Continuity and Revival: 12th-Century Standing Crosses in Huntingdonshire

Everson, Paul; Stocker, David

Abstract

This paper arises from the authors’ preparation of the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture volume on Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. As in previous volumes, we have looked hard at the manner in which the middle- and late-Saxon tradition of erecting ‘high crosses’ at significant locations, or to mark significant graves, was continued beyond the Norman Conquest in what we have called a ‘continuing tradition’ of monument type and design. Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire’s Anglo-Scandinavian stone sculpture is well known for its quantity, and this prolific local tradition of monument-making continued after the Norman Conquest. We focus here on five elaborately decorated Huntingdonshire ‘high crosses’ in the pre-Conquest tradition. They belong to two interrelated groups: two have a monastic context, three a secular one. Monuments at Fletton and Kings Ripton each marked significant points in the landscape. Whilst the monument at Hilton had an analogous function in perhaps marking a place of congregation, its date and use of architectural details also connects it with the pair of major monuments from Godmanchester and Tilbrook/Kimbolton, for which we suggest an additional political significance within the early cult of St Thomas of Canterbury.

Citation

Everson, P., & Stocker, D. (2023). Continuity and Revival: 12th-Century Standing Crosses in Huntingdonshire. Journal of the British Archaeological Association, 176(1), 27-70. https://doi.org/10.1080/00681288.2023.2233330

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 7, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 7, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 1, 2024
• Journal: Journal of the British Archaeological Association
• Print ISSN: 0068-1288
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-6704
• Publisher: Maney Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 176
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 27-70
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00681288.2023.2233330
• Keywords: Archeology; Visual Arts and Performing Arts; Archeology
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00681288.2023.2233330
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=yjba20; Published: 2023-09-07