Reasons for Designation
Cross fragments of this form, related to the High Cross tradition are rare
nationally, with only 50 examples surviving in England. These two examples
are particularly unusual in occurring well away from the main concentrations
of such monuments in the north of England. Indeed they are the only
surviving examples of late 9th century crosses in Cornwall and their form is
considered to owe bore to the development of the local traditions of memorial
stones than to the growth of the more elaborate high crosses in the north.
The interlace decoration survives reasonably well on both crosses, however it
is the survival of the inscription on one cross which is of particular
importance. This is one of only two inscribed stones bearing the name of a
Cornish king, and the only one featuring a character known also from
documentary sources; thus it assists any historical as well as archaeological
study of early medieval Cornwall.
The site is considered to retain much valuable information on the form of the
original setting of the crosses and in particular their relationship to the
underground chamber known to underlie the site.
Details
The monument includes two erect granite cross shaft fragments, both bearing
decoration in later 9th century styles and one bearing an inscribed panel,
and an underground passage and chamber terminating beneath the crosses. The
cross shafts stand on a N-S axis, centred 2m apart, and are of rectangular
section. The northern cross, termed the `Doniert Stone', stands 1.37m high
and is 0.91m by 0.61m at the base. Panels of interlace decoration are carved
into its N, W and S faces; the E face bears the carved inscription `doniert
rogavit pro anima' in lower case cursive script. The upper end of this stone
is deeply mortised and a plinth surrounds the base. The inscription on this
stone has been associated with the local ruler `Dumgarth/Dwingarth', who is
recorded as being drowned c.AD 875. The southern cross, sometimes called
the `Other Half Stone', stands 2.1m high and is 0.61m by 0.43m at the base.
It bears a panel of interlace decoration on its E face; its W face is
irregularly fractured and a broken mortise slot is visible at its upper end.
A plinth occurs shortly above the base, below which the surfaces appear
unworked. Exploratory excavation has revealed an underground rock-cut
passage starting c.8m SE of the crosses and aligned towards them, becoming a
tunnel after c.3.7m, and terminating as a cruciform chamber beneath the
crosses.
The monument is situated near the side of a road on the W flank of a low hill
overlooking the River Fowey, in an area of enclosed pasture bordering the SE
edge of Bodmin Moor.
The English Heritage information notice, the Cornish hedge bounding the area
in care and the granite seat set into that hedge are excluded from the
scheduling, but the land beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
15001
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
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 Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
