Butter Cross 350m north west of Yewtree Cottage

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.

The Butter Cross 350m north west of Yewtree Cottage is a good example of a medieval wayside standing cross with a circular socket stone and a rare, well preserved decorated head. It is believed to stand in its original position, and limited development in the area immediately surrounding the cross suggests that archaeological deposits relating to the monument's construction in this location are likely to survive intact. The cross's roadside location ensures its continuing function as a public monument and amenity.

Details

The monument includes the Butter Cross, a standing stone cross situated on the verge at the south west approach to a small crossroads, approximately 1.5km north west of Alveley village centre. The cross, which is medieval in date, was erected to mark the crossroads, and includes a base, shaft and head. It is Listed Grade II. The circular base is a single block of red sandstone, with a slightly convex surface, measuring c.1.2m in diameter and standing 0.24m high. The shaft and head are formed of a single piece of sandstone, and are 1.7m high in total. The shaft is square in section and c.0.2m wide at the base, with slightly chamfered corners, rising to the head which is an oblate circle, 0.45m across and 0.4m high. The shaft is set slightly off centre and the north and south faces of the head are each decorated in low relief with a `Maltese' cross, with central boss and expanded arm terminals, which occupies the whole face. The sides of the shaft and head taper, measuring 0.16m at the base of the head, and c.0.08m at the top. The modern road surface to the south east of the cross is excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath it is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 1 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

27534

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
4th list, DOE, Listed building description, (1974)

End of official list entry

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