Monument record 1630 - Cross Heads at Lyme Hall

Two Saxon cross heads. Found c.1845 near Black Farm, Higher Disley, (SJ984835) by a man when uprooting gorse. Taken to Lyme Hall & placed in the chapel, from the chapel they were removed to the gardens & set upon bases before 1890 (1). Earwaker described the crosses when in the chapel. Made of sandstone & with interlaced bands & knots, boldly cut in high relief, whilst around the edges is a twisted border. The Greek pattern which occurs on one side of each is very noticeable for its rarity. The larger cross is 3ft 8ins tall & 1ft 6ins wide across the arms. The smaller cross is 2ft 4ins tall & 15.5ins across the arms (2). Classified by Collingwood as a cross rood ie. a cylindrical shaft with the upper part chamfered to form 4 flat sides to carry ornament. The Disley eg is the upper, or chamfered portion only & dates to the 11th century (3). The larger cross is now back in the chapel & is 1.15m high x 0.48m across the arms, 1.06m in circumference. In good condition as restored by North West Museum & Art Gallery Service in 1975, when cross was cleaned, re-assembled & cracks filled in. The smaller cross is now loose & is 0.46m high, 0.18-0.22m wide (4). VCH suggest these cross heads were originally attached to cylindrical cross shafts, perhaps those at the Bow Stones (RN:1631) (5). Highly unlikely that the cross heads are related to the Bowstones as their dimensions are incompatible. The large cross is in the chapel to the Hall; the small cross is now broken at the top. The lower part of the small cross is kept in the courtyard and the broken pieces of its crosshead in a box in the Hall. Probably C10th, form unique in area, outstanding examples of school of sculpture confined to SW fringes of the Pennines (10). Crosses de-scheduled 1997 (11).

<1> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 29/216 Anonymous 1911 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<2> Earwaker, J P, 1877-1880, East Cheshire Past & Present, 2/1880/313 (Y) (Book). SCH1080.

<3> Collingwood W G, 1927, Northumbrian Crosses of the Pre-Norman Age, /8 fig 14 (Book). SCH2259.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /no.70 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), /no.70 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<5> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/290 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ98SE8/1971 (Index). SCH2487.

<7> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1845-Present, Archaeological Journal, 5/337 (Journal/Periodical). SCH338.

<8> North Staffordshire Field Club, 1917-60, Transactions of the North Staffordshire Field Club, 80/39 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3533.

<9> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.276 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<10> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Sidebottom P 1994 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

<11> English Heritage, 1997, SAM Descheduling Description, CH 70 (Book). SCH2925.