Monument record MDO3813 - Churchyard cross, Fifehead Magdalen

The base of a stone cross stands in the churchyard. <1>

Five yards south of the church porch is the socket stone of what was once the village cross, and from its size it must have been of considerable importance. It is of Ham Hill stone, and was found buried face downwards in soil during a survey for church restoration. <3>

(SY7829219) The churchyard cross at Fifehead Magdalen is located 3 yards south of the parish church chancel. The reset base stone of a cross shaft of 15th century origin.The stone is approxinmately 2' 6" square and 1' 9" high, the top edge being chamfered. The lower base stone and ahsft ae fairly modern. <4>

Only the square socket stone is original, with sides of 0.8m and a height of 0.5mand is as described by authy. 1. The 8-pointed star shaped base bears the inscription "This cross was erected on this ancient base AD 1911". The present shaft of square section has sides of 0.3m. <5>

The plinth of this heavily restored cross bears the inscription as noted by Authy.5. This appears to be the date at which it as moved from its original position (Authy 2) to its present position (Authy.6.) Repositioned on 1:2500 AM at ST78292159. <7>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1873, The history and antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 4. 3rd edition (Monograph). SDO10245.

‘The base of a stone cross stands in the churchyard.’

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch two (Map). SDO11594.

(ST78282158) Cross (NR) (rems of) (NAT)

<3> Pope, A, 1906, Old Stone Crosses of Dorset, 47-8 (Bibliographic reference). SWX1408.

‘Five yards south of the church porch is the socket stone of what was once the village cross, and from its size it must have been of considerable importance. It is of Ham Hill stone, and was found buried face downwards in soil during a survey for church restoration.’

<4> RCHM Mss file (Unpublished document). SWX2467.

‘(SY7829219) The churchyard cross at Fifehead Magdalen is located 3 yards south of the parish church chancel. The reset base stone of a cross shaft of 15th century origin. The stone is approximately 2' 6" square and 1' 9" high, the top edge being chamfered. The lower base stone and shaft are fairly modern.’

<5> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 27-Jul-1955 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

‘Only the square socket stone is original, with sides of 0.8m and a height of 0.5m and is as described by authy. 1. The 8-pointed star shaped base bears the inscription "This cross was erected on this ancient base AD 1911". The present shaft of square section has sides of 0.3m.’

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 20 (Monograph). SDO99.

'Churchyard Cross: S.E. of chancel, with chamfered stone base with shafted angles, 15th century, reset on modern plinth and with modern shaft and head.'

<7> Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F1 ASP ASP 28-Jul-1977 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

'The plinth of this heavily restored cross bears the inscription as noted by Authy.4. This appears to be the date at which it as moved from its original position (Authy 5) to its present position (Authy.6.) Repositioned on 1:2500 AM at ST78292159.'

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1410407 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 8:05PM