Parts of the church are thought to date from the 12th century although the main tower is from 1901 by Temple Moore.
During repairs in 1827 this stone depicting a dragon attacking a horse/cow/panther (opinions vary)Â was discovered under the floor, it is thought to be Anglo-Saxon.
A stone coffin was also found under the floor at the same time.
Anglo-Saxon Dragon, St Oswalds, Newton under Roseberry
Show on map
Hi Chris
Regarding the carving, although the beast that the dragon is attacking does have a rather bovine appearance, Tom Scott Burns interpretted it as a dragon attacking a panther.
http://teessidepsychogeography.wordpress.com/category/roseberry-topping/
If that’s a Panther then the Dragon must be an Elephant. It has as much similarity as the first.
Handale serpent attacking a cow?