Monument record MDO47992 - Medieval cross, Fair Cross, Wilton Drive, Wyke Regis, Weymouth

Bowles Barrett, William, 1910, Letter from William Bowles Barrett to Alfred Pope, dated 28 March 1910 (Verbal communication). SDO20711.

‘ANCIENT CROSS AT "FAIRCROSS”, WYKE REGIS. WEYMOUTH. 28th March, 1910

Dear Mr Pope,

When I had the pleasure of seeing you at Smith Court, I referred to an interesting Cross which I discovered some 30 years ago, between Weymouth and Wyke Regis (the only Cross which we have hereabouts) and which is unmentioned in your book. You might like to have a few particulars of it.

It lay prostrate, in the ditch of a field on the north side of, and close to the high road leading from Weymouth to the village of Wyke Regis, just at the south-east corner of the Gardener’s Lodge attached to Mr. R.C. Watt’s house, "Nettlecombe”. It was commonly known as "The half mile stone”, being about half a mile distant from Weymouth.

The field in which the cross lay is called "Faircross”: it belonged to the late Col. Owen Swaffield. I, having mentioned the find to the late Mr. John Vincent, Col. Swaffield, at his request, gave the Cross to him. It is now well cared for in the garden in front of his residence, named (from the field) "Faircross”.

There was anciently a Fraternity or Guild at Wyke Regis. Possibly the cross was erected by the Fraternity.

Henry III granted a Fair and Market to Wyke Regis. No tradition exists as to its locality, but I doubt not that the Fair was held in the field called ‘Faircross’ - a large level piece of land, better suited probably, for the purpose than any other land in the Parish. I wonder whether this field took its name from the Fair, or from the "fair” Cross which stood there?
Neither of our local records makes any reference to this Cross. As Hutchins (History of Dorset) does not mention it, it may be assumed that it was lying prostrate and unnoticed when he wrote (A.D. 1774).

Yours etc.,
W. Bowles Barrett’

Record last edited

Jun 26 2024 12:28PM