Listed Building record MDO6143 - Churchyard Cross 2 Metres South of Tower of Almer Church, Sturminster Marshall

The cross at Almer has now been moved to a point adjacent to the south-east side of the church and the apparent top of the cross is laid against the church wall near it. Mrs. Carfrae, the tenant of Almer Manor, near the original site, pointed out a portion of stone near the side entrance of her house which she believed was also part of the cross. Other stones skirting the drive of Almer Manor have come mainly from old window mullions. <2>

The cross (Photo 'A') is situated on the churchyard at SY 91329892, and comprises a socket stone, 0.8m square and 0.4m deep which has a slighly more weathered appearance then the octagonal shaft, 1.3m high. The apparent "top of the cross" (Photo 'A' & 'B') mentioned by Authy 2, is of hexagonal shape but does not appear to be part of the cross. The portion of stone near the side entrance of Almer Manor (Photo 'C') (circa SY 914989) consists of a near circular head carved on one side, with a 'shaft', standing in the ground to a height of 0.6m. It certainly bears no resemblance to any part of the cross, as believed by Authy 2, but may have come from an earlier building at Almer Manor. <4>

The cross is described by RCHM as the "Churchyard Cross", near the west porch of the church, with a tapered octagonal shaft set on an octagonal base,of circa 1400 date. They also refer to the hexagonal stone as being "loose in the churchyard". This was evidently the base of the former 13th century font from the church, the bowl of which is now used as the base of the present font. <6>

The cross survives near the south angle of the church, in good condition; the hexagonal font base lies beside it. See ground photograph. Cross correctly positioned on 1:2500 MSD. <7>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 91439896) Cross (NR) (Remains of) (NAT)

<2> Avenell, A E, 1952, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Letter from A E Avenell, Chief Surveyor 1st November 1952 (Verbal communication). SDO18288.

<4> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 04-NOV-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 91439896) Cross (NR) (Site of) (NAT)

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1 (Monograph). SDO146.

‘(1) The Parish Church of St. Mary … Churchyard Crosses: W.S.W. of tower, (1) tapered shaft with moulded angles, set on chamfered octagonal base with shaped spurs, 14th-century.‘

<7> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 1981-02-11 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457219 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 9 2022 4:02PM