Cross-slab (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

Affixed to a rubble stone wall beside a holy well (CL035-157----) and overshadowed by trees. Situated c. 45m to S of ecclesiastical enclosure (CL035-022001-) containing a medieval church (CL035-022002-), an early 18th-century church (CL035-022003-), graveyard (CL035-022004-) and a castle site (CL035-022005-). In good condition, albeit covered in a light algae due to its location in shade, under tree cover. An ex-situ cross-slab (H 0.95m; min. Wth 0.2m; max. Wth 0.39m; T 0.08m) is set in an upright position and is slightly wider at top than at base, having a crude trapezoidal shape in plan. The decorative elements consist of a Maltese cross with four deeply incised shafts, with the lower shaft resembling more of a barbed arrow shape. The Maltese cross is enclosed in a circle, the lower portion of which is incomplete, whereby the arc turns to left and right, forming two scrolls. These scrolls continue down the narrower portion of the slab, where three further pairs of scrolls are formed either side of a central linear shaft which is very thin. A number of geometric shapes in the lower right-hand corner may represent mason’s marks. The original location of the cross-slab is unknown but it may have been associated with the nearby ecclesiastical complex.

The following images have been uploaded:

CL035-158----_01 Cross-slab affixed to wall adjacent to holy well (CL035-157----) from NNW.
CL035-158----_02 Front elevation of cross-slab affixed to wall of holy well from N.
CL035-158----_03 Close view of possible mason’s marks on lower right-hand corner of cross-slab from N.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney and Alison McQueen

Date of upload: 11 December 2017