Monument record 830/3/5 - The Nun's Grave Cross, Vale Royal Abbey

A sandstone cross approximately placed on the position of the high altar of Vale Royal Abbey Church and said to mark the grave of the nun, Ida. An amalgom of architectural fragments, base C14, shaft C17, head probably C15. Head is rectangular with cusped ogee-arched niches and figures. Around the cross are further fragments of moulded stone (1). A circle of trees was planted around the Nun's Grave in 1776.

In the centre of the site of the abbey church, on the presumed site of the original high altar, there is now a cross known as Nun's Grave, which has been rescued and re-erected. This is a later reconstruction of a medieval cross found on the site and is set up on a pedestal formed from fragments of church masonry (3).

GIS updated from SJ SJ 639 698 to the grid reference recorded in the Listed Building entry.(4)

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Report). SCH1934.

<2> Cholmondeley D, Notebook, Cholmondeley D (Unspecified Type). SCH2279.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), SAM 30398 1999 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), SAM 30398 1999 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<4> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Watson, M. 22/11/2017 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.