St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Tregaer

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. Mary's church, Tregaer. It has three ashlar-built steps 2.40m square at ground level with moulded edges. The lowest steps are deeply chamfered on the underside and their risers are carved into three panels with overhanging wave moulding. The central panels on the north and south sides have the inscription "I.H.S.". The upper two steps have reeded moulding on the edges and the riser of the second step is concave in profile. The steps are surmounted by a square-octagonal socket-stone 0.63m wide by 0.50m high with large pyramid stops at the corners. The octagonal medieval cross-shaft survives to a height of 1.01m, is 0.20m wide at the base, tapering to 0.17m at the top and has short pyramid stops at the base. A modern cross-head is dated 1926. The cross was recorded in its current position 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.