Pre-Norman Stone Crosses in the British Isles

If you pass through the small village of Bradbourne in Derbyshire, you may not spot All Saints' Church, because it is set back from the road and hidden behind houses (one of which is the Old Rectory). That would be a pity, because the present church's architecture clearly identifies it as a Norman structure, and outside it stands an Anglian cross-shaft which was reconstructed in the closing years of the nineteenth century, having suffered at the hands of iconoclasts during the English Reformation, for many years having served as the posts of a narrow gate.

This church stands within an enclosure whose curved outline suggests it may have been a sacred site long before the Angles occupied it. There are commanding views across the valley (towards Tissington in the west, in this case) also a feature of Iron Age sites, such as the famous Arbor Low, only a short drive from here.

The view through the churchyard gate towards the church at Bradbourne. (October 2000)


Seen from three different angles, it is clear that a great deal of violence was inflicted on this cross when it was smashed, and the weathering shows that the pieces were left exposed to the elements after that deed. Three large pieces have been reunited, with cement filling the gaps. Even given what has happened to it, it is still clear that the decoration was of a high order, and it is a tragedy that people felt the need to smash it up to demonstrate their religious fervour. As an object, it is witness to the Christian commitment of those who made it and, in a different way, of those who smashed it. (All photographs Oct 2000)

The sides of the cross are decorated with scroll patterns, while the front and back faces have pictorial panels. The representation of the crucifixion, including the Roman soldier thrusting the spear into Jesus' side is easily the clearest carving, though on the reverse of that, it is possible, behind the green encrustation, to make out two figures, and below them the curved top of a panel containing an angel. The small size of this panel suggests that the cross originally had more below what stands today, as well as above it.

The style of carving is reminiscent of the carving on one of the great crosses at Sandbach.

One of my sources suggests there are further Anglian stones inside the church, but it has never been open when I have visited it. On the other hand, the doorway visible in the south face of the tower has some marvellous decoration, which seems to be a fusion of late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman designs.

There are several locations in the area surrounding Ashbourne with pre-Norman remains.
Some are crosses or cross fragments, whilst at Wirksworth there is a splendid grave-lid and various other fragments.
The landscape in the area covered by this map consists of steep hills and deep valleys.
Expect some sharp bends on the smaller roads that pass over the hills!
Clicking on the relevant cross(es) above should take you to the appropriate page at this website
(assuming that the page has been prepared).

* The Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference (and corresponding Latitude/Longitude) given at the top of the pages describing individual sites usually refer to the location of the closest or most prominent entrance to the site where the monument is to be found - e.g. a gate into a churchyard. For monuments located in open country, or at a significant distance from the site entrance as just defined, the co-ordinates usually refer to the exact location of the monument.
Please allow for a small error in the co-ordinates of up to a couple of dozen metres.

Thanks to the people at streetmap.co.uk, if you click on the Grid References in the magenta boxes on the site pages,
you'll see an extract from the relevant Ordnance Survey 1:50000 Landranger map!

As the official mapping agency of the United Kingdom Government, the Ordnance Survey produces the definitive maps of the country. They contain a wealth of information.
For more details, visit www,ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure

Click here if you need an explanation of the terminology on these pages

Click here if you would like to see a bibliography

Click here if you would like to download the freeware "Mordred" font (in True-type for Windows)
so that the headings used on these pages will then look like the following:

Click to go to Pre-Norman crosses in:	England	the island of Ireland	the Isle of Man	Scotland	Wales	Read about the Saints
Click to go to Mediaeval crosses in:	England	the island of Ireland	the Isle of Man	Scotland	Wales

Locality maps at this web-site have been developed using Microsoft AutoRoute Express 2000 (and later editions).

This page is a part of Chris Tolley's web-site. Latest update: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 12:50
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