The Viking Trail - Irton

The Anglian Cross at St Pauls Church at Irton, is set on a slight rise on the coastal plain.  It is second only to the Norse cross at Gosforth in terms of interest.  It is however, slightly older, dating from the middle of the 9th century.  It is also the only Anglian Cross in Britain that has retained it's cross head.

The cross is decorated in a style known as late Northumbrian.  It was standing long before the Scandanavian Settlers arrived.  All its faces are richly carved.  The first and second pictures are of the west face and the third is the east face.  The west face has two panels of interlocking knotwork that is seperated by a section that once had three lines of runes

The cross stands 3 meters high.  It still rests in its original socket stone.  It is carved from a single block of red sandstone.

The east face is slightly more weathered and has two panels of diagonal designs and two spiralled cirles.  Unlike the cross at Gosforth, it does not bear any figures, either human or animal.

The view in the direction of the old Vicarage (I think). 

The cross showing the west face

St Paul's Church

The stunning backdrop of Wasdale Fells.  Nestling amongs the trees are the settelments of Irton, Bolton and Santon.  I shall be back on a clearer day.  Next time I go, I shall also show you the windows of the church.  At least one was designed by William Morris.

The Viking Trail - Gosforth

Gosforth is a beautiful village three miles down the road from the house.  Gosforth, like many other villages and areas around here is rich in Viking History.  We will go on a journey from Eskdale to St Bees and re-discover the Viking Trail.  Most of the history that I know to, is found in churches.  I have a 'thing' for old churches anyway, so this adds another exciting element for me.  It amazes me that so much history is on my doorstep.  I am eager to learn and to share.

I have not been church spotting for quite a while, life hasn't really led me to it.  So my knowledge of church buildings, names of things etc is more than rusty. 

This is St Mary's Church in Gosforth.  I find it unusual for a church to have three bells.  I know three is a 'magic' number, and is heavily used in christianity - the holy trinity etc.  There is an inscription above and below the clock, I can't quite make it out in the picture.  No doubt I shall be there again - after all the entrance to Mary-Jane's playgroup is just left of the photo, by a few feet.  Talk about things being under my nose.

 This cross is viking.  It is generally regarded as being one of Britains most important viking treasures and certainly amongst it's finest.  It towers over the churchyard to a height of 4 and a half meters from a circular base, representing the sacred ash tree, Yggdrasil, that supports the entire universe.  The carvings on all four faces of the column illustrate the epic poem Sybil's Prophecy, where the poet, anticipating the supremacy of christianity, seeks to explain the gospel by using figures of Norse mythology.

 The entrance porchway.  I've still to find out about these pieces.

 During the rebuilding of the nave in 1896, two large carved stones were found, forming part of the foundation of the Norman north wall.  They were identified by Dr Chris Parker as being Norse Hogsback tombs dating from no later than the beginning of the 11th century.  Not only are such tombstones extremely rare, but the examples here are nearly perfect.  The form of a hogsback tomb is taken from early nordic houses with their cruck timber frames.  They are quite literally 'houses of the dead'

 Okay, not a  viking relic, but a thing of interest.  I need to recheck my notes on this.  It came from Japan during the second world war.  More later

 This is another peice that caught my eye, of which I know nothing, at the moment.  Our trip to Gosforth and Irton was very brief.  The windows that you look onto, is the room where Mary-Jane and I go to playgroup.

 There was beleived to be four vivking crosses in the churchyard.  These are mre remnants, built into the church.  I think One of them is known as The Fishing Stone, I know the history to it, but am not sure if it's the right picture, I'm certain, but want to verify.

I have some more pictures, but blogger was having a hissy fit and not letting me upload them.  In the bottom of the above picture is the Millenium Tapestry.  This is noteworthy, but when I can show you a photo of the whole thing!

Monday Musings On Tuesday

Right Now: Am thinking What have I forgotten to do?  I'm sure there was something I wanted to do on the laptop tonight.  After thinking about it, it might be send a couple of emails and blog about going to Gosforth Church and Irton Church to have a look at their history.  Photos with this one.

This Weekend:  The weekend Seems a long time away.  Perhaps because it has just dawned on me that it is Tuesday today.  I have had a lot to deal with in the last week or two and it has pickled my head somewhat. 

Some Plans For The Week - It would be nice if the world slowed down a bit and that the powers that be no longer conspire to take the rug from under my feet.  It is Craft & Natter's second meeting on Thursday.  I am hoping to do some baking tomorrow for it.

If I Find Some Time For Myself - Therapeutic knitting and baking, some things don't change, just the degree of need to do them

I Am Grateful For:  Living in a beautiful part of the country.  For my Auntie Ann.  For HK & MJ, as ever.

Some Thoughtful Intentions For The Week:  For my dear Friend Carol Riley.  This will be a regular Thoughtful Intention for the foreseeable

Something That Makes Me Smile: Sharing a secret giggle with HK

Olympic Cushion Stuffing In Eskdale

On Friday I went to Eskdale to attend the Olympic Cushion Stuffing Event.  I was last there.  Friday can be busy for me - weekly shop day n'all.  After Mary-Jane's lunch we set off.  Ten minutes or so before setting off, I had some devastating news about a close friend, which spun me out more than alot.  I shall write about this after, it's a big issue and deserves a seperate post.

So Mary-Jane and I set off, with me being in a bit of a state inside.  The journey to Eskdale is beautiful.  It was a bit of a grey cloudy misty sort of day.  This is looking back on where we came from, before the final descent into Eskdale - or so it appears to me.

I've just realised that the photos are not in order that I took them, but never mind, you will get the gist.

This is a view from the car park just down from the village hall, facing towards the right, don't ask whether it is north or south etc, I don't have a clue at the mo.  Stunning.

This is from the same place but facing to the left

In a similar place

Looking down into the village.  We walked down here to the Village Hall

View from the back of the car park

The Village Hall is, as I understand it, below the church, rather underneath the church.  It is the Church St Bega.  More history for me to find out.

Another shot from the side of the Church/Village Hall

There were over 60 cushions made.  Women came from all over the county of Cumbria to bring their cushions.  I wish I was able to have got there sooner to meet some and been more part of the day.  Things happen for reasons.

Touching Base

I have a few things to tell you about, unfortunately it will have to wait, sorry!  I need to get to bed.  I had an early night last night and tonight is running late.  I have been sorting out my WI file and am about there.  Just one maybe two small jobs to do tomorrow then I'm good to go with it. 

I have to tell you about my trip to Eskdale for the cushion stuffing event, sugarcraft, my catering course, and my dear friend, Carol Riley.  Tomorrow is Woodlands Knit & Natter, and I'm planning to briefly visit Gosforth and Ireton Churches on the way.  Bear with me!

Of All The Expensive Toys.....

For all the expensive toys you could buy a child, quite often it's the simplest ones they enjoy playing with.  Mary-Jane has a box.

I had some time out today and went to Fobbles for the Knit & Natter.  There was only a few of us there but we knitted and put the world to rights.  I took a couple of things to work on, narrowing it down to Sereknitty and the Lydia Crescent Shawl.  Once I got going with Sereknitty, I stuck with that.  The end is nearly in sight - only 19 and a half rows to go!  Now I want to get that finished before I cast anything else on.  I change my mind about such things too many times. 

Tomorrow is a busy day.  Weekly shop in the morning and the cushion stuffing event in the afternoon.  I anticipate taking Mary-Jane to both.  I can't see me doing much cushion stuffing, but I will be there to support.  I was hoping to block my cushion, that is literally going to be a last minute thing.  I could do it tonight, but I want an early night.  Mary-Jane is awake, I can hear her on the monitor.  She has been awake and chattering to herself for nearly an hour.  It is unlike her to awake this time of night.  Perhaps she will have a lie in in the morning.  I think she has caught my lurgy as she has been coughing a little and sounds a bit chesty.  Calpol to the rescue.

Bowties, A Cold & A Puppy

I have finished Auntie Ann-In-America's bowtie neck warmer.  She is currently visiting my sister, so you can have first look at it!  I have previously made one for me in green.  And they do keep your neck warm!  I have not to decide what to do next.  I want to cast on a shawl, an EZ Surprise Jacket for me, a secret swap project.  I did decide last night what to do for the swap, then this evening, I come online and am confronted by a new pattern that is giving the chosen pattern a run for it's money.  Ho hum, that's the way the cookie crumbles.  It is Fobbles Knit & Natter tomorrow.  I need to sort my bag out, and take at least two projects, incase I want a break from one.  A Handy time to cast on and to do some more rows on Sereknitty, which I've not done for a week or two.  It is ideal for a Knit & Natter - garter stitch all the way.

Dance Star Mickey modelling the bowtie neck warmer on the kitchen table

I am feeling a bit better than yesterday.  My tum has had a few goes at churning today and making me feel queasy.  I have had my extra strong mints close by.  I am full of head cold as well.  I'm not feeling too bad in myself, in general.  All being well tomorrow I will feel strong enough to have a positive enough attitude to kick whatever lurgy this is that is trying to get hold of me!

We have had the news this evening that we are 'adopting' my sisters youngest dog, as it, amongst other things, is getting a bit much for her.  It is a pup of nearly seven months.  It should be arriving with us sometime Friday.  Should be eventful if nothing else.  Let's just hope it doesn't scare Mary-Jane too much, she was certainly more than wary of it at Christmas when it was barking at her.  We shall get used to it, I suppose.