Leeds Cross facts for kids
The Leeds Cross is a very old stone cross. It was made from pieces of stone sculpture. These pieces were put back together to form the cross you see today. Experts believe it was carved around 1000 years ago, in the 10th century.
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What is the Leeds Cross?
The Leeds Cross is a tall stone monument. It is an important example of Anglo-Saxon art. Anglo-Saxons were people who lived in England a long time ago. The cross shows amazing carvings. These carvings include figures from the Bible and detailed patterns. It also tells a famous old story.
Where was it found?
The pieces of the Leeds Cross were found in 1838. They were discovered inside the walls of Leeds Parish Church. At that time, the old church tower was being taken down. A person named Robert Chantrell, who designed buildings, noticed the carved stones. He saw that some of them could be put together to make a cross.
What does it show?
The cross has carvings of the four Evangelists. These are important figures from the Christian Bible. They are surrounded by special patterns. These patterns are called interlaced decoration. They were very popular in the 10th and 11th centuries. The cross stands inside Leeds Minster today. It is a valuable piece of history.
- The Leeds Cross.
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Leeds Cross, face A (north face).
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Leeds Cross faces A (wide face, orientated north) and B (narrow face, orientated west).
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Leeds Cross faces B (narrow face, west) and C (broad face, south).
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Leeds Cross, face D (east face).
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Leeds Cross, panel Ai (north face, top panel). The upper third of the panel is a modern reconstruction, and the cross at the top may not originally have belonged to the shaft.
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Leeds Cross, panel Aii (north face, second panel from top), depicting a holy figure. The left-hand half is a modern reconstruction.
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Leeds Cross, panel Aiii (north face, panel 3 from the top).
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Leeds Cross, panel Aiv (north face, bottom panel), depicting a figure with a sword on the right hand and a bird on the left shoulder.
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Leeds Cross, panel Ci (south face, top panel). The ornament above the figure is a modern reconstruction. The cross may not originally have belonged to the shaft. The figure is of a holy man.
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Leeds Cross panel Cii (south face, second from bottom), depicting a holy figure. The top-right quarter is a modern reconstruction.
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Leeds Cross panel Ciii, depicting Weland/Vǫlundr (below, strapped into wings, with tools at his feet) holding Beaduhild/Bǫðvildr (above, at a right angle to Weland). The bottom left quadrant is a modern reconstruction.
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The Story of Weland and Beaduhild
One of the most interesting carvings on the cross shows a legendary smith. A smith is someone who works with metal. This smith is named Weland. He is a famous character from old stories. The carving also shows Beaduhild. She is the mother of Weland's child. This carving is one of the best examples of this story found in Yorkshire from the 10th century.
Images for kids
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Leeds Cross panel Ciii, depicting Weland/Vǫlundr (below, strapped into wings, with tools at his feet) holding Beaduhild/Bǫðvildr (above, at a right angle to Weland). The bottom left quadrant is a modern reconstruction.
