Legs Cross

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 scheduled as an ancient monument.[2]

Legs Cross

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 "LEG", giving rise to the name.[3] It has been suggested that the cross was constructed from Roman masonry (nearby Piercebridge was once the site of a Roman fort) and that the inscription may have originally celebrated the 20th Legion (LEGIONIS).

Other theories for the origin of name include the fact that "legge" is the Anglo-Saxon word meaning "boundary."[1][5] It has been also suggested that 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
  1. Historic England. "LEGS CROSS (1323020)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. Historic England. "Legs Cross (1018638)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. "Legg's Cros". Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  4. "Legs Cross, Bolam, Durham". The Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  5. Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, Elizabeth (1983). County Durham. Yale University Press. p. 68. ISBN 9780300095999.
  6. Chambers, Robert (1830). The Life of King James the First: In Two Volumes, Volume 2. Constable. p. 21.

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