Halton Church and Anglo-Saxon Cross

Of St Wilfrid's Church, Halton, the tower is sixteenth-century: the rest was rebuilt by Paley and Austin 1876-77. The famous Anglo-Saxon cross was reconstructed from (quite sizeable) fragments in 1890. Its lower range is thought to show the story of Sigurd, his horse, and the dragon Fafnir: in one panel (on the right) he appears to be roasting the dragon’s heart on a spit.

Images © Meg Twycross 8 October 2009

For some more images, see the Cumbrian Churches website. See National Heritage List for England for further details.

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