South-east Hogback, Giant‘s Grave, Penrith

sketchfab

The southeasternmost stone of four hogbacks and two early Anglian high crosses forms the Giant's Grave, a designated monument at St Andrews Church, Penrith, Cumbria. Hogback stones are narrow ridged markers built for Anglo-Saxon or Scandinavian elites during the 8th-10th centuries AD. Like high crosses, hogback stones often feature images and intricate knotwork patterns. Hogbacks can be found in northern England and extend as far north as Viking Scotland. A drawing by W.G. Collingwood (1923) reveals the southeastern stone's ornate decorations. The original positions of the stones are unknown since they were rearranged to form the Giant's Grave during the 1720-22 church rebuilding. The hogbacks were initially intended for a culvert but were saved by protesting locals. The southeasternmost hogback stone was broken into two pieces but has been re-clamped with iron, which is visible on the model. Lumix FZ200 photos taken in June 2017 and processed using 3DF Zephyr Free software.