Detail of carved balusters & crane heads on the N side of the entrance to C7th Saxon porch of St Peter's monastic church, Monkwearmouth.

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Detail of carved balusters & crane heads on N side of entrance to Anglo-Saxon porch of St Peter's monastic church, Monkwearmouth, established AD674 by St Benedict Biscop & built by Frankish masons in Romanesque style. Biscop taught the young Venerable Bede here & the porch is also associated with St Ceolfrith & St Cuthbert. The intertwined beaks are a symbol of good order in a monastery but cranes also feature as mystical symbols & otherworldly creatures in pagan & Christian stories & are renowned for their courtship displays.

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Size: 3765px × 5057px
Location: St Peter's (with St Cuthbert) Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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