Monument record 1109/1/2 - Standing medieval cross 10m south of the nave of St Mary's Church

Base and part of shaft of a medieval standing cross in the churchyard of St Mary's church. Cross probably in original location 10m south of the south wall of the nave. Square gritstone base in two steps. 0.95m wide and 0.6m high. The socle measures 0.45m x 0.4m. Square shaft rising to octagonal 1.32m high. On top is sundial. Gnomon missing. Shaft is of better quality stone from base, suggesting base may be earlier. Gritstone of base is comparable to the stone used in carving the late Anglo-Saxon cross shafts which lie beside the west porch and therefore it may be much earlier than shaft. Its conversion into a sundial may indicate strong local reaction to iconoclasts of the Reformation (1).

<1> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), English Heritage 1999, 30395 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<1> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), English Heritage 1999, 30395 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.