Monument record MDO1338 - Medieval cross, Leigh

A stone cross of medieval date situated at a road junction. It consists of the remains of a square stone cross shaft set into an octagonal pedestal with moulded top. The surviving cross shaft is about 5 feet high and has the remains of figures set under flat canopies; one of the figures is thought to represent St George. It dates from the fifteenth century.

A cross situated at a road-fork 350 yds east of the church. The socket stone, square at the base and octagonal on top, supports a probable 15th century shaft, carved and tapering, about 5 ft high, surmounted by a modern cross. <2>

Set upon tiers of modern masonry is a 14th century cross socket stone still containing two inches of the original shaft on which is mounted a curiously carved tapering shaft of probable 13th century work. The cross is a modern Latin cross. <3>

The socket stone is 0.9m square at the base and 0.5m high. The shaft, carved and tapering but with the figures very much weathered, appears to be of the same material as the socket-stone but may have been put to some other use before being remounted; it is doubtfully 13th century. The cross is modern. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch two (Map). SDO11594.

(ST 62100860) Cross (NR)

<2> Pope, A, 1906, Old Stone Crosses of Dorset (Bibliographic reference). SWX1408.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 131 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(2) CROSS (Plate 12) at the road-fork, 350 yards E. of the church, consists of an octagonal pedestal with a moulded top and a square shaft about 5 ft. high. The sides have remains of figures in low relief set under flat canopies, but on one face the carving has been tooled away; one figure is probably St. George and the dragon, a second is of a man in a short tunic. The shaft dates from the 15th century and has a modern cross on the top.'

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 07-SEP-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F2 ASP 27-OCT-77 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

No change since report of 7 9 55; published 1:2500 survey correct.

<6> Dorset County Council, 1978, Countryside Treasures in Dorset: West Dorset District, 77 (Monograph). SDO12366.

‘Stone Cross. In Churchyard SE of Church a much dilapidated base of a 14th Century Cross of Ham Hill stone, probably part of a preaching Cross. 618086.’

<7> English Heritage, English Heritage Schedule Entry, 18/11/1996 (Scheduling record). SDO17387.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 198809 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 18 2024 1:52PM