Building record 1951/1/2 - Standing Cross in St Mary's Churchyard (Bruera)

In the churchyard at St Mary's, Bruera, are the remains of a stone cross, converted at a later date into a sundial. The shaft is dated 1693 & the head 1736, with the churchwardens initials (1).

Cross of red sandstone. Consists of a square socket stone with sides of 0.7m & 0.2m high, with lightly broached corners & slight moulding around its upper surface & part of the shaft. The square shaft has sides of 0.3m & stands to a height of 1.2m. It is surmounted by a small square head which contains 5 dowel holes, presumably sunk to hold the sundial which has now been removed (2).

The monument includes the remains of a standing cross immediately to the south of the south porch of St Mary's church, Bruera. The base and part of the shaft survive and have been converted into a sundial. The base is a single block of buff sandstone, square with slightly chamfered top edge measuring 0.75m wide x 0.3m high. The socket is smaller than the shaft fragment, providing a mortice and tenon connection. The shaft is also of buff sandstone, squared tapering slightly and rising from a roll moulding at the base. It measures 0.4m wide and 1.15m high. This is surmounted by a square capstone of a different type of sandstone which measures 0.3m wide by 0.2m high with a slight chamfer on the edges of the underside. This has been drilled for fitting a sundial now missing. On the west side the cap is inscribed TM JH CW and dated 1736. The shaft is inscribed WP HN CHURCHWARDENS 1693 on its west and north faces. The finely designed late medieval cross is important as an example of the liturgical and parochial functions of standing crosses of the period. The remains are also evidence of Catholic recusants attempts to rescue such monuments from the ravages of iconoclasts (4).

<1> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1947 /72 (Book). SCH2309.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46SW18/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 55/77 Crossley F H 1940 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), English Heritage 1999 SAM 32561 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), English Heritage 1999 SAM 32561 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.