilda at Whitby.
Clive from Scarborough
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Bewcastle Cross by Anonymous on Wednesday, 18 May 2005
The Bewcastle Cross was possibly made by the same mason as the Ruthwell Cross to be found in the church at Ruthwell on the Solway. A similar sized unfinished cross lies on the moors not far from Bewcastle, suggesting the exact site from where the Bewcastle Cross was quarried. The oldest known sundial in Britain is to be found on the cross with it's gnomen missing - it is marked out in 'tides' with 6,9,12,3 and 6 o'clocks marked on it. A full size reproduction of the Bewcastle Cross is to be found in the graveyard at WREAY, a small village just south of Carlisle.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Bewcastle Cross by Anonymous on Sunday, 28 March 2004
3D laser scanning results and nice pictures of the Bewcastle Cross at:


http://www.archaeoptics.co.uk/gallery/casestudies/heritage/bewcastle.html

[ 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.