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The Northern Antiquarian Forum

Archaeology, folklore & myth of Britain's pre-christian sites & heritage: stone circles, holy wells, maypoles, tombs, archaic cosmologies and human consciousness. Everyone welcome - even Southerners!


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    THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS SD 618 130

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    THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS  SD 618 130 Empty THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS SD 618 130

    Post  Guest Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:04 am

    The bounds of Gunolfsmoors included the existing townships of Heapey, Wheelton (with Brinscall), Withnell (with Roddlesworth, Stanworth, and Ollerton), and part of Hoghton.

    Gunnolf – ON – ‘fighting wolf’ is the name of a Hiberno-Norse Viking who laid claim to these lands that lie between the territorial divisions of Leylandshire and Blackburnshire in the 10th century.

    Within the Harris Museum, Preston can be found the Upper section of a pre-Conquest stone ‘cross’. Though much damaged on three of its sides the main face displays the upper section of a horned-helmeted figure holding a sword before it. The spreading horns suggest an important figure from the Viking period in Lancashire (c.900). This large and important piece of sculpture was found during the construction of Rivington reservoir on the River Yarrow near the village of Grimeford, Anderton in the 19th century.

    Also found at that time during the reservoir construction was the lower section of a ‘cross’ shaft. This shaft is decorated on all four sides with carvings which include: the figure of a man from the waist down; a trellis filled with geometrical ornamentation of horizontal and vertical straight lines repeated to form a band known as a fret; a modified version of T-fret; and a combination of vine scroll and frets. The top of the shaft serves as the base for what is possibly a post medieval sundial base which has been adapted for use as a direction stone with directions to Preston, Wiggan, Boulton, and Blagburn (spelled as on the stone) being carved on the sides. I would suggest that the two fragments are parts of the same monolith and may even depict the Viking Gunnolf (the latter being my own fancy). This headless ‘cross’ is sited at the junction on the old road near the Millstone pub in Anderton and Grimeford Lane on the way to Rivington (SD 618 130). The stone is known as the Grimeford Headless Cross or more locally as the Headless Boggart. Legend has it that there used to be a chapel near the junction and a tunnel running to a nearby farm on a hill. In the 16th century shortly before troops came to destroy the chapel, a priest hid in the tunnel and became trapped underground. His body was never found. Many people are said to have seen a ghost at the Headless Cross.
    Paulus
    Paulus


    Join date : 2009-08-20
    Location : Yorkshire

    THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS  SD 618 130 Empty Re: THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS SD 618 130

    Post  Paulus Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:48 am

    Hi John!

    Guest wrote:The bounds of Gunolfsmoors included the existing townships of Heapey, Wheelton (with Brinscall), Withnell (with Roddlesworth, Stanworth, and Ollerton), and part of Hoghton.

    Gunnolf – ON – ‘fighting wolf’ is the name of a Hiberno-Norse Viking who laid claim to these lands that lie between the territorial divisions of Leylandshire and Blackburnshire in the 10th century.

    Within the Harris Museum, Preston can be found the Upper section of a pre-Conquest stone ‘cross’. Though much damaged on three of its sides the main face displays the upper section of a horned-helmeted figure holding a sword before it. The spreading horns suggest an important figure from the Viking period in Lancashire (c.900). This large and important piece of sculpture was found during the construction of Rivington reservoir on the River Yarrow near the village of Grimeford, Anderton in the 19th century.

    Also found at that time during the reservoir construction was the lower section of a ‘cross’ shaft. This shaft is decorated on all four sides with carvings which include: the figure of a man from the waist down; a trellis filled with geometrical ornamentation of horizontal and vertical straight lines repeated to form a band known as a fret; a modified version of T-fret; and a combination of vine scroll and frets. The top of the shaft serves as the base for what is possibly a post medieval sundial base which has been adapted for use as a direction stone with directions to Preston, Wiggan, Boulton, and Blagburn (spelled as on the stone) being carved on the sides. I would suggest that the two fragments are parts of the same monolith and may even depict the Viking Gunnolf (the latter being my own fancy). This headless ‘cross’ is sited at the junction on the old road near the Millstone pub in Anderton and Grimeford Lane on the way to Rivington (SD 618 130). The stone is known as the Grimeford Headless Cross or more locally as the Headless Boggart. Legend has it that there used to be a chapel near the junction and a tunnel running to a nearby farm on a hill. In the 16th century shortly before troops came to destroy the chapel, a priest hid in the tunnel and became trapped underground. His body was never found. Many people are said to have seen a ghost at the Headless Cross.

    Looking at this entry, I'm wanting to add it to TNA with its own profile. Should we add it as the Headless or the Yarrow Cross? From whence comes the 'yarrow' title?

    ...And if memory serves me right, weren't some cup-and-ring stones found near here?

    Cheers - Paul
    lowergate
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    Join date : 2010-11-01
    Age : 75
    Location : CLITHEROE

    THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS  SD 618 130 Empty Re: THE YARROW CROSS, GRIMEFORD, GUNOLFSMOORS SD 618 130

    Post  lowergate Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:57 am

    Grimeford Cross is as good a name as any

    The Yarrow is a river

    The upper section of the cross is superb (Harris Museum, Preston)

    I included a drawing of the bottom section of the cross (Headless) in Brigantia Vol. 11 - Lancashire Pennines

    My photo of the upper section is very poor due to it being displayed in a reflective glass case

    Thanks Paul

    john
    Paulus
    Paulus


    Join date : 2009-08-20
    Location : Yorkshire

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    Post  Paulus Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:01 am

    Hi John!

    The site profile's been added onto TNA here:

    http://megalithix.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/grimeford-cross/

    Please lemme know if you wanna edit or add owt to it.

    All the best - Paul Wink

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