A Short History of Sepulchral Cross-Slabs

B
DTE
TflT
HISTORY OF ^^_^ IPULCHRAL GROSS'SLAii

K. E.
<f0^.
%m
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
ARCHITECTURAL DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
GIFT OF William C . Hays
K':si
'.",*%*'
^#v*r:fj
'Xv
A SHORT HISTORY
OF
ANCIENT SEPULCHRAL CROSS-SLABS.
Short History
OF
$epulcl)ral
ross=$laDs,
WITH REFERENCE TO
OTHER EMBLEMS
FOUND THEREON.
K.
ErSTYAN.
WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXAMPLES .FOUND IN THE

BRITISH ISLES.
BEMROSE & SONS,

41
Ltd.,
London Snow Hill, 4,

:
E.G.
and Derby. *
*
1902.
A// rights reserved.
CC3IO
CS\^v ^
PREFACE
PREFACE.
on the
subject,
and
in the case of "
Notes on the Slabs
"
the author would specially call attention to the fact that a

vast
number
notes
in
of
;
references
in
have
cases
been
the
made
to of
form
the
accurate
many
slabs
clergymen
churches
which
have been
found
have
been
appealed to personally, and valuable help obtained.

collection of a
A
is
few slabs bearing authenticated dates
placed at the end of this volume, so that the reader can
study the type of each, and thus be able, by comparing

the other slabs bearing no dates, to designate the example
to
an approximate century.
After a short time this will

little
not be found hard to do, and a

research
will,
more study and
enable the student to be able readily to

'
name
of
a near date, to any slabs that

his
may be found
.
in
any
own
travels.
To
many
"
the
of
following
the
works the author

contained
is
indebted
:
for
statements
"
;
herein
Lyson's
English
Magna
;
Britannia
Boutell's "
Monumental Brasses and
Slabs "
Kelke's
Paul's
"
Sepulchral
Monuments
of
in
Churches";
Somerset
Cough's
"
;
"Monumental Slabs
s "
North- West
"
;
Brindley
Ancient Sepulchral Monuments

"
;
"
Sepulchral
Monuments
;
Petrie's " Ecclesiasti"
cal Architecture of Ireland "
Maitland's
Church of the
"
;
Catacombs
"
"
;
Skelton's
"
Antiquities of Bristol
"
;
Britten's
Account of Redcliffe Church

"
;
Bloxam's
of
'
"
Fragmenta
"
;
Sepulcralia
Collins'
"
History
Somerset
the
archaeological journals,
etc., etc.
K. E. Styan.
Ben Craig, Sevenoaks,

April, 1902.
ERRATA.
Title
"
of Illustration, Plate 41, and on paê
3.7-
Ross Church, Monmouth;" slwuld read. " RoSS CHURCH, HeREFÔ'RDSHIRE."
CONTENTS
History of Cross Slabs
Treatment of Slabs
Symbols
....
...
8
11
Chronology of Cross Slabs

Notes on the Plates
Plates
List of
:.
..^.
....
...15
... 2-1
...
...
{sixty-four in nuniber).
Authenticated Dated
Slabs.
Illustrations of some Authenticated Dated

Si. AE^ {seven in
number^
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PLATE
1.
2.
7.
8. 9-
Chapter House, Westminster Abbey. Otford Church, Kent. Kemsing Church, Kent. Chapter House, Westminster Abbey. Westham Church, Sussex. Hinxhill Churchyard, Kent. Westham Church, Sussex. Kemsing Church, Kent.
343536.
Elstow Church, Beds.

Aylesford Churchyard, Kent.
Tintern Abbey, Monmouth.
1138.
39.
The Museum, Maidstone, Kent. The Museum, Maidstone, Kent. The Museum, Maidstone, Kent.
Churchyard, Kent. Ross Church, Monmouth. Maidstone Museum. Tintern Abbey, Monmouth. Tintern Abbey, Monmouth. Tintern Abbey, Monmouth. Raglan Church, Monmouth. Trellick Church, Monmouth. Lympne Church, Kent. Penshurst Church, Kent. Canterbury Cathedral, Kent.
Penshurst Church, Kent.
40. Aylesford 41.
42.
4344. 4546. 47-
10.
II.
Westminster Abbey. Church, St. John-Sub-Castro Lewes, Sussex. Claverton Churchyard, Somerset.
12.
St.
Mary
Bristol
Redcliffe
Church,
48. 49.
50.
13-
Isfield
St.
Church, Sussex.
RedcUffe
Redcliffe
14.
Mary
Bristol
Church,
5152.
Norwich Cathedral.
St. St.
Kent.
15.
St.
Mary
Bristol
Church,
5354-
Clement's Church, Hastings.

Nicholas'
Church, Church,
Great
Great
16.
1718. 19-
20.
Chevening Church, Kent. Guildhall Museum, London. Guildhall Museum, London. Guildhall Museum, London. Guildhall Museum, London.
Church, near Albans, Herts.
St.
Yarmouth.
55St.
Nicholas'
Yarmouth.
56.
St.
21. St. Michael's
57.
58. 59-
Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth. Hemsby Churchyard, Norfolk. Canterbury Cathedral.
22.
23.

St.
East Dean Church, Sussex.

Isfield
Mary
Bristol
Redcliffe
Church,
60.
61. Little
Church, Sussex. Horsted Church, Sussex.
24.
Limpley
Wilts.
Stoke
Churchyard,
62. 63.
Lewes Castle, Sussex. Matherne Church, Monmouthshire.
2526.
64. Guildhall
Museum, London.
27.
28.
Wellow Church,
Limpley
Wilts.
Wilts.
Stoke
Churchyard,
29.
30-

Aylesford Churchyard, Kent.
A D E
F
Clonmacnoise, Ireland.
31. 32.
B Clonmacnoise, Ireland. C Brougham, Westmoreland.

Bake well, Derbyshire.
St. Peter's at
Limpley
Wilts.
St.
Stoke
Churchyard,
Church,
33
Mary
Bristol.
Re'dcliffe
Gowts, Lincoln. Kirkwood, Yorks.
"The
Cross,
the
Christian's
eadiest badge,
The banner of his fight of faith. The emblem that adorns his tomb To mark his confidence in death."
$l)ort Bistory
OF
Jfncient Sepulcbral ro$$= Slabs.
HISTORY OF CROSS-SLABS.
STEEM
sacred,
every sepulchre or gravestone
and adorn
it
with the
sigfi
of
the cross, which take care you do not
so
much
as
tread
on."
Thus ran a
quaint law passed in the reign of Kenneth,

too,
King of Scotland, about

it
the year A.D. 840.
Thus,
can be seen that grave-slabs were held in reverent
esteem as early as the ninth century.
But
it
must not be
thought that this was the earliest date at which they were
first
used, for investigations have
gone
to prove that their
use was
introduced
at
much
earlier
date,
in
fact,
from the commencement of the Christian Era.

this
Up
to
time
it
was customary
lids
for
Romans
to
adorn their
stone
coffin
with the
deceased's name,
symbols of
his trade or profession,
and ornaments of various kinds,
and
it
became the
Jjabit of
;
Romanized nations
to follow
up the same fashion
but with the dawn of the Christian
Era we
find,
a change brought about.
The
use of the

trade
isynribols,
et^.i'VÂ'
still
adhered
to,
but in addition
a CiO^s >yas; mor'e
ifreiijuiently
than not carved on the stone

fish,
as well, together with certain Christian symbols (as

triangles, etc.).
Inscriptions
were
also employed, but not
so largely.
Thus the
history
of
cross-slabs
is
(of
which alone the
subject of this
antiquity.
book
treats)
one of very considerable
In different countries are found different series

all
of stones, the earliest of
being those in the Lapidarian
Gallery in the Vatican at
Rome.
There are the slabs of the many

Christians
who sought
refuge
at
and had burial ground

time
All
in the
one
Roman
catacombs.
crosses
these
stones
bear
on them as well as many other
emblems, and
notice
Incised Slab of St. Brecan.
it
is
worthy of
symbols
that
these old
very closely resemble numbers

of those found in our
try during the thirteenth
own counThese
and
fifteenth centuries.
slabs in the Lapidarian Gallery date from the time of the
Apostles, from about A.D. 89
A.D.
400
and from them

found
in Ireland,
we can
pass on to another distinct
series,
dating from about A.D. 500 up to about the beginning of

the eleventh century.
Of
is
these Irish stones, the earliest

of
St.
example,
St.
probably,
that
Brecan
(A.D.
500).
Brecan was the founder of the monastery of that name
HISTORY OF CROSS-SLABS."
on the great island of Arran.
He
founded Ardbraccan,
the seat of the Bishops of Meath.

of Carthen Finn, the
St.
first
He was
the grandson
Christian prince of
Thomond.
Brecan must have died about the beginning of the
sixth century.
When
his
tomb was opened (about the year
1805) to allow the burial of
Roman
Catholic ecclesi-
astic of
Galway, the stone

lay,
was broken that

6
ft.
about
in
from the surface,
an
St. St.
enclosure
known
as
Brecan's tomb.
After
Brecan 's slab we have that

of Conaing (a.d. 822) found
at
Clonmacnoise
Suibine
mac Maelhumai
Blaimac
at
(a.d.
(A.D. 891)
896), buried
;
Glendalough
'
Aedh,
son
of
Aicide,
killed
King of
by
the
Jeffia,
Danes
of
Dublin
594;
and
Leinster in
(a.d.
Aigidin
Stone of the Seven Romans, THE Church of St. Brecan, Isle of Arran, Ireland.
in
955); Maelfinnia (A.D. 992), buried at Clonmacnoise;

(A.D.
and Flannchadd
1003) also buried at Clonmacnoise.

in
Contemporary with these early stones
Ireland are
many found
up
in
in various parts of
England.
One was dug

that
1877
at
its
Monkwearmouth Church, Durham,

surface a cross
showed on
and on
its
sides a Latin
4
inscription.
The form
of the cross
was that of a very
early
Anglo-Saxon
type, so that doubtless the slab dates
from the seventh or eighth century.

Before passing from these ancient specimens, mention
should be
made
of the small stones
known
as pillow-stones,
v^ -^^
/>
""/u
Incised Pillow-Stone of Hilddigyth, IN St. Hilda's Convent, Hartlepool.
from the
fact that
they were used as bolsters on which
to rest the
head of the deceased.
These quaint examples
date from the same period as the above, and though not
true grave-slabs, are
worthy of note.
The work found on

Irish stones.
St.
them
is
closely allied to that
on the
at the
Some
Hilda
good specimens were dug up

at Cross Close, Hartlepool
Convent of
(Durham).
After the series of stones in Ireland, those of the suc-
ceeding centuries can be traced in England, that
is,
those
;
ranging from the eleventh century up to the present time
and
it
is
easy to assign an approximate date to each by
comparing those of authenticated dates with those that

have no
It
is
definite
age given to them, no inscription,

in
etc.
rare
to
find
England examples
any
of eleventh or
twelfth century slabs bearing

are
inscription,
but a few
met with
in
Yorkshire and the north-western counties

land,
of England.
Throughout the
stony
districts,
cross-slabs are
most
seems
abundant
in
and
Derbyshire
especially rich in examples.
In that county the church of
Bakewell shows the greatest number of cross-slabs of any

English churches, for over fifty-seven stones are
now
of
to
be seen,
all
of
them dating before
1260,
and some
them
even before
mo.
in
Besides these, a great number were
used for the repair of the chancel wall when the church
was restored
1826 and
1841.
All
these
stones
are
interesting, as they bear crosses of varying
form and very
many
As
slabs,
curious symbols as well.
regards the formation of these coffin-lids or grave-
they are found usually to consist of one block of

it
stone, fixed to the coffin or grave
covered
for at
one
time,
especially in the time of

in
Edward
III.,
it
was the
custom to bury people
no
real coffin,
but rather in a
in,
grave whose base and sides were bricked
the
body
at
covered with sand, gravel,

the top with a slab, either
etc.,
and the grave covered

of
its
by means
own weight

by cement
or mortar.
or else fastened
The form
of the
slab varied, being either flat or coped, wider at the head,
and tapering towards the

whole way down.
grave
;
foot, or of the
lid
same width the
Sometimes the
exactly fitted the
at others
it
was made
larger.
As
for the position in
which the slabs occur, they are

coffin
very varied.
Often the whole stone

in
stands entirely
above ground, either

its
some
particular recess
made
for
reception in the church or yard, or on the floor of the

;
church
in
but at other times
we
find
it
just so
much sunk
the ground that the lid forms part of the pavement

If
of the church.
lies
placed in the churchyard
it
frequently
it
on a
level with the surface.
Frequently
it
is
found
close to
one of the church doorways,
being considered
a sign of humility to be buried just by the entrance to

the
holy
edifice.
Indeed,
we can
find
cross-slab
is
in
nearly any position (though a certain meaning

to
attached
some
of the positions), for
when
restoration
light,
work
is
carried on,
stantly
and these
placed
positions,
lids are
brought to
in
they conoften
that
is
get
afterwards
treated
strange
and
vandalistic
with
disrespect
see
unworthy of any Christian men.

in
Thus we
them placed
used as
some unregarded corner
of church
or yard,
waterways or
seats, let into exterior walls,
where weather
surfaces,
and time play havoc on the beautiful cross

hidden
in
or
some dusty nook
in belfry, tower, or porch.
As
regards the special meaning attached to certain posi-
tions in
which a slab
may be
found, good authorities go
to prove that
when
a slab Hes in one of the outside walls
of the church, under a rough decorated arch in one of the
chancel walls,
it
denotes that the deceased died whilst doingfor-
penance or under excommunication, and hence was

bidden entrance to the church.
can be seen in Plate xxi. Again, a slab frequently
good example
of this
may be found
This
is
at
one of the
eastern angles of the church.

it
said to
show that
forms the foundation stone of the building.

near the chancel,
it
When
it
lies
no doubt was made
to serve as
the Easter sepulchre, especially
when
it
stood under an
arch in the north chancel wall.

this occurs at Isfield church,
tics
very fine example of

xiii.).
Sussex (Plate
Ecclesias-
were often buried facing the west, as

;
if
in the act of
addressing the congregation

facing the east.
whilst laymen, as a rule, lie

out,
This rule does not always hold

in
but
numerous instances occur
which a
cross-slab, with the

is
cross-head looking towards the west,

ecclesiastic.
assigned to an
Restoration has frequently brought to light also slabs

that at one time or another (probably at the
tion)
Reforma-
have been dug up and replaced face downwards,

etc.,
so that the cross,
should be hidden from view.
Many
instances of this occur.

in a slab in
Cliffe
One
fine
example can be seen

its
Church (Kent), a slab showing on
(once) hidden surface ^ very fine foliated cross.
TREATMENT OF
SLABS.
IN
are
In
the.
treatment of the design there appear to have

distinct
been two
methods, which gave
rise
to
what
known
respectively as incised
and raised
cross-slabs.
thfe first case,
the incision was
made
either
by means
of
of one clear line round the design, or else
by means
was
two
lines with a space
between them
the space
filled
etc.
up with various materials
plaster, pitch,
cement, lead,
Sometimes the whole design was
entirely cleared
away
to
a depth of one-quarter to one-third inches, and then the
matrix was
filled
up
in the
above way, or
else with
some
These
their
coloured composition, or a stone of varying hue.

slabs
are
usually
flat
and recumbent, bearing on
surfaces a cross, together, frequently, with
some Christian
In
emblems, and,
in
the later centuries, an inscription.

cross
is
many
cases
more than one
seen on the slab
two, three,
present,
it
and more may be met
with.
When
two are
may mean
that a
husband and wife or two
children
lie
beneath, or three of one family, as the case
may
that
be.
It is
thought by some authorities on the subject
many
crosses on a slab denote the burial place of a
bishop.
Thus,
one
found
at
Nevers,
in
the
crypt
of
St. Arigle,
shows seven crosses on the
coffin lid,
and the
tomb
is
said to be that of the bishop,
who
died A.D. 594.
Incised slabs are often partly united with the treatment
TREATMENT OF
SLABS.
pa'rt
g
of the design
is
of raised cross-slabs, in that, whilst
merely incised, the rest

slabs of this kind
lie in
is
cut in relief.
Several interesting
the churchyard at Limpley Stoke,
Wilts. (Plate xxviii.).
On
i.e.,
each of them
at ;the
is
an incised
stone,
cross,
is
and above the
cross,
head of the
representation of the* deceased carved in high
relief.
pecuhar interest
is
attached to such stones as these in
that they certainly
show the fashions
of the day.
These,
for instance, represent females,
and the head-dresses arc
characteristic
of
is
the period in which they were carved.
Again, there
is
another kind of slab
in
which the design
partly incised
is
and partly
in relief.
At Tintern Abbey
is
(Plate xxvi.)
a slab on which the cross-shaft

in
relief
incised,
and the cross-head raised

of the stone
by the
cutting
away
round the design to a depth of more than

In
Trellick
half
an
inch.
Church,
xlvii.).
Monmouthshire,
is
a beautiful example of this (Plate

the cross-head on the slab
circle
is
The
stone round
cut deeply
away within the
surrounding the design, thus making the fine fourstand
teenth century cross-head

relief,
up beautifully
in
high
the rest of the cross being only incised.
Incised grave-slabs, though found in goodly numbers,

are not so plentiful as the raised cross-slabs, nor do they
afford the
same
very
rich
appearance on the whole.

Frequently
They
are,
however,
interesting. to
separate
stone
coffin-lids are
combing
make one
large one (by

etc.
means
of a partition), each half bearing a cross,
Such an
example
is
found at Goosenerg, Yorks,
lO

Passing from the incised,
we next come
flat
to the raised
cross-slabs,
cross,
i.e.,
recumbent
etc.,
stones,
or coped, bearing
emblems,
cut in either high or low relief.

is
The
too,
variety of designs in these stones
infinite
many,
beauty
admirable
originality,
for
the
delicacy
of
execution,
and
both as regards the cross treatment and sym-
bolic renderings.
The
early specimens,
i.e.,
those of the
eleventh and twelfth centuries (and even earlier) show a

certain roughness
and crudeness, but a change came
in as
the succeeding periods arrived, so that
we
find those of the
fourteenth century surpassing
all
others for their richness.
Most
slabs
were used
in
the thirteenth century, so that

all,
during the next, although the work was finest of

ples
exam-
were not so numerous.
At
the end of the fourteenth
century the use of leaden and

fashion, stone ones gradually
wooden
out.
coffins
came
into
dying
However, they
continued to be used for the next two hundred years or

so,
and even now,
at the present day, stone coffin slabs,
with crosses on them, are sometimes used.
SYMBOLS.
SYMBOLS.
UNDER
grave-slabs,
the
heading
of
all
symbols
in the
come the
most
interesting details of
so
subject of ancient
renderings,
quaint
are
the
symbolic
so
varied the examples.

Naturally,
Christianity.
circle
the
cross
itself
is
the
leading
emblem
is
of
Frequently round the cross-head

(Plate
xlvii.).
found a
or
quatrefoil
"
This
is
supposed to
typify the
nimbus " or
" glory,"
showing the triumph of the

of the deceased
Lord and consequent triumph

of the
cross.
by reason
fish,
Next we come
This
across the use of a

is
incised or raised in relief.
a true symbol of Christ,

in great
,
the Saviour, and hence
is
an emblem held
esteem
by the ancient
fish is
Christians.
The Greek word meaning

words
"
made up
Son
of
of the initial letters of the
Jesus
Christ,
God
the Saviour."
great
many
(fish)
of the
slabs in the catacombs
show the word ixOuq

else.
written
on them without anything

large one
Some
fine incised fish
(one
and three small) are found on a slab

xxv.),
in
Tintern
dol-
Abbey, Monmouthshire (Plate
and two quaint
phins are seen on a slab in the British Museum, to a
Roman
times a
Christian, Valerius Pudens, a man-at-arms.

fish
it
Somethis is
and key are found together.

that the fish
When
the case
may denote
was the sign
of the
deceased's Christianity, and the key that he was a lock-
12

Christian
smith or else a
woman,
since
key or keys
denote the caUing also of a female.
bow and arrow

;
and bugle typify the grave-slab of a
forester
whilst
an
axe would show a man-at-arms or a knight.

the
sword,
is
emblem
of
knight,
It
is
squire,
or
man-at-arms
of
common
occurrence.
said
sometimes to typify the
temporal authority of an abbot, for such an instance occurs

in the
tomb
of an abbot of Bala Sala, Isle of

in
Man.
A
The
sword
may be found
sometimes
a
conjunction with a knife or a
book
harp,
sometimes
bugle.
meanings of these combinations are not always clear to

see,
but that they are in some

knights,
forest
way connected with

etc.,
is,
warriors,
certain
minstrels,
rangers,
to
extent, apparent.
Shears (Plate
xxiv.),
some
of
them with
sharp points, others with blunt, are common.

less
They doubt-
denote the slab of a wool-stapler or
clothier, also of
a female.
in
To
prove the
last assertion
we have an example
Shears, in
two slabs with inscriptions
to
two women.
conjunction with keys, also denote a female.
Shears and
comb show
the signs of a wool-stapler, whilst shears
and
a glove on a stand show a glover.
A
an
chalice
is
often met with,
either
alone,
or with
paten, book, cruet, or wafer.

ecclesiastic,
viii.).
All these are symbolic of

as
priest
or
deacon,
the
case
may be
(Plate
Trumpets (seen well
in
a slab
now
in
;
the Guildhall
this
is
Museum)
from the
(Plate xix.) denote

inscription,
a trumpeter
"
seen
meaning
Godfrey, the trumpeter,
SYMBOLS.
lies here," etc.,
13
etc.
A
;
stone square
a knife
may
denote a stone-
mason
(as of
or freemason
and dredging box, a cook

in St.
William Coke, cook, buried

;
Mary
Redcliffe's,
Bristol)
and a horse-shoe, hammer, and tongs naturally
denote a blacksmith. Helmets are generally found together

with other symbols of knighthood or lordship.
Shields
of
denote
shield
is
knighthood.
The most
ancient
example
seen on the tomb of Geof. Magnaville, Earl of

in
Essex,
the
Temple
Church.
till
Armorial
devices
apparently were not used

till
the thirteenth century
not
an
much
later
than the other symbols found frequently.
Sometimes a shield had the armorial bearings painted on

it,
sometimes
cut
in
relief.
The
outlines
at
of
such
emblem
as this are seen
on a slab
East Dean, Sussex.

to
it,
The
shield sometimes has an
arm put
;
by which
it
it
hangs from the shaft of the cross
at other times
It
is
placed near the base (calvary) of the cross.
was
also
customary for the deceased's

the slab in
Redcliffe's,
"
trade-mark
"
to
be cut on
some way
Bristol
thus,
on an example
in St.
Mary
(Plate
xii.),
we
find
wool-stapler's
private trade-mark introduced on a shield suspended from
the shaft of the cross.

is
In the trade-mark the letter

initial
"
"
introduced, that being the
letter
of the wool-
stapler's
name,
viz.,
Babbecab.
is
One
interesting
emblem
of
the
Holy Trinity
seen in the double triangle, as on a

xxix.).
slab in Tintern
Abbey, Mon. (Plate
The base
frequently
of the cross varies very
much
in form,
but
or
aûmes
that of a flight of steps (Plate
ix.)
14

of
mound
some
is
kind.
Hence
as such.
it
is
symbolical
of
the
Calvary, and
known
Interesting, too, are the
different forms
of pastoral
staves
we
find
(Plate xxix.)
staff
typical of bishop, abbot, or abbess.

is
Frequently the
used
in
combination with a mitre.
Other curious emblems are employed, the meaning of

which
seen,
is
by no means
in
clear
thus quaint floral signs are
carved
lix.
strange
It is
spots
on
the
slab's
surface
(Plates
and
Ixi.).
thought by some that these are
intended for the flowers strewn on the grave
when
the
deceased was buried.

Christ,
Vines and
lilies
are found, typifying

Virgin.
the
True Vine,
and the
Holy
Other
symbols also present themselves, but the above are the
most
interesting.
In conclusion, there are a few words to say about the
study of cross grave-slabs.

of
Truly they are the testament
men and women
of olden times,
and are
historically
interesting to us in so far as they give us peeps into the
customs and habits of the centuries
in
which they were

at those
made, as well as the customs of burial prevalent

periods.
Artistically
interesting are
they,
too,
from the
fact that the carvers of old called into play their faculties
for originality
and
delicate
handiwork
and archaeologiremain as choice

true, loving spirit
cally interesting are they, because they

relics of the past, fully
imbued with a
of sentiment, loyalty, and reverence.
THE CHRONOLOGY OF CROSS-SLABS.
AS
to
great
interest
to
many
students,
in their
and lovers
being able
the
generally of ancient relics
lies
approximate
such
treasures
to
certain
periods,
following hints as to
some
of the best
means of assigning
a date to cross-slabs may, perhaps, prove of some use.

It
naturally follows that a considerable
number
of slabs
are extant
records,
whose dates are

and thus
it
truly authenticated
is
from various
etc.,
that
by comparing the forms

undated
and
styles of these
we can
certainly apportion
slabs, if
not to a given year, at least to a given century.
At
the end of the present volume a few authenticated

list
dated slabs are figured, and appended to them a

others (drawn from Cutts' Sepulchral Slabs
of
and
Crosses),
so that the student can compare these with others figured

in the
foregoing plates, and can grasp the leading characprevalent to certain centuries, for each century,
teristics
doubtless,
had features peculiar

the various points
to itself.
Amongst
by which the age

are
of slabs
can be depicted,
noticeable
the
following
of study:
some
of
the
most
and worthy
;
(i)
The form
of the
carved crosses
(2) the
mode
of inscriptions
and individual
(3) "the
form of the
style
letters,
wh^n
inscriptions are present;
of
the
ornamentations and symbols of profession
employed.
l6

Taking
first
the form of the cross.

it
So
far as this
is
concerned, no imphcit faith in
should be given, for in

is
more recent times the form

and again employed.
of very ancient crosses
now
Nevertheless, certain broad forms

centuries,
were evidently characteristic of certain

as well to notice these.
and
it
is
Thus, those found on the very
early stones in Ireland (Plates
A
of or
and B) are not found
on
stones
are
just
later
than
A.D.
looo.
The
twelfth
century
in
crosses
very simple,
many
them crude composed
form,
many
simply
trefoiled
of
from
one to four plain
circles.
In the thirteenth century the
cross-heads were more richly trefoiled, or were cut open

in four distinct
spreading masses (Plate

circles in the head.
Ix.).
Often there
the fourteenth
were four large
With
century came a vast increase of richness in detail, the

designs
being frequently most beautifully foliated, and

in
more often than not the actual cross-head lay encircled

a
"
nimbus
"
"
or outer circle.
")
The base
its
of the cross-shaft
characteristics,
(or
calvary
also
partook of
own
passing from the plain and crude, through the form of

steps,
till
it
became
richly
branched, more moulded or
stepped, and even foliated, as the fourteenth and fifteenth

centuries
were
reached.
In
the
fifteenth*
century
real
the
designs again began to somewhat
wane
in
beauty,
partaking more of the thirteenth century characteristics.
Then, as regards
Irish slabs
inscriptions.
Referring again to the

it
(and others of same date, A.D. 600-1000),
will
be seen that the
common form
of inscription
is
"
Pray

for the soul of
,"
1/
and then on the thirteenth century

GIST
ICI
specimens we have
(eit)
"
DEU DE SA ALME EST

be seen on
Guildhall
MERCL"
slab
good example
of this can
in
the
of
Godfrey the
Trumpeter,
the
Museum, London
(Plate xix.).
From
the middle of the
fourteenth to the end of the fifteenth century the
method
was:
'*îc jacef
cu)U0 anime pxopimiut 9e\xB.

to this
(^men,**
ii/Cir'îe
Sometimes
was added
**
:
3e0U metci^
Slabs
êf|?+**
but sometimes the latter stood alone.
of the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries contain conventional forms, introducing the virtues,
deceased..
titles, etc.,
of the
A
are
great
number
of slabs bear
no inscriptions
at
all,
in
which
case, of course, the
only means of assigning a date
by the cross-forms or any other ornamentations that

present.
may be
Taking the forms

diversity.
letters
of individual letters,
we
find a
wide
On
the stones dating up to A.D. looo are runic

Irish
(as
on the
stones),
then up
till
the middle
of
the
fourteenth
century
Lombardic
this
characters
were
employed, the latest example of

slab
of
being found on the

1361.
Robert de Bures, Acton,
A.D.
till
From
the
middle of the fourteenth century

the
" black-letter "
about the year 1530
style
became common.
1377).
This
is
seen
on the tomb of Edward

NoiE.
words
more.
**
III. (A.D.
From
the middle
and
it
some of the twelfth and early thirteenth century slabs the ** are foufld these and no before the deceased's name ^tc i<XCtt Thus, on a slab in Chester, is written ** ^tC f acef + (Habuffu6+*'^ is thought that the deceased was Radulf, Earl of Chester in the reign
On
of Stephen.
i8

was made
different
of the next century, for a short period, a return

to the to
Lombardic (though the
style
was somewhat
the original), which gradually
became converted
into
the
common Roman
character.
Next, as regards the characteristic forms of the symbols

of
profession
and
ornaments
generally.
Taking
the
A.D.
1250.
A.D.
123.
A.D. 1060.
Pastoral Staves, drawn from various Cross-Slabs.
ecclesiastical
symbols,
such
as
pastoral
staves,
is
chalices,
patens,
and
mitres, a great variety of
form
seen in each seen on a

1060)
during each century.

slab
in
A
is
rude form of
staff is
Welbeck
Priory,
Northumberland
in
(A.D.
another of A.D.
1123
Chichester;
one at Tintern
Abbey
A.D.
1250; and another, on a slab of the fifteenth

century,
is is
19
also seen at Tintern.
The-
later century
work
and
much
richer than the early, being
more
trefoiled
foliated throughout.
Mitres passed from the low, straighttall,
sided
and
of
simple, to the
convex-sided and elaborate

fifteenth
forms
the
fourteenth
and
centuries
and
chalices
show
as
a corresponding change from simplicity to
richness
the
ages passed from the eleventh to the
sixteenth centuries.
i
TWELFTH CENTURY.
^
^^^^v. ^ju.i,
xx
century.
wu ^ c.^.., n century.
.
^^ -^
Chalices found carved on Cross-Slabs.
Shields and armorial" bearings
came
into use
etc.
much
later
than the other symbols of profession,
Of
the various
examples
to
be seen, many exist both of the Norman and
succeeding ages.
The Norman
period shields were kite-
shaped, and after these came the straight-topped forms,
with increased
length.
After these
Shields from
Slabs.
came
shorter
ones,
and
from
the
for
Norman.
end of the fourteenth century

a
to
short
time
the
form
appears
square
or
have
been
blunt.
neai^y
FOURTEKNTH
Century.
short
and
time,
Afterwards, for
some
they became very elaborate indeed
20
Again, in both mouldings and true ornamental work
each partook of the characteristics of the period

the
is
thus
"
knot-work
" is
purely Saxon and early Norman, and
seen on the earliest grave-slabs.
Rude
sculptures
of
figures
and animals are found on the stones of the eleventh

;
century
century
after
that
the foliated sides in the thirteenth
and, lastly, the exquisite leaf and flower forms
of the fourteenth century.
Knot-work of the Eleventji Century.

Briefly as these characteristics are stated, they will prove
aids in the specification of the chronology of both incised
and raised
cross-slabs, and, with a little

will
careful thought
and study, the reader
soon be able to assign an
approximate date to most of the slabs he
may come
for
across
and
certainly he will feel
amply rewarded
any study
bestowed, for then, and then alone, will be found and

felt
the infatuating interest afforded
by these ancient
relics
of the past.
21
NOTES ON THE PLATES

PLATE
relics at the
I.
This
tell
coffin-lid
lies
amongst other stone
entrance of the Chapter House, Westminster.

is
The lower
part of the slab
broken away, so that
it
is.
impossible to
be.
the shape the base of the cross used to

is
The upper
portion, however,
traceable,
and we can
assign the date of the slab from the four circles composing
the cross
one
hence
of the distinctive features of that time
to
be that of the thirteenth century.

in relief,
this is classed
The
cross
is
sculptured
among
the raised cross-slabs.
PLATE
II.
One
of the two stone slabs that rest in

at the
an upright position against the wall

Otford Church, Kent, just on the
the side door.
of
left
west end of
as one enters
hand
Both slabs bear
similar crosses,
other.
though one
them
is
more obliterated than the

size of the stones,
From
the
comparatively small
erected in
in
they
may have been

cross
of
is
memory
of
two
children.
The
carved
high
relief,
and i^ a curious example
thirteenth
century work.
Both the stones were discovered during
excavations, and then placed in their present position.
22
PLATE
(Kent),
III.
During the re-seating of Kemsing Church

prior
to
that
was,
the
year
1873,
this
lovely
specimen of thirteenth or fourteenth century work was
brought to light from beneath the old pews

it
in the
nave
now
lies
at
the north side of the
altar,
the calvary
towards the
in
east.
The
exquisitely sculptured design
one
bold
relief
is
in perfect condition.
is
The most
word
curious
thing about this gravestone
the single
that can
be seen on the margin at the top end of the stone
word
cut in well-formed
Lombardic
capitals,
the letters
placed very closely together, occupying a space of about
6i inches, and
is
lightly,
;
but
distinctly, incised.
it
The word
"
EQESCIT
"
on either side of
appear the ancient

almost, as the
inscription
etc.,
guiding lines for the workman, as

actual
letters.
It
is
clear,
thought
that
the
was
but
originally intended to
be
"
Hie
requiescit," etc.,
that
it
was
left unfinished.
PLATE
cross-slab
"
IV.
The
following account
it
of
this
ancient
and the
coffin
covers
is
taken
1
from the
Archaeological Journal Association," pp. 77-8
of vol. xxvi.
work: "In
the ground
(1870),
and
is
copied almost word for word from that

it
1869
was resolved
as the
to lower the surface of

at
known
North Green
Westminster
Abbey, joining the north

of the north transept.
aisle of the
nave and west side
This led to the valuable discovery
of the
Roman tomb
in question.
The tomb was
ft.
ins.
NOTES ON THE PLATES.

below the
it
23
its
floor of the
Abbey Church; on
discovery
was
first
moved
into the cloister, then into the north-
west tower of the

of
Abbey
it
now
stands at the entrance

is
the
Chapter House.
both
cofiin
The tomb
;
of
coarse
oolite
stone,
and
lid
it
is
hollowed out to a plain

in
oblong shape, and not 'formed inside

shape of the
piece,
is
any way
to the
in
human
body.
several,
ins.
The
lid,
originally
one
broken into
6
ft.
but the whole preserved

ft.
The
coffin is
10
long, 2
ins.
i
wide
at the
head, tapering to the feet.
Outside
it is
ft.
ins.
high,
and the
lid
adds 7
ins.
more
to the height.
The
actual
width of the
stone
for
cofiin at the foot is 2 ins. less,

5 ins.
because the
off,
about
in
front
has been tapered
evidently to let the foot of the cofiin into a recess nar-
rower than the regular taper of the

allowed.
cofiin
would have
first,
This was, no doubt, done so from the
as necessary to the original position of the tomb.
The
of
back and both ends of the
sarcophagus
it
are
bare
ornament, so that on these three sides
was, no doubt,
lid
intended to be hidden.
The
top
of the
and one
the latter,
centre
-
side of the coffin are interestingly marked.
Of
the front side
is
divided into three panels.

long) has the inscription
:
The
"
one (4
ft.
ins.
-
MEMORISE
-
VALER
AMAN
-
DINI
VALERI
FE(eR."
SUPERVEN
TOR
ET
MARCELLUS
PATRI
One
panel, 8 ins. wide,

relief,
lies at either side of this one,
each bearing, in low
an ornament resembling a
the Romans. c
shield in use at that time
among
All the lettering and ornamentation on this
24

when
first
part are as perfect as
cut,
but not so the Hd.
From
this
it
is
thought that the
coffin
was designed
to
stand in a niche, as
we read
of in the
Roman
catacombs.
The Hd
is
sHghtly coped,
i.e.,
from the
the top
is
centre,
forming
a ridge there to the sides.

patee of the Latin form,
On
i.e.,
a massive cross
having a long stem, with
the cross at the top.
The
foot terminates in a single leaf
between two
the stone.
scroll-like
branches at the very extremity of

is
This work
is
much ruder than
that elsewhere,
and the surface
damaged, probably from the damp of
the ground directly

"
down upon
it.
Taking
all
the evidences found to bear on

is
it,
the his-
tory of the
elsewhere,
tomb
was
clearly this
A Roman
to
tomb, procured
in
appropriated
an
interment
the
eleventh or twelfth century, and the cross then cut on

the lid (this
is
inferred from the fact that the latter
work
lacks the care apparent in the

cross
is
Roman
work, and that the

lid,
worked
to the
extreme foot of the
and hence
must have been made when
the entire length of the
tomb
with
was intended
to
be
visible,
and
not, as
originally,
the foot part hidden).

re-building,
In the thirteenth century, during
the
tomb was again disturbed

It
the
soil
lid
pro-
bably then broken.

out from the
discovered.
was then
left
in the
thrown
it
Abbey
foundations, where in
1869
was
Such a use of
of Ely, so this
Roman
is
coffins
was practised by
West-
the
monks
certainly true of this
minster tomb.
"
The
date of the sarcophagus
is
said to be subsequent
to the year A.D. 363."
25
of
PLATE
aisle of
V.
An
incised
cross-slab,
greyish
coloured stone, forming part of the paving of the north
Westham
Church, Sussex.
The
slab bears
on
it
the date 1694.
PLATE
of the
VI.
This
cross-slab
is
on a stone
coffin
in
the yard of Hinxhill Church, Kent, at the eastern angle
Church.
Exposure has much damaged the face
of the stone,
so that the form of the cross on the lid

difficulty
relief.
;
can be traced with
it
can be seen,
in paarts, to
be carved
in
high
cross of almost similar

It
is
form
can be seen at Kirklees, Yorkshire.
probably a
specimen of the thirteenth century.
PLATE
The
VII.
An
incised
cross-slab forming
part of
the paving in the north aisle of

slab bears
Westham
Church, Sussex.
no date or
inscription,
but
it
is,
in
all
probability, of the fifteenth or sixteenth century.
PLATE
The lower
is
VIII.
A raised
it
cross-slab lying on the south
side of the altar in the chancel of
Kemsing Church, Kent.

damaged, but the upper
the
portion of the slab
is
perfect.
On
we can
trace
head of a bold,
left
circular cross,
and below
that,
on the
hand
of the
stem, a chalice, while opposite that on the other side of the

stem,
is
paten.
From
these
symbols
the
grave
is
26
evidently that of an ecclesiastic.

or inscription, but the
The
it
slab bears
no date
end of
work on
is
that of the
the thirteenth or beginning of the fourteenth century.
PLATE
IX.
rich,
beautifully incised cross-slab of
the fourteenth or fifteenth century, lying near the centre

of SS. John, Michael,
and Andrew's Chapel
in the north
ambulatory of Westminster Abbey.

of the
The
slab forms part
pavement of the
chapel, hence the surface has
been
abraised, especially
by the head
of the cross.
It
bears no
date or inscription.
PLATE
X.
This
raised cross-slab
It
is
a rich example
of fourteenth century work.
now
rests in
an upright
position in the exterior south chancel wall of St. John-
sub-Castro Church, Lewes, Sussex.

slab lay
its
For a long time the
up
in the belfry,
but was afterwards removed to

stone
is
present position.
The
very well preserved,
the four quatrefoils and nimbus of the cross-head being

particularly clearly outlined.
PLATE
XI.
This
is
is
very
beautiful
example of
fourteenth or late thirteenth century work.

portion of the slab
The upper
can
is
perfect, so that the cross-head
be
easily traced,
but the lower portion of the stone

calvary.
broken away, leaving no trace of the
Just below

the
cross-head,
2J
shaft,
on the
left
side
of
"
the
are
two
letters
carved in the stone "
and
"W"
"
(?);
H."
and
on the opposite side of the shaft one

the Rev.
in
J.
letter,
From
E. Waldy, Incumbent of Claverton, Somerset,

this slab is seen, I
which churchyard
have learnt
that, a
few years ago, on the vault of the Rev.

re-opened,
stone,
it
W. Hale
being
of
this
slab
was dug out with other pieces

extreme beauty of the
and
that, noticing the
slab,
was removed from the vault and placed against the

it
south wall of the churchyard, so that
might be seen.
The
letters
carved on
it
have since been ascertained to
stand for William Hale, one of the masons having carved
them
as
a tribute
to
his
memory.
The
cross
itself
is
sculptured in high
relief.
PLATE
at the west
XII.
^^The lid of a
stone coffin in the chapel
end of the north

It
is
aisle of St.
Mary
Redcliffe
shield
Church,
springing
Bristol.
curious
in
having
the
by a narrow branch from

it
the shaft of the cross,
and bearing on
traces of a merchant's trade-bearings.
The edge
trace
(It
is
of the slab
shows an
inscription,
is
very hard to
now.
Probably the tomb
that
of a merchant.
interesting here to note that shields

till
and armorial
than the other
bearings were not introduced
much
later
symbols of profession.)
The work on
this slab is of the

relief,
fourteenth century, the cross, in high

foliation
showing
rich
and^ a
quatref oiled
nimbus.
The
inscription
28

it
shows
to
be the tomb of John Babbecab, probably

the
"
-a
merchant,
since
mark on the
"
shield
it.
is
that
of
merchant and has
introduced into
PLATE
cross
is
XIII.
This
is
an example of a
late fourteenth
century raised cross-slab in Isfield Church, Sussex.

of beautiful design,
is
The
wonderfully well preserved,

cross give
and the deep carving on the arms of the

shadows.
good
that
The
slab
lies
under an arched alcove,

in the
probably formed the Easter sepulchre,

the chancel.
north wall of
The
cross-arms terminate in trefoiled heads,
the shaft being continued

a deep groove runs
up
to
the base of each, and
down each
side piece.
The
stone
is
of considerable length.
Probably the founder's tomb.
PLATE
slab,
XIV.
There
is
no date or
inscription
on
this
but the work on
it is
probably that of the fourteenth
century, the ends of the cross showing characteristics of
that period.
a chalice
;
The
it
slab, in addition to the cross,
has on
it
hence
marks the grave-slab
of an ecclesiastic.
The
curious
little
quatrefoil within a square just
above
the right
it
arm
of the cross
may be merely
of
ornamental, or
Similar
may be
a mason's
mark
some
this
sort.
is
marks
are
frequently met with,

to
is
and
slab
the
interpretation
given
them.
On
at
Griffith
ap
Jorwerth,
Bangor,
a quatrefoil within a
circle.
The
slab figured

in plate xiv. stands against the
29
north wall of the- chapel in
the north-west angle of the church of St.

Bristol.
Mary
Redcliffe,
is
The
sculpturing
is
in relief.
The
GciT
inscription
"
R(i)ai7A(RD)
-DGcv DGCL ALmGc
mGCRai Aman."
PLATE
fourteenth
XV.
raised
cross-slab,
probably of the
the
century,
that
stands against
south wall
Redcliffe
is
of the chapel in the north-west angle of St.
Mary
Church, Bristol.
The lower
portion of the stone
broken
away, but the upper part shows the cross-head, the four
trefoiled
leaves
surrounding
it,
the
shaft,
and the two
raised portions of stone
one
The
on either side of the shaft
very
church
clearly.
This was, no doubt, one of the several
stone coffin lids discovered during the restoration of the
many
years ago.
stone has a moulded edge,
which helps
in fixing the date.
PLATE
It rests in
XVI.
This
is
a raised cross-slab of the latter
part of the fourteenth or early in the fifteenth century.
an arched alcove made
in the wall of the

is
south
aisle of
Chevening Church, Kent, but
much hidden from

It
view owing to the close proximity of the pews.
bears
no inscription or date.
PLATE XVILWhen
the
the Church of
Size
St.
Antolins, at
(City),
corner
of
Budge Row and
Lane
was
pulled
down
in 1877, this raised cross-slab of the thirteenth
30

ft.
century was discovered 30

the building, and the
below the foundations of

to
was presented by the churchwardens
Museum
of the Corporation of the City of
London,
at the Guildhall,
where
is
it
may now be
seen.
The lower
portion of the stone

is
broken away, but the upper part
sufficiently perfect to
show that the
cross
is
a richly
floriated one, of beautiful design.
An
inscription evidently
ran round the slab, but the only letters

able are:
now
at all trace-
"(?)
PArGCR."
PLATE
XVIII.
simple thirteenth century raised
cross-slab in the Guildhall
Museum, London.
Only the
upper part of the stone remains, so that only the crosshead, part of the shaft, and part of an inscription on one
side can be traced
;
the letters in the latter

:
so far as can be
!
seen appear
to be
"
LGCm
BRVR
PRIGCZ
PATGCR." +
PLATE
XIX.
This
The
is
an interesting example of the
thirteenth century.
coffin
and
lid
(the latter repre-
sented in the plate)

Guildhall,
now
stand in the
Museum
at
the
London, whither they were removed from the

Chapel.
long,
ancient
Guildhall
its
The
cross,
with
its
three-
stepped calvary,
foiled arms,
is
slender shaft, and simple tre-
sculptured in relief; on either side of the
Supposed
vol.
ii.,
Slab found on the site of St. Benet's Fink Church (London) in 1854. AtchcBological /ournal, to be that of Willem, or William Brun.
p. 185.

shaft
is
one
incised
trumpet,
easy
to
trace,
and
of
interesting
design,
and these trumpets are the leading

seeing
that
feature
of
the
stone,
they
show that
trumpeter was once interred below.

the following inscription in
frey
Round
the slab runs

:
Lombardic
Ci
:
lettering
"
GodeEit
:
Le Troumpour
:
Gist
Dev
Del
:
Alme
Merci
"
the
interpretation
;
being
"
Godfrey
the
Trumpeter
lies
here
the Lord have mercy upon his soul."
PLATE
find this
XX.
In
the Guildhall
Museum, London, we
quaint incised slab, probably dating from the
early part of the thirteenth century.
The lower
part of
the stone
if
is
broken away, so that
it is
impossible to
know
the slab ever bore anything else than the curious incised
cross (with the double circle

lettering,
on
it)
and the fragments

In
for
all
of
now
almost
untraceable.
probability
slab
is
there
was no other ornamentation,

size,
the
of
small
and the
cross
now on
it
must have originally

lid.
been decidedly towards the tapered base of the
PLATE
XXI.
Here
we
have
a
in
very
interesting
example of thirteenth century work
a raised cross-
slab that lies beneath an arched alcove in the exterior
wall of the south-east angle of the chancel of St. Michael's
Church, near
slab
is is
St.
Albans, Herts.
The lower
part of the
rather
worn away here and

good preservation
;
there, but the
upper borne
part
in very,
no
inscription
is
32

interest in this slab lies in this, that
on
it.
The
from
its
peculiar position on the outside of the south-east chancel
wall
it
in
all
probability marks the resting-place of one
who
else
died either under the ban of excommunication or

in
penance
in
either case,
the person would not
be admitted into the church.
PLATE
aisle in
XXII.
This
is
one of three raised cross-
slabs that stand against the east wall of the south chancel

is
The
knotting of the foliated

Date, fourteenth
stem at the base

century.
elegant and curious.
PLATE XXIILA
beck marble, standing
of
St.
short, deeply-incised slab of Pur-
in the chapel at the north-west
angle
early
long,
Mary
Redcliffe
Church,
stone
is
Bristol.
Date,
ft.
fourteenth century.
The
about
ins.
and may be
either the lid of a coffin or
tomb
of an adult
(for small slabs to
them do
sides
exist),
or else a child.
The
cross
is
plain
the
are
bevelled,
lettering.
: :
with
marginal
the
:
inscription in very large,
deep
Read now,
inscription
:
is
as follows
:
"+RG[
:
D Da TRaVGCLGC
:
6IS
YCi"-aLVR AL^SS
SYIT
mGCRttl
Aman."
The
Cliristian
name, now imperfect, was probably "Reginald."
33
PLATE XXIV. Date,

tury.
probably early fifteenth cen-
Incised slab just outside the south chancel wall of

Wilts.
Limpley Stoke Church,
The
stone
is
now
rather
defaced, but the incised shears are
still
clearly traceable,
it
and from the peculiar shape

that a clothier
of the latter,
is
probable
was buried below.
Shears with square ends

ofif
were used then to shear or cut the nap
cloth,
the
blunt ends preserving the cloth from being damaged.
PLATE XXV. One

in the south aisle of
of three slabs, lying side
by
side
Date,
latter part of the fourteenth or early part of the fifteenth
century.
The
diapering at the four
corners,
etc.,
and
cross are inscribed.
The
calvary
is
of rich design.
The
curious fish incised on either side the stem, towards the

base, are interesting, since a fish
was the mystic symbol

fact that the
initial
of the Saviour,
and
this arose
is
from the
Greek
of the
"
word ix^vQ
words
\y\a\)Q
(fish)
formed of the
letters
:
XpiGToc: Qeov viog,
^wrrip,
meaning
Jesus
Christ, the
Son of God, the Saviour."
PLATE XXVI. A
that lies in the
rich
fourteenth century example

choir of Tintern
centre of the
slab
still
is,
Abbey,
Monmouth.
The
unfortunately, broken in half,
but both portions
retain the design clearly
marked
its
upon them.
On
the upper portion, the cross, with
34

is
beautiful trefoils,
incised
on a deeply-sunk ground
on
the lower portion, the stem

incised.
and calvary are
just simply
is
This double mode of treatment on one slab
interesting-.
is
Another example,
similar
in
every respect,
extant at
Welsh Bicknor,
Gloucestershire.
PLATE XXVIL Date, probably early fifteenth cenlong) tury. A very small incised slab (only about 3
ft.
lying
at
the west
end,
beneath the tower, of Wellow
Church, Wilts.
PLATE XXVIILProbably
rather
earlier)
slab.
It
lies
fifteenth
century
(or
close
to
the
south chancel
It
is
wall in the churchyard at Limpley Stoke, Wilts.

interesting to note the variety of
work on the
slab.
The
cross itself
is
is
incised, while the head,

relief.
on the upper portion,
carved in
Various other slabs showing the same

it
treatment are found in the same churchyard, and
is
thought that at some time they
may have been removed

All the stones are
from the
interior of the church.
more
or less defaced.
PLATE XXIX. An
of the nave of Tintern
incised
slab
in
the
south aisle
Abbey, Monmouth, dating from
the end of the fourteenth or early part of the fifteenth

century.
The
pastoral staff
is
of simple form,
and denotes
35
the resting-place of most likely one of the abbots of the
monastery.
the
base,
"
On
are
one side of the stem of the

letters
that,
cross,
towards
incised
rudely put together,

is
read as
a
Browne."
double
Opposite, and rather lower down,

triangle,
curious
typifying,
maybe, the
Holy
Trinity.
PLATE XXX. A
handsome fourteenth century
raised
cross-slab, lying in the
yard just outside the east window
of Aylesford Church, Kent.
The
crosses
three
in
num-
ber
are
by
of similar design, but decrease in size towards
the base of the stone.

side
This
is
one of three slabs lying
side in the churchyard.
PLATE XXXI. One
of
two incised slabs
(late four-
teenth or early fifteenth century), of somewhat different

form, lying within iron railings in the nave of Tintern
Abbey, Monmouth.
of the slab
is is
The
inscription
round the top edge
not traceable, but the main part of the cross
well preserved on the stone.
The form
of a heart
is
well introduced into the upper portion of the stem.
PLATE XXXILAn
slab,
early fifteenth century incised
of very small
dimensions, lying close to the gate
of
the
churchyard at Limpley Stoke, Wilts.

a* child.
Probably
the grave of
36
PLATE
the stone
is
XXXIIL'
very rich example of a deeply-
raised fourteenth century slab.
Only the upper part

is
of
preserved, but that
of very great beauty.

St.
The
slab
stands in the north-west chapel of

Bristol. cross.
Mary
Redcliffe,
Note the rose
in
the
centre of the
arms of the
PLATE XXXIV. The

thirteenth
Beds.,
aisle.
broken portion of an early

cross-slab
in
century
raised
Elstow Church,
now
standing against the wall of the south chancel

portion of the cross-head
is
The upper
is
not seen,
but interest
shaft.
clear.
attached to the ornamentation on the crossthis is
What
Some
intended to represent
is
by no means
are
in
authorities
suppose
such
as
that
they
some
implements
or
hinges,
were
used
chests
others think they
may
represent the ribbands that sup-
ported
the
heavy processional crosses of that period.
Again, the ornament
may have
no special meaning, merely
being a decoration.
slab at Oakington,
similar
one
may be
seen on a
Cambs.
PLATE XXXV.A
raised
cross-slab
in
handsome
fourteenth
century
the east end of the churchyard at the circle of the cross

'
Aylesford, Kent.
is
The work on
very rich and beautiful.
"
\:
37
the
PLATE XXXVI. This

Date, fourteenth century.
It
cross
is
incised,
matrix
round the cross-head being cut away
to
some depth.
hes in the south transept in
PLATES XXXVIL, XXXVIIL, XXXIX. These

cised thirteenth century slabs are
in-
now
in the floor of the
Chapel of Chillington House (now the museum), Maidstone.
The Guide Book
of the latter institution relates
that
slabs
"
one of the inscribed thirteenth century sepulchral

laid in the
now
new
chapel floor had, face down-
wards, formed part of the pavement in the front porch

the others
in
had served as tops

garden
to unexplainable recesses
the
Chillington
wall."
They were probably
pillaged from
"sixties."
some
of the neighbouring churches in the
PLATE
slab
XL.
in
A
The
late fourteenth century raised cross-
lying
the
churchyard
slab
is
still
(east
end)
of
Aylesford
Church, Kent.
very well preserved.
PLATE
XLI.
very
interesting
example
of
fifteenth century incised slab, lying

interior north chancel vall
shire.
is
under an arch in the
of Ross Church,
Monmouthtomb
From
its
position,
it
may be
inferred that the
that of either the founder or else benefactor of the
38
church, but in this case doubtless the later.
On
the slab
are carved the symbols
chalice
and book
showing,
of
course, that the deceased
was an
ecclesiastic.
This com-
bination of symbols
is
frequently met with, but not so
often in the case of ecclesiastics of higher orders, since

the
book
is
thought to be the Textus, or Gospels, a book
peculiar to the deacon.
However, the symbols have been

priests,
found on the tombs of
and certainly
here,
it
from
the position of the slab in the north chancel wall,
must
be that of a high, rather than low, dignitary of the church.
The
slab
is
rather badly defaced in parts.
PLATE XLILA
cross-slab,
slightly
raised
thirteenth
century
of
brought
at
some
period
likely,
from
one
the
neighbouring churches, most
but
now
lying in the
new
floor of the chapel in Chillington
House, Maidstone
portion of
now
the
Museum
of the town.
The lower
the slab has been so
damaged
that
no true outline can

floor
be traced, the slab having been plastered into the

with the greatest neatness and care.
PLATE
work.
lies in
XLIII.
late
Rather a curious
incised,
design
probably a
specimen of
thirteenth or early fourteenth century

is
The
slab
and very much damaged.
It
the east aisle of the south transept, Tintern Abbey,,
Monmouth.
very
little
The
inscription
all.
on the slab
is
unreadable,
remaining at
39
fifteenth
PLATE
period.
side
XLIV.
piece
of
early
century
work, the slab being incised and characteristic of that

It lies in
the nave of Tintern Abbey,

another.
Monmouth,
by
side with
Very
little
of the original
inscription remains,
but the following can be traced on

**
:
the upper margin of the stone

the centre of the cross arms
îc jcicei
**
Ô^ns/*
In
is
carved
i^c** (ihc).
PLATE XLV. A
the
fifteenth
century incised
slab,
in
south
transept
of
Tintern
Abbey,
Monmouth.
richly-designed cross-head, with foliated inscription (now
almost obliterated) carved on the stone round

the upper part of the slab.
cross are simple.
it,
adorns
The stem and
calvary of the
PLATE XLVL From Monmouth. A handsome

work.
portion
the porch of Raglan Church,

piece
of
fourteenth
century
The
slab
is
broken and much defaced, but the
remaining
is
shows one
its
former
beauty.
The
cross-head
raised in a sunk matrix.
The nimbus and
cross-stone are incised.
PLATE
Church,
XLVII.
From
A
the chancel floor in Trellick
Monmouth.
fourteenth
century
cross-head
slab.
is
The
stem and calvary are

raised in a
incised.
The
slightly
sunk matrix.
40
PLATE XLVIILA
Kent.
raised
cross-slab,
late
twelfth
century, in the floor of the north aisle of
Lympne
Church,
Three of the four
"
broken
circles "
are perfect,
is
and
the two foliar terminals, but elsewhere the slab
much
broken about and defaced.
PLATE XLIX.A
thirteenth
century slab,
now
let
into the north tower wall (interior) of Penshurst Church,
Kent, that was dug up about the year 1854 under the
north nave
aisle,
during the re-building of that portion.

is
The main
cross
raised,
but the four trefoiled arms,

incised,
behind the head, are simply

incised lines running
with
is
two thinlycracked.
up each.
The
slab
much
PLATE
lying
at
L.
The
east
slab of
Stephen Langton (date 1228),

the
cross
the
end
of
south
is
transept
chapel,
Canterbury Cathedral.
slab
is
The
raised.
The whole
very perfect, and closely resembles another that

the crypt of the same building.
lies in
PLATE
year
1854,
LI.
One
let
of the
two slabs dug up about the
during the re-building of Penshurst Church,
Kent, and
now
into
the south tower wall (interior)
of the church.
Mr. Parker, the antiquary, says that the
form of the head-dress indicates the figure to be that

of a Templar,
^:l
and Mr. Smith,

is
is
rector of Penshurst, fancies
the
idea represented
cross
"
submission
under the Cross."

figure incised in
The
relief.
on the slab
raised,
and the
PLATE
LII.
Â raised,
early thirteenth century slab
lying in the floor of the ambulatory in Norwich Cathedral,
marking the tomb of John Berney, once prior

monastery of that
city.
to
the
PLATE
fairly
LIII.
An
incised thirteenth century slab, in
good
preservation,
on the
floor
in
the west end
(interior) of St.
Clement's Church, Hastings.
PLATE
St.
LIV.
The remains of a very handsome
four-
teenth century raised slab in the north chancel aisle of
Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, beneath a niche in
the wall, which formerly contained the
Crowmer tomb
but
it,
it
is
not thought that this slab, or the others beside
have
any
relation
to
that
family.
Date,
between
1300 and 1500.
PLATE
above
LV.
A curiously
small slab, in
same spot as
slab, in St. Nicholas'
Church, Great Yarmouth.
raised cross, probably of fifteenth century work.
42
PLATE LVL This
handsome
raised cross-slab, dating
from the end of the thirteenth century, hes beneath a

richly-sculptured arch, in a niche in the north aisle of the
nave of
St.
Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth, where
it
forms the
prior's
tomb.
PLATE
the
east
LVII.
One
of
of the two raised cross-slabs, of
similar design,
now
lying in the churchyard just beneath
window
Hemsby
Church,
Norfolk.
Date,
thirteenth century.
PLATE LVIILA
St.
thirteenth
century
slab
(cross
slightly raised), discovered in
1896, lying in the floor of
Nicholas' Chapel (in crypt) in Canterbury Cathedral.

slab closely resembles that
in the
The
on the tomb of Stephen
Langton
same Cathedral.
PLATE LIX.Probably
century,
a slab of the late thirteenth
now
lying on the floor of the vestry in
East
Dean Church,
portions.
trefoiled,
side),
Sussex.
The
stone
is
broken into three

raised
The upper
part shows the
cross-head,
and above the arms are two

five
stars (one
on either
apparently of
central portion
points,
though much damaged.
The
shows, in the centre, slight indica;
tions of the shaft of the cross
to the left of
it
are three

small crosses and two flowers, which
latter
43
roses.
may be
The
may have been used merely
as ornaments, or as
religious
emblems with some symbolical meaning.
These
ornaments may have been cut on a
shield, since there is

is
a slight indication of one, but so damaged

of this point the verification
is
the slab that
open to doubt.
On
the
other side of the shaft

it
is
the faint outline of an animal
may be
that of a lion or dog.
The lower
portion of
the slab shows the cross-shaft
and simple
calvary.
The
edges of the whole stone, though much broken, show a

double row of bevelling.
PLATE
century,
LX.
raised
cross-slab,
of
the
thirteenth
now
resting in an upright position in the exterior
of the south chancel wall of St. Margaret's Church, Isfield,
Sussex.
The base
of the stone
is
is
broken away, and the
surface throughout
much
defaced, but enough can be

is
traced to
show that the sculpturing
characteristic
of
that century.
PLATE
LXI.
This
is
a small, but interesting raisedlying almost hidden from

choir-stalls
cross thirteenth century
slab,
view under an arched alcove behind the

the north chancel wal^ of St.
in
Michael and All Angels'
Church,
Little
Horsted,
Sussex.
The tomb probably

cross-head
is
formed the Eagter sepulchre.
The
fairly
44
perfect,

but the shaft
is
damaged, and the base of the
slab
broken away.
is
In one of the circles formed

flower,
by the
cross-head
four-leaved
probably meant to
denote the flowers that were cast on tombs at the time

of the burial.
shaft,
is
Below the cross-head, on the

;
left
of the
curious ornament
staff,
it
may have
it
represented
the upper portion of a

certain
is
but
is
difficult to
say for
what
it
truly means.
On
the right of the shaft
curious
circular
ornament with grooves no

is
upon
its
surface.
Whether
or
it
this
was intended
to represent
a shield of any sort
hard to say, but an ornament of

is
somewhat
similar
form
1185,
seen on the stone of
Udard
de Broham, A.D.
boss
and
shields of this form, with a
in the centre,
its
can be seen in the Bayeux tapestry.
From
position in the north chancel wall this slab
may
show the resting-place of a benefactor, or even founder,

of the church.
PLATE LXILThis
on the
site
gravestone "was found in 1850,
of the churchyard of St. Peter's,

is
West Out,
Lewes, Sussex, and
supposed to be the slab of an

vi.,
ecclesiastic " (S.A.C., vol.
p.
264).
The
slab
now
rests
against the wall of the Castle Gardens at Lewes.

shaft
of the
is
The
of the
cross
in
is
incised,
and what remains

date,
cross-head
century.
relief.
Probable
the
thirteenth
45
century
Church,.
PLATE LXIILA
incised
portion
the
of
a thirteenth
of
slab
now
in
porch
Matherne
Monmouth.
PLATE
now
LXIV.
small portion of a slab (incised)
in the Guildhall
Museum, London.
letters
From
the style
of the cross
it
and the few
traceable on the stone
is
doubtless a specimen of late thirteenth or early four-
teenth century work.
KES.
^LATE
1.
K E S
PLATE
II.
PLATE
III.
..^liiWiM
'.1
*!
Iljiliiii/\ili'ii[
li'liilii
fell
km
,''ii^l'"!l
#?ll
iiiaiiMiiiji
PLATE
V.
K..S,
PLATE
VI.
is:!ii!if '''ill
Iji^î
r? *3î
! I 'i
.ii'
"Itiil'il?
iiiiil
6iMl'll''ll
u
PLATE
VII.
iti
K E 5
KiS
PLATE
VIII.
PLATE
IX.
PLATE
X.
KES
PLATE
XI.
K.E3
PLATE
XII.
'
i;
^,
ii
,
i
.)
.',
PLATE
XIII.
/.III'-
\'
.
r,
PLATE
XIV.
K.L'b'
PLATE
XV.
PLATE
XVI.
PLATE
XVII.
PLATE
XVIII.
PLATE
XIX.
V
,
PLATE XX.
PI^TE XXL
K^,S.
PLATE
XXII.
PLATE- XXIII.
K.S.
PJ.ATE XXIV.
KEt?
PLATE XXV.
/,
H4[.S.
PLATE XXVI.
II
PLATE
XXVII.
V
:
II
K.E.S.
PLATE
XXVIII.
!',
I
'
(1
',
,1
/.
;>
KE5.
PLATE XXIX.
PLATE XXXI.
K.E.3.
PLATE XXXII.
PLATE
XXXIII.
PLATE XXXIV.
/.
PLATE XXXV.
/,
PLATE XXXVI
PLAfE XXXVII.
13
K^.
PLATE XXXVIII.
K.E.S.
PLATE
XL.
KES
PkATE
XLI.
14
K.E.S-
PLATE XLIL
H.0.S.
PLATE XLIV.
i(.S
Pi.ATE XLV.
15
KE-S.
PLATE XLVI.
K65
PLATE
XLVII.
PLATE
XLVIII.
K.tS-
PLATE XLIX.
i6
KE-5.
PLATE
L.
H.E.S.
PLATE
LI.
PLATE
LII.
!'
!>S^^^''M^^-'
H.E.S.
PLATE
LIII.
17
PLATE
LIV.
it
ll
/,
K.S.-
PLATE
LV.
UIMV.Ol
PLATE
LVI.
'i
f)
V
n ;
1',
!
ii
/,
\''\
),
|-,l
/,
PLATE LVIL
i8
,K.6^
PLATE
LIX.
PLATE
LX.
19
PLATE
LXII.
PLATE
LXIII
PLATE LXIV.
CHRONOLOGICAL
Date.
LIST SLABS.
OF CROSS
PLATE
A.D.
A.
822.
PLATE
^
A.D.
B.
1003.
L V n'.l.l
'
PLATE
A.D.
1
C.
185.
PLATE
A.D.
D.
I200.
V
/.
1
1;
'
'
PLATE
A.D.
E.
1250.
N A. nail
PLATE
A.D.
F.
1300.
/,
PLATE
A.D.
G.
1492.
^%1Mq.^0
^^^m^
FOURTEEN DAY USE

RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED
^CHITECTDBE LIBRAE
This book
is
due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed.
are subject to immediate recall.
Renewed books
"^/R'
m
1
floi^D
1985
My
m^
\Ulll^'
'FD tiCB-F.
m^
i^QQ^
LD
21-100m-2,'55
(B139s22)476
General Library University of California

Berkeley
-*:
^-^-^^'
U.C.
BERKFLtY LIBRARIES
C03Mfi33MEl:,

A Short History of Sepulchral Cross-Slabs

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B

HISTORY OF ^^_^ IPULCHRAL GROSS'SLAii

ARCHITECTURAL DEPARTMENT LIBRARY

GIFT OF William C . Hays

ANCIENT SEPULCHRAL CROSS-SLABS.

WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXAMPLES .FOUND IN THE

BEMROSE & SONS,

London Snow Hill, 4,

A// rights reserved.

in the case of "

Notes on the Slabs

the author would specially call attention to the fact that a

appealed to personally, and valuable help obtained.

few slabs bearing authenticated dates

placed at the end of this volume, so that the reader can

study the type of each, and thus be able, by comparing

After a short time this will

not be found hard to do, and a

more study and

enable the student to be able readily to

a near date, to any slabs that

works the author

Monumental Brasses and

Ancient Sepulchral Monuments

Petrie's " Ecclesiasti"

cal Architecture of Ireland "

Account of Redcliffe Church

Ben Craig, Sevenoaks,

of Illustration, Plate 41, and on pa^e

Ross Church, Monmouth;" slwuld read. " RoSS CHURCH, HeREF^O'RDSHIRE."

History of Cross Slabs

Chronology of Cross Slabs

Illustrations of some Authenticated Dated

Elstow Church, Beds.

Tintern Abbey, Monmouth.

40. Aylesford 41.

Clement's Church, Hastings.

21. St. Michael's

Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth. Hemsby Churchyard, Norfolk. Canterbury Cathedral.

Elstow Church, Beds.

East Dean Church, Sussex.

Church, Sussex. Horsted Church, Sussex.

Lewes Castle, Sussex. Matherne Church, Monmouthshire.

Tintern Abbey, Monmouth.

Tintern Abbey, Monmouth.

Tintern Abbey, Monmouth.

Tintern Abbey, Monmouth.

B Clonmacnoise, Ireland. C Brougham, Westmoreland.

Gowts, Lincoln. Kirkwood, Yorks.

Jfncient Sepulcbral ro$$= Slabs.

every sepulchre or gravestone

the cross, which take care you do not

quaint law passed in the reign of Kenneth,

King of Scotland, about

the year A.D. 840.

can be seen that grave-slabs were held in reverent

esteem as early as the ninth century.

used, for investigations have

to prove that their

from the commencement of the Christian Era.

his trade or profession,

and ornaments of various kinds,

up the same fashion

but with the dawn of the Christian