Cross Base North West Of Lanercost Priory

The cross base located north-west of Lanercost Priory dates back to 1214 and is made of carved red sandstone. It features a stepped plinth, a chamfered square socket stone, and a fragment of the shaft that has carved decoration along its edges, although it is much weathered. The remaining part of the shaft, which is missing its cross head, was repurposed as a gravestone in 1657. When the nave was reroofed in the early 18th century, this gravestone was moved inside, where it can now be seen in the north aisle. A Latin inscription on the cross translates to: "In the 1214th year from the Incarnation and the seventh year of the Interdict, Innocent III holding the Apostolic See, Otto being Emperor in Germany, Philip of France, John King of England and William King of Scotland, this Cross was made." For further details, refer to John R.H. Moorman's work on Lanercost Priory from 1983, pages 16-17.