Ringerike gravestone fragment, c.1015
/Ringerike gravestone fragment
c.1015
August 18, 1988
Mary Covert discovers the exceptional Ringerike gravestone fragment reused as rubble in the south tower of the west facade, a rare survical from the pre-Conquest Cathedral cemetery when Rochester sat poised on the edge of the vast Danelaw. Featured in The Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Report for 1988.
There are very few documents or other artefacts datable to the pre-Conquest period at Rochester Cathedral, although from available evidence it appears that the successive cathedrals at Rochester have occupied approximately the same site from their establisment in 604 to the present time. Thus it is particularly gratifying to report the find of an artefact that almost certainly pre-dates even the earliest parts of the present Cathedral. Such is the case of a fragment of carved stone found embedded in an interior wall of the south-west turret in 1984 and removed for study in 1987. It is most probably a fragment of a memorial marker (perhaps a standing gravestone) which was reduced to rubble to be used in the construction of the west facade of the Norman Cathedral.
In 1984, while engaged in study of the west end of the Cathedral, the author chanced to notice the carved stone in the wall behind the door to the nave. At that time, the stairwell was not lit and the stone was difficult to see. The style of the carving appeared to be Anglo-Saxon or Viking, but it was difficult to be sure. A torchlight photograph was attempted and was successful so that back in the United States I was able to confirm my guess about its style.
Photograph of the fragment in situ, reused within eleventh or twelfth century fabric at the bottom of the west facade south tower stairs. Rochester Cathedral Chapter Library, A. Arnold Lapidarium portfolio.
In the autum of 1987, once again in England, I took the Dean and Mrs. Arnold over to see the stone. It was with considerable anticipation that I opened the door, and to my great delight, I found that the area now had lights so that the stone was easy to find. It was immediately clear that although only a fragment remained, it had come from a piece of sculpture of very high quality. The exposed face of the fragment had a lively design (see back cover) and the remains of colour could be seen.
At Mrs. Arnold's request, the Dean and Chapter granted permission for the stone to be removed for further study. Mr. Keith Taylor of Taylor, Pearce Restoration Services Ltd., carefully removed the stone from its surrounding mortar but found no more fragments of the same kind of stone. To the great joy and surprise of the Arnolds (the author again being in America) the stone proved to be carved not only on its exposed face, but on its back and curved edge as well. Photographs and measurements were made and sent to me, by kindness of Mrs. Arnold, and I did some research on the piece.
This was not the first piece of pre-Conquest sculpture to be found in or near Rochester Cathedral. Two carved stone fragments identified as Saxon by W. St. John Hope and G. M. Livett were found late in the 19th century during the restoration of the west front.1 The larger stone (now in the Cathedral lapidarium) is carved on one side only and was arranged in adjoining panels, one containing a fragment of interlace and the other containing what has been identified as the hindquarters of a running beast.2 The smaller fragment, carved with a strap design, and showing traces of red and brown colouring, has disappeared. In 1976-77, during the excavations at the Prior's Gate House, another small fragment of Anglo-Saxon sculpture was uncovered and was published in Archaeologia Cantiana by Dr. M. J. Swanton3 None of these finds were carved in local stone but were of limestone from the Jurassic Ridge perhaps in the Barnack, Northants.
The new fragment, on the contrary, is probably Wealden sandstone from the Hastings Beds.4 By the character of the motifs and carving, it can be identified as being from the Ringerike period of Viking art; in England, roughly the first half of the eleventh century. The curved edge bears part of an inscription in Latin. The relatively straight edges were either cut or broken when the original object was reduced to building rubble. Although there is some damage to the three finished surfaces, the carving of both the designs and the inscription are in excellent condition and show little evidence of wear. Remains of colours, white, crimson, and very little bright orange can be found on the side and back. The exposed face is covered by a pollution layer but where this has been scratched some colour is visible. The front and back are carved in shallow relief. The design of the back is geometric, very simple in character, but the front is filled with motits typical o the Ringerike period.
Three major motifs characterize the work of the Ringerike period: elongated tendrils (see photo, upper part of fragment) sometimes with buds, derived from Winchester acanthus motifs; representations of the 'Great Beast' or lion; and the 'Serpent'. the latter two often in combat. The sculpture field is often crowded as is the front of the Rochester fragment, and the carving is taut and the outlines lively. On the Rochester piece the tendrils and buds are obvious, but it is not entirely clear what the quarter-round motif on its lower left might have been.5
The Latin inscription is unusual on a piece from this period. Further studies of the decoration and the inscription are being undertaken at this time. It is hoped that the Rochester fragment will have been returned from the conservator in time to be on display at the Friends Annual Festival.
Mary Covert
Featured in The Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Report for 1988
Reillustrated by Anneliese Arnold and Jacob Scott.
Mrs Covert is working at Boston University on a Doctoral thesis on Rochester Cathedral's Architecture, and is a Friend.
The Cathedral's Architect reports that St. Andrew' Trust has made a generous grant toward the cleaning and conservation of this stone.
Footnotes
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1 G. M. Livett, 'Foundations of the Saxon Cathedral Church at Rochester', Arch. Cant. XVIII (1889), p. 267 n and plate ll.
2 W. R. Lethaby, Letter to S. W. Wheatley, n.d., but probably just before Mr. Lethaby resigned as cathedral architect in 1927.
3 M. J. Swanton, 'A Second Anglo-Saxon Sculptured Fragment from Rochester', Arch. Cant. XCV (1980) pp. 34-35.
4 B. C. Worssam, a geologist, prepared a brief report on the probable source of the stone. The report is in the possession of the Dean and Chapter.
5 D. Tweddle of the York Archæological Trust has suggested that this motif may well be the central part of a cross which had been carved on a head stone.
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