Legs Cross
54°35′50″N 1°40′51″W / 54.5972°N 1.6808°W
Legs Cross is an
Anglo-Saxon cross in the parish of Bolam, County Durham, England, about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Piercebridge on the Pilgrims' Way (the modern B6275 and the old Roman road of Dere Street). It is a Grade II* listed structure,[1] and a scheduled monument.[2]
It was probably erected in the 9th century.[1][2]
The sandstone cross is now eroded to an 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in) high obelisk-like structure, on a triangular base.[2][3] Some interlaced patterning remains.[4]
Although it once had an inscription reading "LEGS X", which was chiselled off post 1966, giving rise to the name.Roman fort) and that the inscription may have originally celebrated the 20th Legion (LEGIONIS).[citation needed]
Other theories for the origin of name include the fact that "legge" is the
James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) rested here, with his legs crossed, on his way south to claim the English throne.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Historic England. "LEGS CROSS (1323020)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Historic England. "Legs Cross (1018638)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Legg's Cros". Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Legs Cross, Bolam, Durham". The Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ISBN 9780300095999.
- ^ Chambers, Robert (1830). The Life of King James the First: In Two Volumes, Volume 2. Constable. p. 21.
External links
Media related to Legs Cross at Wikimedia Commons