St. Sannan's Churchayrd Cross, Bedwellty

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of a free standing cross in the churchyard of St. Sannan's church, Bedwellty. It is a partially restored medieval cross. It comprises three rubble-built steps 2.8m square at ground level, surmounted by a square socket-stone 0.77m wide by 0.38m high, with large grooved and broached stops at the corners. The socket-stone supports a chamfered sun-dial shaft 0.95m high, 0.33m wide at the base, tapering to 0.22m at the top. The sun-dial shaft dates to 1722 and an inscription on the east face of the socket-stone records its restoration in 1925. The cross was recorded in its current position since in 1893.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the organisation and practice of Christianity. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A cross may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.