Context (Related Documents)
1886.34.1-2 was drawn by Edward Ventris, Chaplain at Cambridge Castle, in one piece, with the following caption: 'Lid of a Stone Coffin dug up on the site of Cambridge Castle. 1843'. The illustration is held in the Richard Relhan collection, University Library (classmark Views/Relhan/72).
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Field collection)
In The Archaeological Journal, A. Way notes that 'the slab here represented [1886.34.1-2] was dug up more recently [than 1810], 10 or 12 feet from the foundation of the castle, to the south. It lay outside the castle, in gravel, at a depth of about 6 feet, and in the direction of north and south' (p. 202). In his article, Cyril Fox believes that it was 'probably buried under the material heaped up to form the counterscarp of the rampart' (p. 21). Edward Ventris' drawing gives the date of discovery as 1843.
Event Date 1843
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
Way, A. (1855). 'Antiquities and Works of Art Exhibited (13 April 1855)'. The Archaeological Journal, vol. 12. pp. 201-202 (figured)
Event Date 1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Display)
This grave cover is now in two pieces (1886.34.1 and 1886.34.2). It may have been excavated in two pieces, but it appears to have been mounted and displayed as one when it was housed in the vestibule of the Fitzwilliam Museum from at least 1855 until 1886 (as illustrated in The Archaeological Journal).
Event Date 1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Display)
According to The Archaeological Journal, a drawing of the complete grave slab (1886.34.1-2) was displayed by Albert Way at the 13 April 1855 meeting (illustration reproduced in the journal).
Event Date 13/4/1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Other)
Whilst exhibiting the recently donated cross head (1886.33) at a meeting of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society on 26 October 1885, the Rev. G.F. Browne also discussed this grave cover (1886.34.1-2). He notes that it is not the slab illustrated in the Manual of Sepulchral Slabs' by Mr Cutts, which is in fact reproduced from Kerrich's engraving of a similar object. He also notes that it 'deserves a more protected position' than the portico of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Shortly thereafter the Fitzwilliam transferred 1886.34.1-2 to the museum.
Event Date 26/10/1885
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Accession Register for 1886.34: 'An early Saxon body [left blank, but presumably meant to read 'slab' or 'stone']
Event Date 1886
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Display)
According to the 1887 Annual Report, shortly after their acquisition 'three strong shelves have been fitted to the eastern wall [of the Antiquarian Gallery] for the temporary accommodation of the Saxon body-stone [1886.34.1-2], cross-head [1886.33], casts, etc.' (p. 1)
Event Date 1887
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
(1888). 'October 26, 1885 Meeting'. Report of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. vol. 6.2 pp. lvii-lix.
Event Date 1888
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
(1888-1889) Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. Vol. VII. p. 17.
Event Date 1889
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
Fox, Cyril. (1921). 'Anglo-Saxon Monumental Sculpture in the Cambridge District'. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, Vol. xxiii, p. 15-45. Pl. III (no. 1).
Event Date 1921
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
(1959) An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of Cambridge. Vol. II. H.M.S.O.: London. p. 304-306.
Event Date 1959
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
Royal Commission on the historical Monuments of England. (1959). 'An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of Cambridge: Part I.' London: H.M.S.O. Pl. 28.ii
Event Date 1959
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
Points, Guy. (2017). A Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon & Anglo-Scandinavian Sites: Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire. Rihtspell Publishing: London. pp. 74-77
Event Date 2017
Author: Annie McKay

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Context (Amendments / updates)
Original Short Description read as 'Early Saxon body stone' indicating that the Period field should have 'Early Saxon' included, however Guy Points has dated the grave cover to late 10th or early 11th century, which corresponds with the existing period given as 'Late Saxon'. As a result of this, 'Early Saxon' has been removed from the Period field and Short Description.
Event Date 19/7/2018
Author: Annie McKay

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Description (Physical description)
The lower portion of a grave cover (upper portion is 1886.34.1) with some damage to one side. The central motif is a U-shaped cross, with interlace patterns on either side; the centre of the U is undecorated. Reverse is plain.
Event Date 14/8/2019
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
The lower portion of a grave cover (upper portion is 1886.34.1). Raised arch shaped motif at the base with central longitudinal pillar protruding form the top of the arch, with interlace patterns on either side; the centre of the U is undecorated. Reverse is plain. Some damage to one side.
Event Date 21/5/2021
Author: Emily Shorter

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Context (References)
Everson, Paul and Stocker, David. 2023. Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture. Volume XIV: Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 173-176, Ill. 63, 65 (Cambridge Castle 2b)
Event Date 2023
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Analysis)
Everson and Stocker (2023, p.175) description of 1886.34.1-2 (Cambridge Castle 2): 'a near-complete example of a highly decorated, late Anglo-Scandinavian tapered grave-cover of the Fenland grave-cover group from the Barnack quarries... Consequently it belongs to a large group of nearly 100 broadly similar monuments... and it represents the most complete example of sub-group 2. This is one of the most complete and impressive members of the entire Fenland grave-cover group surviving today.'
Event Date 2023
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)