Monument record 893 - Maiden's Cross

<1> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, 35/36 MHR 1940 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

"The Maiden" is referred to as the name of a gibbet in several places - perhaps Maiden's Cross near Alvanley is the base for a forest gallows

<2> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 5/23 (Report). SCH1934.

Plague Cross, probably medieval, sandstone. A stone block trapezoidal in plan (long side at back) approximately 0.70 x 0.50 metres rising 0.30 metres above ground. A camber-headed chamber (as used during plague quarantine for the exchange of goods and money) cut into front face of stone.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ57SW6/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

A probable socket stone of a wayside cross, 0.8m square, socket 0.35 square, lying on its side in a hedge -bank. No trace was found of a base.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 25711 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<5> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 25711 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

Cross base known as Maiden's Cross. The base is a large block of local sandstone and has a square slot carved in the side facing west. This side used to be the top and so the slot from the socket hole for the cross shaft.

In 1995 (the year of scheduling) the block was buried to halfway across the socle and the exposed base measures 0.85m wide, 0.48m deep and 0.45m high. The whole was worn but complete.

The cross base stands in it original location beside the road and on the parish boundary.

Maidens Cross base has lost a shaft and been tipped over on its side. The base survives in good condition and it is in its original location as both a wayside cross and a marker for the old boundary between Alvanley and Manley. Such a survival in Cheshire is rare.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.492 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> County Historic Environment Record, Site Visit/Watching Brief Observation Report Form, 16.06.04 (Unpublished Document). SCH4357.

Site visit showed it to be in good condition, though heavily overgrown.

<8> AAA Archaeological Advisors, 2005, The Maiden's Cross, Alvanley, Vale Royal; Report of an Archaeological Assessment and Recording. (Client Report). SCH4720.

Cross is almost certainly medieval, one of a number of wayside crosses in Cheshire and lies on the parish boundary between Alvanley and Manley.

The fact that the cross base has been tipped over has led to speculation that this was a deliberate act dating from wither the dissolution of the monasteries or Puritan iconoclasm during the English Civil war.. Also speculation that the cross was used as a plague stone as has been recorded in Derbyshire.

Archaeological assessment of the site following vehicular damage. The conclusion of this report is that the cross was thrown down sometime after 1910. The cross was originally placed in the Hedgebank which forms the parish boundary, Prio to the construction of a new field entrance within 2metrees of the cross base, the corss had been protected by the height of the revetted hedgebank.