Monument record 1248/1/2 - Standing Cross at St Wilfred's Churchyard

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 58413 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Cross base. Massive square sandstone block which passes to an octagon with spurs. Square socket partly occupied by a chamfered square shaft, much weathered, which may have once carried a cross. A sundial plate (gnomon broken) is now attached to top.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ78SE4/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 30397 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument includes a sandstone cross base and part of a cross shaft on the southern side of St Wilfred's Church. The top of the shaft fragment has been levelled to take the plate for a sundial. The base is a single square block of sandstone measuring 0.85m wide and standing 0.45m high. It has spurs cut at each top corner to create springing for an octangonal shaft. The socketis 0.43m wide and contains the central portion of an octagonal shaft 0.48m high. On the top is a sundial gnomon missing. The cross is probably in its original position on the south side of the Chancel although it has been disturbed by the roots of a large yew tree which grows 3m from the base. The cross is a notable monument of its type and an example of Catholic recusants saving part of the sculpture from destruction.