Monument record MDO45181 - St Johns Cross, Shaftesbury

The cross now at the east end of the abbey church is thought to be St John's cross, documented in 1472-3, and which formerly stood in the middle of the roadway near St Martin's Church. 14th century with later restoration.

St. John's Cross: Near the east end of St. Martin's church is an open place where many ways meet. "In the centre of these street stood St. John's Cross, so called from the chantry of St. John within the monastery".

The cross is mentioned in a roll of court leet in 1472-73.

A praying cross which now stands in the garden of St. John's Cottage, near which is the site of St. John's Church and churchyard. In 1906 the cross had been moved within living memory, and formerly stood in the corner of the churchyard. It is a question whether this is the St. John's Cross mentioned by Hutchins. If so it has been moved a considerable distance from its original site, and its removal and new position not noticed by Hutchins.

The cross, as re-erected and restored, consists of three square steps, some of which are modern, a massive socket stone with the traces of two figures, and a square tapering shaft with alabaster carved panels. The shaft is surmounted by a Latin cross The whole edifice is of Ham Hill stone, and is about 10ft. high. Mr. Doran Webb puts the date as 14th century. <1-2>

ST 86182291. The 14th century wayside cross from Angel Square where the Post Office now stands. It is the only known Gothic cross with alabaster plaques, the two remaining represent, below; God the Father holding the crucified Christ between his knees, while two Angel's catch the sacred Blood in a cup, above; the Head of John the Baptist on a charger held between two Saints, usually St. Peter, and St. Wilfred of York. The slot in the right hand side of the shaft probably held some relic. <3>

The cross in the east end of the Abbey Church and has a modern calvary of three steps.

The socket stone is 0.8m. square x 0.4m. high with a chamfered top edge. On the east side it has been cut into where presumably a panel of some sort was fixed. The shaft is 0.25m. square at base, becoming octagonal about, and is 2.1m. high. Two alabaster panels are in the west side. (Original site at ST 86462302 deduced from evidence in Authy <3>). <4>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 3. 3rd edition, 5, 8 (Monograph). SDO11486.

<2> Pope, A, 1906, Old Stone Crosses of Dorset, 97-100 (Bibliographic reference). SWX1408.

<3> L. Sydenham, 1953, The Town and Abbey of Shaftesbury, 45 (Monograph). SDO18011.

<4> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 01-FEB-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206462 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2023 2:59PM