A Gazetteer of Anglo-Saxon and Viking Sites: County Durham and Northumberland - Softcover

A Gazetteer Of Anglo-Saxon & Viking Sites: County Durham & Northumberland aims to be a comprehensive guide to places, artefacts and material of Anglo-Saxon and Viking interest in County Durham and Northumberland (pre 1974 borders). Four sites in Roxburghshire are included because of their proximity to the Northumberland border. PART 1 provides background material to put the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings into their historical context, plus a glossary of terms, plans and features of Anglo-Saxon churches, and features relating to crossheads, cross-shafts, grave covers and grave markers. PART 2 identifies 123 "sites" with the aim of enabling the reader to know exactly what they are looking for and where exactly to look: there is a site index. In alphabetical order and divided into County Durham, Northumberland and The Borders (Roxburghshire), each entry is: Star rated to indicate the quality of what there is to see and how easy it is to find. Precisely located and described, including measurements and descriptions of decoration where appropriate.

For over 35 years the author has travelled and researched extensively in the UK. His first publications were concise guides to historic Orkney and Shetland, and Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, covering places of interest from prehistory to the twentieth century. In the last 20 years he has focussed on the Anglo-Saxon period producing gazetteers of Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian sites as indicate above, as well as "The Combined Anglo-Saxon Chronicles: A Ready-Reference Abridged Chronology" a single narrative in chronological order of the information provided in the extant manuscripts identifying in the process the source manuscripts. His books are for those readers who wish to learn more about Anglo-Saxon church architecture and Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian stone sculpture. Intended for the student and non-specialist alike, as well as those who already have some knowledge of the subjects covered, it bridges the divide between an academic approach and that of the interested general public. The aim is to provide an informed introduction to the subjects so that the reader will be able to confidently recognise Anglo-Saxon church architectural features and Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian stone sculpture. The contents, including illustrations and photographs, all meticulously checked on site, are drawn from the author's extensive research and travels over many years. All the sites mentioned have been personally visited and assessed by the author.