Monument record 880/1/2 - Cross Base and Shaft in St Helen's Churchyard

A cross base and shaft in the St Helen’s churchyard. C15th or C16th. Comprising a red sandstone ashlar square base dying via broaches to an octagonal body with a similarly moulded cross shaft above (1).
In 1976 OS recorded a socket stone of red sandstone 0.9m x 0.8m x 0.45m high, with a fragment of shaft of yellow sandstone 0.9m high and 0.35m square. As they are of different materials they may belong to separate crosses. The shaft is surmounted by a sundial (2).
Sundial also listed by Crossley (3).
Medieval cross with part of shaft. Base is single block of red sandstone set in soil. Block is squared, each side is 0.9m long and 0.37m high. Socle is 0.42m sq with a part of the original shaft leaded into it. Shaft is square at base rising to octagonal through simple broaches and is 0.9m high. It is levelled at top for sundial fittings, which are missing. Plate of S side to Rev Walter Hughes who died 1931. Probably this is the date when cross converted to sundial (4).

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /3/70 (Report). SCH1934.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ56SE2 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 55/78 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), 30371 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<4> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 30371 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.470 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.