Traces of external patterns produced by using rocks of different lithologies and colour, which are displayed on the faces of a number of Anglo-Saxon church walls, are identified and briefly detailed. In certain early church walls of ashlar, such as those at Escomb (Durham), patterns are determined by using the stones in different bedding orientations. These patterns, together with stone cut backs, the vertical bedding orientation of rocks set in quoins, pilasters and arch jambs and long accepted Anglo-Saxon features such as long-and-short quoins and Escomb-style jambs, distinguish a distinctive fashion in stone use. It is suggested that this stonework was intended to be observed, for no certain evidence of external render can be discovered. In order that the style may be distinguished beyond the domain of the Anglo-Saxons it is tentatively described as ‘Patterned’.
John Patrick Potter (Sat,) studied this question.