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The Bewcastle Cross, dating from the 7th or 8th century, is one of the finest surviving monuments from the early Christian era in Britain. Originally this would have taken the form of a cross, but only the stem, over 4 metres high, remains.
©Oliver Dixon
©Les Hull
Bewcastle Web Site: There have been suggestions, based on the sun-dial on Bewcastle Cross, that there may have been a monastic cell in the remains of the Roman fort. The earliest recorded church dates from 1277, though only the east end remains. Building material was taken directly from the roman fort remains. The present church was rebuilt in 1792, and past rectors have included successful reivers, clearly identifying closely with their flock. Legend has it that only women were buried in Bewcastle - the men were hanged in Carlisle! The graveyard contains many interesting illustrations and the names of the more notable border reivers clans - Armstrong, Elliott, Nixon & Routledge, the oldest surviving dating from 1698. A full survey of the inscriptions is published on this website. The Bewcastle Cross is preserved in its original position, with a replica in the museum at Tulley House, Carlisle. A small museum is on the south side. The church was altered to its present form in 1901, and a millennium/centenary window added in 2001. Local guides, postcards and souvenirs are available inside the church. Saint Cuthbert's continues to bring parishioners and visitors together in worship, and the monthly newsletter contains times of the services
©Les Hull
©Mike Quinn
©Keith Salvesen
©Peter McDermott
©Keith Salvesen
See [[1833413]]. On the east face (in shadow) is one great vine scroll inhabited by beasts and birds.
©Mike Quinn
See [[1833413]].
©Mike Quinn
See [[1833413]].
©Mike Quinn
See [[1833413]]. The south face of the cross has three knot panels separated by two panels with vine scroll.
©Mike Quinn
Pevsner says (adapted): The Cross has lost its cross-head, but still stands 14 ft 6 in above the pedestal. What distinguishes it from all the other crosses in Cumbria is the sacred figures carved in it. At the bottom, in a shallow arched recess is St. John the Evangelist; then an inscription in runes commemorating King Alcfrith (died 670); then Christ stepping on the lion and the adder and holding a scroll in one hand; and then, in a rectangular recess, St. John the Baptist with the Agnus Dei. The quality throughout is amazingly high, even though not quite as high as in [[939546]] (photo by Lairich Rig) in Dumfries and Galloway. There is nothing as perfect as these two crosses and of a comparable date in the whole of Europe.
©Mike Quinn
See [[1833362]].
©Mike Quinn
A church was built in the late 13th C, but only the east end of the current church dates from then. The church was rebuilt in 1792, when it was shortened by removing 17 feet from the west end (nearest the camera), raised by 3 feet, and had the tower added. Further alterations were made at the beginning of the 20th C. {Source: Leaflet "Bewcastle - A brief historical sketch".}
©Mike Quinn
©Gordon Hull

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