Hogback tombstone, Helmsley3D ModelNoAI
A ‘hogback’ style decorated grave marker on display in Church of All Saints, Helmsley, North Yorkshire. Hogbacks are fairly rare, and most English examples date from the 10th Century. It doesn’t seem they were in fashion very long. They often appear to represent a transition from old Norse beliefs to Christianity amongst the elite of the Anglo-Scandinavians living in England at the time. Some are stylised ‘houses’ placed over graves for the dead, and some have elaborate scenes depicting Norse religious stories carved on the sides.
This example was discovered in 1888 during restoration works on the church, built into part of the Norman walling. Re-use and subsequent rescue has damaged the sides so we don’t know if it originally had further decoration, but a wonderful carved interlacing plait survives on the top side.
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