Stapleford
Cross
By
Rev. A. D. Hill, Transactions of the Thoroton Society,
10 (1906)
 |
Staplford
Cross. circa 1906 |
This
splendid shaft, the oldest ecclesiastical monument of Nottinghamshire
now standing, is said to have been placed in its present
position at a cross road in 1760. Previous to that it was
lying in the churchyard, perhaps nearer to its original
site. The square base on which it now stands was re-constructed
in 1820, when the square cap, surmounted by a ball, was
added to the shaft.
It
appears as a cylindrical shaft, about 10 ft. high, but is
CROSS more accurately described as square, with rounded
faces tapering to a square at the top, from which the cross
head probably sprang. The diameter of the shaft at the base
is about 2ft. it has three bands of surface sculpture, divided
by horizontal lines. The two lower portions are covered
with interlaced ornament of continuous scrolls, more or
less showing a change of pattern on each of the flattened
sides. The central band especially is of wonderful intricacy
of lines alternately forming the diameter and circumference
of the pattern with which the surface is covered.
The
upper part, where the shaft becomes square, is much worn,
except on one face, which has upon it a symbolical birdlike
figure with wings trampling upon a serpent. Close observation
reveals the head to be that of an ox with horns, probably
the emblem of St. Luke. The other faces may have borne the
emblems of the other Evangelists. Dr. G. P. Browne, now
Bishop of Bristol, was the first to point out the meaning
of the figure, and he suggests, as an interesting corroboration,
that Stapleford feast is governed by St. Luke’s day,
or rather “old St. Luke’s,” which corresponds
to our October 30th. “Feast Sunday is the last Sunday
in October, unless that be the last day, and then it is
the last but one;” this is the rule still recognised
by Stapleford inhabitants. Of course the feast Sunday could
not be on October 31st, for then the week could not include
old St. Luke’s day. (The Conversion of the Heptarchy.
Browne. S.P.C.K.). The church is dedicated to St. Helen,
but we have, no doubt, in this cross, the record of a still
older dedication of the locality by the earliest Christian
teachers in these parts.
 |
| Stapleford
Cross in 2002. It has been moved into the churchyard
for its own protection (© A Nicholson, 2002). |
Two
questions of interest arise in connection with this monument.
Whence came the art with which these wonderfully intricate
scroll-work patterns are produced? What is the probable
date of the Stapleford cross?
The
earliest Anglian example of the scroll-work is without doubt
to be found on the great cross at Bewcastle, which from
its inscriptions can be dated 670. This is earlier
than any of the Irish work, which is usually described as
the original source of the art. Following Bishop Browne,
I think we must look to the influence of Byzantine art,
through Lombardy, where similar work is found, brought perhaps
to this country by Wilfrith and Biscop, as giving the impulse
which produced the Lindisfarne school of ornament, the interlacement
of continuous flowing bands, so especially developed as
an Anglian characteristic, both in manuscript and masonry.
The
latter half of the 7th century saw the conversion of the
kingdom of Mercia to Christianity, after the death of the
stout old heathen, Penda, through the influence of the Northumbrian,
Oswy, and his son, Alchfrith, who is commemorated on the
Bewcastle cross, and of the saintly Chad, Bishop of Lichfield,
The 8th century saw its rise to supremacy among the kingdoms
of the Heptarchy.
Nottinghamshire,
as a borderland between two great kingdoms, must have often
felt the tide of conquest swaying this way and that, and
the erection of a great cross close to the stream, which
marks the county boundary, may have had a civil as well
as an ecclesiastical significance. The village, as Mr. W.
Stevenson has suggested, derives its name of Staple-ford
from the tall shaft (A.S. Stepel, whence our word steeple,
or stapol, a prop or post), which, from the style of its
ornamentation and the circumstances of the times, was probably
erected between A.D. 680 and 780.
By
Rev. A. D. Hill, Transactions of the Thoroton Society,
10 (1906)
Thanks
to A. Nicholson for the source of
text and pictures: www.nottshistory.org.uk |
