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 having a more specifically religious
function, including those providing access to religious sites for parishioners
and funeral processions, or marking long-distance routes frequented on
pilgrimages.
Over 350 wayside crosses are known nationally, concentrated in south west
England throughout Cornwall and on Dartmoor where they form the commonest type
of stone cross. A small group also occurs on the North York Moors. Relatively
few examples have been recorded elsewhere and these are generally confined to
remote moorland locations.
Outside Cornwall almost all wayside crosses take the form of a `Latin' cross,
in which the cross-head itself is shaped within the projecting arms of an
unenclosed cross. In Cornwall wayside crosses vary considerably in form and
decoration. The commonest type includes a round, or `wheel', head on the faces
of which various forms of cross or related designs were carved in relief or
incised, the spaces between the cross arms possibly pierced. The design was
sometimes supplemented with a relief figure of Christ and the shaft might bear
decorative panels and motifs. Less common forms in Cornwall include the
`Latin' cross and, much rarer, the simple slab with a low relief cross on both
faces. Rare examples of wheel-head and slab-form crosses also occur within the
North York Moors group. Most wayside crosses have either a simple socketed
base or show no evidence for a separate base at all.
Wayside crosses contribute significantly to our understanding of medieval
religious customs and sculptural traditions and to our knowledge of medieval
routeways and settlement patterns. All wayside crosses which survive as earth-
fast monuments, except those which are extremely damaged and removed from
their original locations, are considered worthy of protection.
Details
The monument comprises a cross base and remains of a shaft in the corner of a
field at Carlton Miniott. It forms the boundary marker for three medieval
parishes.
The base is of fine yellow sandstone and measures 0.76m by 0.76m at ground
level. It stands 0.3m high and is well worn around the socket. The socket
hole measures 0.28m by 0.3m. The broken shaft is cemented into the socket.
It measures 0.26m by 0.24m and stands 0.77m high.
The cross shaft has some graffiti and a bullet hole on the west face. Other
signs of wear include smoothing of the edges where sickles have been
sharpened.
It stands 2m from the edge of a steep ditch and 10m from the north west corner
of the field, presently a campsite. The north and west sides of the field are
defined by a public right of way and the parish boundary of Carlton Miniott.
To the west is the parish of Sandhutton from which the cross takes its name.
The hedge boundary and the footbridge over the ditch are excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
25687
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
