Wayside cross 515m north east of Castle Farm

Reasons for Designation

Wayside crosses are one of several types of Christian cross erected during the medieval period, mostly from the 9th to 15th centuries AD. In addition to serving the function of reiterating and reinforcing the Christian faith amongst those who passed the cross and of reassuring the traveller, wayside crosses often fulfilled a role as waymarkers, especially in difficult and otherwise unmarked terrain. The crosses might be on regularly used routes linking ordinary settlements or on routes which might have a more specifically religious function, including providing access to religious sites for parishioners and funeral processions. Wayside crosses vary considerably in form and decoration but several regional types have been identified. The Cornish wayside crosses form one such group. The commonest type includes a round, or `wheel', head on the faces of which various forms of cross were carved. The design was sometimes supplemented with a relief figure of Christ. Less common forms include the `Latin' cross, where the cross-head itself is shaped within the arms of an unenclosed cross and, much rarer, the simple slab with a low-relief cross on both faces. Over 400 crosses of all types are recorded in Cornwall. Wayside crosses contribute significantly to our understanding of medieval routeways, settlement patterns and the development of sculptural traditions and their survival is somewhat differential because of periods of religious turbulence during the Reformation when many were subject to damage or partial destruction by iconoclasts. Despite being somewhat overgrown with scrub and brambles, the wayside cross 515m north east of Castle Farm survives well and has been in use as a boundary marker between three parishes for centuries. There is no evidence to suggest it has been moved and the presence of its socket stone suggests it remains in-situ making it a far more unusual survival. As such, it is likely to include archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its erection, longevity and date as well as its overall landscape context.

Details

The monument includes a wayside cross, known locally as the 'Cross and Hand', situated on Tregonetha Downs. It marks the meeting point of three parishes - St Columb, St Wenn and Roche. The cross survives as a decorated wheel-head on a rectangular-section shaft set into a socket stone. The whole stands to a height of approximately 2m and the head is decorated on both sides with a simple equal armed cross in relief. It stands beside the parish boundary ditch and appears to be in-situ.

The cross is Listed Grade II (70956).

Sources: HER:- PastScape Monument No:-430575

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

CO 219

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

End of official list entry

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