Three wayside crosses 235m south east of Bosvathick

Overview

Location

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 not being in their original locations, the three wayside crosses 235m south east of Bosvathick survive comparatively well and are each subtly different in terms of size and decoration. Together they form an interesting group within a garden, and their relocation here has ensured their continued survival.

Details

The monument includes three wayside crosses, set into a rockery close to the drive and beside a pool, in the grounds of Bosvathick. All three crosses survive as earthfast ,decorated wheel-headed crosses on various lengths of rectangular section shafts. The first cross stands to approximately1m high. Its head is decorated on the front with a Latin cross in relief and with a similar incised-outline of a cross on the rear. It was moved to the garden from Trewoon, although its original location is unknown. The second cross is 0.9m high. Its head is decorated on both sides by an equal-armed cross in relief. It was moved to the garden from nearby Bosvarren where it once stood in a field. The third cross measures up to 0.7m high. Its head is decorated on the front with an equal armed cross in relief, and to the reverse with an incised similarly shaped cross. This cross was also brought from Trewoon although its original location is not known.

Sources: HER:- PastScape Monument No:-427716

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

CO 197

Legacy System:

RSM - OCN

Legal

This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.