There will be a session on stone monuments and the conversion of the landscape in the upcoming ‘Converting Landscapes’ Colloquium in which Meggen Gondek and Cecilia Ljung will be speaking. This Colloquium is organised by the Converting the Isles Network at Bangor University, 22-23 March 2013. Register here.
Category Archives: cross
Excursion to Cumbria: a little bit of a taster
We thought it might be nice to take a look at the provisional itinerary for the optional fieldtrip, which follows the workshop next year in Chester.
The trip takes in some beautiful landscapes on the outskirts of the Lake District in the county of Cumbria. It will include a visit to Gosforth, Penrith and an overnight at St Bees.
This is our provisional timetable but is subject to change.
Wednesday 10th of April
- Leave Chester 9.30am
- Halton, Lancashire – churchyard cross
- Lunch stop in Ulverston, Cumbria
- Great Urswick (cross)
Great Urswick Runes
- Pennington church (tbc) (cross)
- Waberthwaite (cross shaft)
- Gosforth (crosses, hogbacks)
Gosforth Cross
Gosforth Hogbacks
We plan to stop at the Seacote Hotel in St Bees. To see more info about the hotel please click here. Note: we intend to group book the rooms, so please do not make your own reservation.
The Seacote Hotel, St Bees
Thursday 11th April
- St Bees priory
St Bees Priory
- St Bridget’s Church, near Brigham (tbc)
- St Bridget’s church, Bridekirk
- Lunch and hogbacks at Penrith
- Stop at Mayburgh Henge, Penrith
Mayburgh Henge
- Return to Chester via Manchester Airport (if needed)
Network organisers head to Chester, April 2012
The first weekend of April, Cecilia and I met up in Chester with Meggen Gondek and Jo Kirton to discuss the next meeting of the Network. After a fruitful meeting, which generated many ideas for the conference and for the Network itself, we were treated to a fieldtrip. Despite going on holiday the next day, Prof. Howard Williams took us all on a guided tour to visit Offa’s Dyke, Wat’s Dyke and the Pillar of Eliseg. It was especially interesting to hear more about the archaeological research that Jo and Howard have undertaken there in recent years. Project Eliseg on Youtube
The next morning we got to see a bit more of Chester’s archaeological richness. We visited the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre and St Johns Church, which is right next to it and houses a collection of medieval decoration cross heads as well as grave slabs.
We can’t wait to return to Chester for the conference in April 20123, and look forward to more stimulating discussions, searching out the Roman mosaics and hypocaust that are hidden in cafés and shops, visiting more Medieval sculpture and churches, and the undoubtedly lovely places Meggen and Jo will take us to eat and drink, whether on the river bank in the sun or in a cosy pub. We hope to see you all there!
