Katherine CM Cross
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kcross.bsky.social
Katherine CM Cross
@kcross.bsky.social
1.6K followers 720 following 490 posts
Historian of the Early Middle Ages based in York.
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kcross.bsky.social
Astounded to learn that York’s statue of Constantine was commissioned because York was apparently suffering from ‘a dearth of great men’ in statue form…

castinstone.exeter.ac.uk/database/s/e...
Statue of Constantine the Great outside York Minster
December 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
kcross.bsky.social
A very packed York Unlocked weekend - my highlight was Thin Ice Press where I’ll definitely be returning!
My kids got to make some lovely prints:
A letterpress-printed poster saying YORK in green ink on top of yellow
September 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
kcross.bsky.social
Came across this lead tank at the Faith Museum, Bishop Auckland. Apparently it shows Sigurd the Dragon Slayer… but what was it used for? #vikingsky
Fragments from a lead tank, with wedge-shaped decorative panels showing human and animal figures
August 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
kcross.bsky.social
Checking out the stonework at @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social Viking North exhibition, including my absolute fave from Old Malton - gives us a glimpse of his forked beard and snake-headed seat
A collection of Viking Age stone sculpture presented within a museum display
July 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
kcross.bsky.social
Anglo-Scandinavian beast built into the church porch at Pickering. Check out those teeth (and the spiral tongue!)
Profile view of a stone beast head baring its teeth, with a spiral inside the mouth representing its tongue
July 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Proof-checking time… have to have my say on what a viking is!
Vikings in early medieval narratives:how an occupation became an ethnicity
June 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
kcross.bsky.social
A quick trip to see this stone at All Saints Church, Kirby Underdale this morning. Apparently it’s 2nd-3rd c and shows Mercury. Thoughts? And other examples of Roman stone displayed in churches?
A piece of carved sandstone built into a stone church wall. It depicts a frontal human figure holding something in each hand, and has a raised border. There is a small hole at the toe of one foot.
June 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Wonderful to hear Jane Hawkes give the 2025 Kirkdale Lecture this weekend. The Friends of St Gregory’s Minster host the lecture every year, and do so much to care for this historic church. Anyone can join: www.kirkdalechurches.org.uk/st-gregorys-...
St Gregory’s Minster, Kirkdale, in the sunshine, with a small white marquee outside.
May 19, 2025 at 7:48 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Of course my kid was the first to complete the public library / Jorvik reading challenge. Proud mother moment - but I’m ashamed to say I can’t figure out what these runes are meant to spell out… I’m terrible with runes, but what am I missing, #vikingsky?
Bookmark with 5 stickers, each containing the shape of a rune
November 30, 2024 at 7:07 PM
kcross.bsky.social
Happy St Edmund’s day! Here he is in a medieval mural at St Andrew’s, Stoke Dry.
Medieval wall painting uncovered on a church wall. St Edmund, stripped to the waist, wears a crown and his torso is studded with arrows. He is tied to a tree with three large leaves. Either side, hooded figures holding bows shoot at him.
November 20, 2024 at 8:17 PM
kcross.bsky.social
I was wondering when I’d find out my number…
September 18, 2024 at 2:43 PM
kcross.bsky.social
And here is the war memorial nearby in the churchyard, designed by Collingwood, taking inspiration from the Viking-Age crosses.
A ring-head cross on a tall stone shaft, decorated with interlace and vine scroll, on a stepped base. It is inscribed with the words: to the proud and grateful memory of the men of Penrith who gave their lives in the war 1914-1918.
August 29, 2024 at 11:47 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Hopelessly squinting at them to see what Collingwood saw 100 years ago
Framed sign reproducing drawings of Viking Age stones and ornament
August 27, 2024 at 9:19 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Visited the ‘Giant’s Grave’ in Penrith - a collection of Viking Age hogbacks and crosses that has been in the churchyard for at least 500 years
Four low stones with a large stone cross at each end, very worn and covered in moss. The stones stand in front of an 18th century red stone church
August 27, 2024 at 9:18 AM
kcross.bsky.social
New favourite place
A grassy path in front of some towering rock stacks
August 9, 2024 at 2:20 PM
kcross.bsky.social
From my daughter’s joke book (Ahlbergs’ Ha Ha Bonk book). Did kids in the 80s understand this, I wonder?
What’s purple and burns cakes? Alfred the Grape.
May 28, 2024 at 10:53 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Visiting churches this morning. I decided to stick to the rules and left my horse at the gate.
May 3, 2024 at 11:33 AM
kcross.bsky.social
You know you’ve got the best mother-in-law when she gives you a treasure chest full of chocolate Alfred the Greats (Alfreds the Great?)
A stylised medieval figure with helmet, sword and beard, made out of chocolate with a golden sheen
November 9, 2023 at 10:24 PM
kcross.bsky.social
Met a familiar figure on the book my kid wanted to read
November 4, 2023 at 8:51 AM
kcross.bsky.social
Selected cool stuff (poor photos, I know)
Photo of museum display case with a brooch: the label says ‘Bronze disc brooch of 10th or 11th century. Decorated in the Urnes style, with an entwined dragon-like creature. The brooch would have been used to fasten a shawl or cloak at the neck. Found during the construction of this Museum. Donated by Mr J. Rumball in 1846.’ Photo of a museum display case with lots of reflections. Inside is a sculpted human head. The label reads ‘Buddha head. Gandhara (present day N. Pakistan / E. Afghanistan), 4th - 5th century AD.’
November 2, 2023 at 10:19 PM