Stone Cross

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A stone cross inside the W ditch of Carnanbane Road near Banagher old church.

A 1000mm high rough stone cross, much eroded with cross arms measuring 510mm overall. The face of the upright has a width of 250mm and the thickness varies because of erosion, roughly 100mm. There is a repair joint on the vertical shaft. The cross is mounted on top of ditch and protected by a metal railing with pedestrian gate.

Historical information

The cross is indicated on the O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1905. The O.S. Memoirs refers to it as “ a rudely executed stone cross”. John McCloskey in 1821 referred to it in the same terms. The cross is part of the Scheduled Monument in State Care referred to as Banagher Church. There is doubt as to the original position of the cross.
SMR No. LDY 30/29

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1905 Londonderry sh. 30.
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry X, 1833-34, 1838
Ed by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams, Q.U.B. p.6
3. HMSO Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland p. 126
4. J McCloskey, Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes p. 76

Secondary Source
1. Banagher History Group, Historic Monuments and Sites of Banagher p. 39

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Interesting remains of a mediaeval stone cross, neatly preserved and fenced off at the side of a ditch. It probably had associations with the nearby monastery.