Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, &c./Part 1/Burnley Cross and the Demon Pigs

BURNLEY CROSS AND THE DEMON PIGS.

Godly Lane Cross, stands in a small plantation a few hundred yards from the Old Market Place of Burnley. It is evidently of great antiquity, and most probably has been removed from the churchyard to its present site. Like those at Whalley and Dewsbury, this Saxon relic is supposed to commemorate the preaching of Paulinus, the first Christian missionary in these parts, about the year 597. The cross has been of large size, and from what remains, it may be inferred that it has been bound by simple fillets, terminating at the apex in a spiral form. Dr Whitaker is inclined to attach considerable weight to the above supposition, from the fact, that a neighbouring field retains the name of "Bishop Leap." The tradition is, that prior to the foundation of any church in Burnley, religious rites were celebrated on the spot where this ancient cross now stands, and that Paulinus baptized his converts in the River Brun. Upon the attempt being made to erect an oratory, the materials were nightly removed by supernatural agents, in the form of pigs, to where St Peter's Church now stands. This popular opinion probably owes its origin to an ancient mural tablet, or escutcheon, yet remaining on the south side of the steeple. Its principal charge bears some resemblance to a pig; but was probably originally intended to represent the Paschal Lamb, since it appears to be surrounded by rude representations of the instruments of the Passion. A similar charge is also sculptured on the old font.

---