Historic cross turned the right way round after 'mistake' by Victorian stonemasons
It was a mistake made in stone by Victorian masons. But now, some 150 years later, it has finally been rectified.
An ancient cross is now the right way round – and taking a prime place in a church in the Yorkshire Wolds.
The Nunburnholme cross – a unique example of Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman stonemasonry all combined into one – is the East Riding's top Early Medieval stone sculpture.
The work of three sculptors, it probably dates from the tenth century AD and is a blend of Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian iconography.
It was discovered during restoration of St James Church in 1872-3, built into the former south porch and southwest wall of the nave.
It was then moved inside to the centre of the tower, but the two surviving pieces were reconstructed the wrong way round, probably by workmen choosing the easiest option in terms of stability
A spokesperson said it started out as an Anglo-Saxon outdoor preaching cross outside the church.
“It reflects a turbulent period in British history when the Vikings took over what is now Yorkshire and had their stronghold in York. The first carving was done competently by an Anglo Saxon stonemason around 850.
"The Viking carving is much cruder, but in a way is more interesting because it shows a scene where two figures from Norse mythology are eating parts of a dragon that they’ve just killed.
"Above it is the scene of a priest saying a Mass. Essentially it’s a way of explaining the new religion to the unconverted.
"To add to the mix there was a later carving added after the Normans arrived in 1066. But when St James was enlarged in the 13th century, the ancient cross was dismantled and used as construction material in the new build’s walls.
“It remained hidden until a major restoration in 1872, when pieces of the cross shaft were rediscovered and returned to their original use as a standing cross.
"However, Victorian workmen made a major error – they set the two pieces ‘back to front’, which is how they remained for another 150 years.
“The mistake was spotted in the 1970s but there was no opportunity to correct it until minor works to the church’s interior in 2025.
"The changes created more community space at the back of the building and included moving the cross into a new position and putting it back together the right way round.”
The work was done by expert on lime mortars and stonemason Nigel Copsey and stonemason and conservation specialist Sam Baxter with archaeological supervision by Nunburnholme resident Dr Peter Halkon.
The work was funded with a grant from Do It for East Yorkshire and the church’s fabric fund.
The church is open every day.