Monument record 1631 - The Bowstones - Saxon Cross Shafts

<1> Various, Antiquity, Vol.11 p.294-9 Phillips C W (Journal/Periodical). SCH299.

Two late Anglian Cross shafts set in a single massive base stone. Each has a fillet around its top and traces of interlaced ornament which seems to indicate an Anglian date, probably not later than the 10th century. The name relates to the tradition that Robin Hood's men strung their bows here. The crosses are, in part, comparable with a group of stones in the North of England which Collingwood dated as pre-Norman (see 9).

<2> North Staffordshire Field Club, 1917-60, Transactions of the North Staffordshire Field Club, Vol.80 (1945) p.39 Pape T (Journal/Periodical). SCH3533.

Post-Norman and a degenerate type of the Clulow Cross.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 22589 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument is the Bow Stones, two Anglian cross shafts located on Higher Moor beside the old ridgeway between Disley and Macclesfield. It includes a pair of cylindrical late Anglian cross shafts set in a single base stone. The western cross shaft measures 1.22m high and is 1.25m in circumference at the base, tapering to 0.86m in circumference at the top. The eastern cross shaft measures 0.98m high and is 1.27m in circumference. Both shafts have a cordon, or rounded stone moulding, near the top with interlaced decoration above, indicating a date not later than the 10th century. Both shafts have lost their heads, although it is thought that two stone cross-heads now at nearby Lyme Hall may be these. Both shafts have post-medieval lettering carved into them. They are known as the 'Bow Stones' because of a local folk tradition that Robin Hood and his followers re-strung their bows near here.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p.290 (Book). SCH3556.

These may be the pillars belonging to the cross heads at Lyme (CHER 1630) and the cross base at Disley (CHER 1636).

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ98SE 10 - 1966 (Index). SCH2487.

Includes photo.

<6> Earwaker, J P, 1877-1880, East Cheshire Past & Present, Vol.II p.313-4 (Book). SCH1080.

<7> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Sidebottom P 16/02/1994 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

It is highly unlikely that these are the pillars for the crossheads at Lyme Hall, as suggested by Victoria County History (see 4). The dimensions of the shafts are not compatible with those of the crossheads. The Lyme Hall pieces are also heavily blackened by industrial pollution, whereas the Bowstones don't show the same weathering and it is therefore unlikely that the two sets of monuments were located close together until relatively recently.

<8> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, no.278 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<9> Collingwood W G, 1927, Northumbrian Crosses of the Pre-Norman Age, p.5-8 (Book). SCH2259.

<10> Peak District National Park Archaeology Service, Various, Scheduled Ancient Monument Monitoring Form (Unpublished Document). SCH4989.

The cross shafts were visited four times between 2005 to 2014 as part of a programme of scheduled monument condition monitoring undertaken by the Peak District National Park. Comments made include that the stones are protected by a fenced enclosure accessed by a wooden step over stile. No threat was perceived to the condition of the stones.