Very rare dedication stone recording the establishment of a Minster on the site of Saint Mary Castlegate in 10th or 11th century. Discovered within the east wall of church between 1868 and 1871. Guidelines can be seen between the lines of text similar to that found on the page of a manuscript.
It is inscribed with ‘MINSTER SE[TTON -]ARD 7 GRIM 7 AESE [:ON NAM]AN DRIHTNES H[-] CRISTES 7 S(AN)C(T)E C[-] C[-]TI 7 OMNIUM S(AN)C(T)OR[VM CPN]SECRATA : EST [:] AN [-]VIS IN VITA [:] ET [--- VISINVITA [:]-ET—‘[---] ARD AND Grim and AEse built (or founded) [this?] minster in the name of the Lord [ . . . ] Christ and St Mary and St Martin and St C[uthber?]t and all of the saints. It was consercrated [. . . ] in life [eternal?]—
The inscription records the names of the founders or building patrons of the church, the saints in whose name it was dedicated and perhaps also the date of it consecration.
Grim and Aese are of Scandinavian origin.