Medieval Cross Slab Grave Covers

Cross slabs are recumbent grave stones which generally bear a full length cross and are usually the size and shape of a coffin lid. They were in widespread use before the Norman Conquest but the two in St. Mary’s are of post-Conquest medieval date. The crosses on cross slabs take on a wide variety of forms, which provide the best evidence of the date of the slab. Slabs in the North were often accompanied by emblems giving some information as to the rank or occupation of the deceased, inscriptions are less common. The most common emblem is the sword and clearly denotes a male burial. The next most common emblem is the shears and shows a female burial. Shears were the medieval equivalent of kitchen scissors. Unfortunatley the slabs in Rockcliffe do not show any emblems. The use of cross slabs seems to reach its peak in the 12th and 13th centuries, after which other monument forms became increasingly popular, at least for the higher ranks of society. The poorer continued to use cross slabs until they stopped abruptly in the 16th century by the religious and political storms of the Reformation.

The Slabs in St. Mary’s

1. A late 12th or early 13th century slab, now beginning to flake and also lacking its base. The cross head has four bracelets or broken or circles set at 45 degrees to the usual manner, and carved in relief within a sunken circle, whilst the shaft is incised, the edges are roll-moulded edge.
2. This is the upper part of the late 12th century slab with a cross head of four broken circles or bracelets. It is carved in relief within a sunken panel that may have been square rather than the usual circle, the tapering shaft is incised and now badly worn.
3. There is also a red sandstone slab, 48 cm by 38 cm, bearing a relief carved design of a pair of either trees or stylised crosses, with foliage and fruit springing from them and birds perched in the branches. AT the foot of the right tree a cross is a pitcher flanked by two coiled serpents. It is not known if this was part of a sepulchre monumment but its proportions suggest that it could have formed one end of a box tomb.