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AS IT CONTAINS MANY ILLUSTRATIONS
CROSSES AND CHURCHWAY PATHS
IN THE LAND’S END PENINSULA
TO VIEW ILLUSTRATIONS OF CROSSES AND CROSS BASES click here
THIS SERIES IS NOW COMPLETED
Volume One - St.Just-in-Penwith SOLD OUT
but an edited reprint is now available
Volume Two - Sennen and St.Levan SOLD OUT
Volume Four - Paul and Sancreed
Volume Seven - Lelant, St.Ives & Towednack
Volume Eight - Zennor and Conclusions of Cross Survey
All volumes printed in black and white in A4 format.
Although books and articles have been published on Cornish crosses very little work is available on their relationship with the landscape - churchway paths in particular. This volume is the first of several intended to cover the Land’s End Peninsula and includes a number of hitherto unpublished mid-19th century drawings of broken, moved and ‘lost’ crosses, as well as detailed maps and lists of relevant field names relating to crosses and churchways and their probable routes to the parish church from settlements recorded prior to 1400.
Many of these ancient routes, being an important part of West Cornwall’s unique heritage some probably going back to the late prehistoric period, now form part of today’s network of public rights of way and, as such, deserve far better attention from the authorities than they presently receive. It is hoped that these volumes will provide the necessary information for their conservation.
Volume One - ST.JUST IN PENWITH - with an Introduction to Settlement and Ownership of Land, Churchways and Field Names
This edition is now sold out but an edited reprint (without the Ordnance Survey maps and sketches by J.T.Blight) is now available.
Volume Two – SENNEN AND ST.LEVAN SOLD OUT
Published in February 2000 in A4 paperback format of 80 pages including over 65 maps, photographs and line illustrations, some by J.T.Blight (1850's) which have never been published before.
Volume Three - ST.BURYAN
Published in July 2000 in A4 paperback format of 94 pages including over 98 maps, photographs and line illustrations.
Volume Four - PAUL AND SANCREED
Published in April 2001 in A4 paperback format of 137 pages including over 125 maps, photographs and illustrations.
Volume Five - MADRON & MORVAH
Published in February 2002 in A4 paperback format of 122 pages including over 120 maps, photographs and illustrations.
Volume Six - GULVAL & LUDGVAN
Published in July 2002 in A4 paperback format of 94 pages including over 98 photographs and illustrations.
Volume Seven - LELANT, ST.IVES & TOWEDNACK
Published in November 2003 in usual A4 paperback format of 124 pages including over 120 black and white photographs, illustrations and maps.
Volume Eight - ZENNOR & CONCLUSIONS OF CROSS SURVEY
Published in July 2004 in usual A4 paperback format of 100 pages including over 120 black and white photographs, illustrations and maps.
" My starting point for discovering churchway paths was to record any field names pertaining to such paths and to ways. In addition I looked for names relating to crosses no longer in existence. Where a known footpath, lane or modern road crosses or adjoins a field with a churchway or cross name then I have taken that route to have been a churchway path, at least since the date of the Tithe Maps (c.1840's). Where a Grouse (Cornish for stone cross) field is crossed by a highway then I have taken this to indicate that an ancient stone cross did actually once stand in that field near the path. Prior to the late 17th century very few field names were recorded, so that churchway paths before that date can only be guessed at in relation to names recorded later and to various types of highway. Although routes undoubtedly altered over the centuries most hamlets and farms in the Land's End Peninsula were recorded before the middle of the 14th century and many, together with the parish churches, must have been built on settlement sites dating back before the Anglo-Saxon conquest of Cornwall in the 10th century, or even to the later prehistoric period." (extract from Vol.1 page 6)
In this part of Cornwall, as, indeed, throughout the whole county generally, the bodies are borne at funerals, sometimes for several miles, to the church.....along the heath covered and rocky hills, and though the sweet overshadowed lanes of the evergreen and fertile valleys of the county, the funeral procession, as it winds its way to the 'house appointed for all living', is oftentimes heard to break forth suddenly in a melancholy cadence, chanting a psalm or hymn when it halts on the way to the church, which may be several miles distant from the dwelling of the deceased, at others singing a monotonous dirge-like psalm, as the bearers move along what is called the Leitch, or Leech path, up to the church, the effect of which is exceedingly impressive." (19th century description taken from Vol.1 page 19)
"Stone crosses were used for a variety of purpose. Following pagan practice early Christians used special stones to sanctify crossing places - fords and bridges across streams and rivers, entrances into sacred enclosures, at cross-roads and property boundaries." (extract from Vol.1 page 28)
"Due to its coastal position the parish (Sennen) was vulnerable to attack by pirates when too many people were absent, so that the dead 'cannot without danger be borne to the said church (St.Buryan)'. The parishioners begged the Pope to be allowed to make a cemetery by the church and, although the Dean of St.Buryan objected that he would loose his mortuary fees, the Pope granted the petition." (extract from Vol.2 page 8)
"Blight made an ink drawing (c.1850's) of a tall cross standing outside the former blacksmith's shop at Chygwidden (- the only known representation of this cross: by Langdon's time (1890's) it had disappeared. Langdon enlisted the help of the vicar in an endeavour to discover its fate: two old inhabitants were found who both agreed that the cross was broken up 'many years ago' - possibly cut in two and used as the threshold of a cottage door." (extract from Vol.2 page 59 which includes a reproduction of Blight's sketch)
ILLUSTRATIONS OF CROSSES AND CROSS BASES
DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN THE ABOVE VOLUMES
(photographed over the past 15 years)
"In situ" refers to cross or cross base very close to or at its original site
ST.JUST SENNEN ST.LEVAN ST.BURYAN PAUL SANCREED MADRON MORVAH GULVAL LUDGVAN LELANT TOWEDNACK ST.IVES ZENNOR
|
REFERENCE & PRESENT LOCATION |
|
COMMENTS |
|
Gulval 01 Churchyard Gulval |
|
In situ? |
|
Gulval 02 Churchyard Gulval |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Gulval 03 Four Parish Stone |
|
In situ – recumbent rock with incised cross = Madron 6 = Morvah 1 = Zennor 7 |
|
Gulval 04 Bleu Bridge |
|
Inscribed stone without cross. In situ |
|
Gulval 05 Rosemorran |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Gulval 06 Bishops Head and Foot |
|
Lost cross = Towednack 5 = Zennor 14 |
|
Gulval 07 Churchtown |
------------ |
Possible lost cross? |
|
Lelant 01 Churchyard Lelant |
|
In situ? |
|
Lelant 02 Churchyard Lelant |
|
Moved from Lelant Downs via several locations |
|
Lelant 03 Churchyard Lelant |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Lelant 04 Cemetery (New) Lelant |
|
Moved from Church Lane |
|
Lelant 05 Cemetery (New) Lelant |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Lelant 06 Brunnion |
|
In situ |
|
Lelant 07 Church Lane Lelant |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Lelant 08 Gonwin |
------------ |
Possible lost shaft remains |
|
Lelant 09 Laity |
----------- |
Possible lost shaft remains |
|
Lelant 10 Churchtown Lelant |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Lelant 11 Lelant Saltings |
|
In situ |
|
Lelant 12 Laity |
------------ |
Missing cross |
|
Lelant 13 Trencrom |
------------ |
Missing cross base; relates to Lelant 2 |
|
Lelant 14 Trencrom |
------------ |
Possible missing cross |
|
Ludgvan 01 Churchyard Ludgvan |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Ludgvan 02 Churchyard Ludgvan |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Ludgvan 03 Churchyard Ludgvan |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Ludgvan 04 Church Belfry Ludgvan |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Ludgvan 05 Treassowe |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Ludgvan 06 Tregender |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Ludgvan 07 White Cross |
|
In situ? |
|
Madron 01 Churchyard Madron |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Madron 02 Church Madron |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Madron 03 Churchyard Madron |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Madron 04 Boswarthen |
|
In situ |
|
Madron 05 Buryas Bridge |
|
In situ |
|
Madron 06 close-up 4 Parish Stone |
|
In situ – recumbent rock = Morvah 1, Gulval 3, Zennor 7 |
|
Madron 07 Heamoor |
|
Moved short distance |
|
Madron 08 Heamoor |
------------ |
Base in situ (no photo) |
|
Madron 09 Heamoor/Poltair |
------------ |
Doubtful base? (no photo) |
|
Madron 10 Boscathnoe |
|
In situ |
|
Madron 11 Men Scryfa |
|
In situ |
|
Madron 12 Churchyard Newlyn |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
Madron 13 Parc-an-Growes |
|
In situ? |
|
Madron 14 Penlee Museum Penzance |
|
Moved from Greenmarket via several locations |
|
Madron 15 Churchyard St.Mary’s Penzance |
|
Moved from St.Anthony’s Chapel |
|
Madron 16 Trengwainton |
|
In situ |
|
Madron 17 Tremethick Cross |
|
Moved = Paul 16 |
|
Madron 18 Trereife |
|
Moved = Paul 15 |
|
Morvah 01 4 Parish Stone |
|
In situ – recumbent rock = Madron 6 = Gulval 3 = Zennor 7 |
|
Morvah 02 |
------------ |
Base missing, location unknown |
|
Paul 01 Churchyard Paul |
|
In situ |
|
Paul 02 Churchtown Paul |
|
In situ |
|
Paul 03 Halwyn |
 |
Moved short distance |
|
Paul 04 former location Halwyn |
|
Base moved to Paul 3 |
|
Paul 05 Kemyel Drea |
|
Moved short distance |
|
Paul 06 Kerris |
 |
Moved from Carnalanga |
|
Paul 07 Kerris |
|
Original location unknown |
|
Paul 08 Newlyn (Gwavas) |
|
Moved short distance |
|
Paul 09 Trungle |
|
In situ |
|
Paul 10 Tredavoe |
------------ |
Base missing (no photo) |
|
Paul 11 Mousehole (Harlowe) |
|
Probably modern |
|
Paul 12 Mousehole, Springfield |
------------ |
Cross missing (no photo) |
|
Paul 13 Kerris |
------------ |
Base missing (no photo) |
|
Paul 14 Castallack |
|
Moved, may belong to Paul 14 (Raginnis) |
|
Paul 15 former location |
|
Moved from Sheffield (Paul Down) = Madron 18 Trereife |
|
Paul 16 former location |
|
Moved from Sheffield (Roseanbeagle) = Madron 17 Tremethick Cross, |
|
Paul 17 Newlyn |
|
Moved from outside parish |
|
Sancreed 01 Churchyard Sancreed |
|
In situ |
|
Sancreed 02 Churchyard Sancreed |
|
Moved from unknown location. Base = Sancreed 11 |
|
Sancreed 03 Churchyard Sancreed |
|
Moved from Trannack |
|
Sancreed 04 Churchyard Sancreed |
|
Moved from Sellan |
|
Sancreed 05 Churchyard Sancreed |
|
Moved from Anjarden |
|
Sancreed 06 Brane |
|
In situ |
|
Sancreed 07 Drift |
 |
Moved short distance |
|
Sancreed 08 Trenuggo |
|
Moved from unknown location nearby |
|
Sancreed 09 Penryn |
------------ |
Cross moved to Penryn (no photo) |
|
Sancreed 10 |
|
= moved from unknown location in Sancreed to St.Just Vicarage |
|
Sancreed 11 Treganhoe |
------------ |
Base moved, used for Sancreed 2 |
|
Sancreed 12 Boslow |
------------ |
Possible cross missing = St.Just 12 |
|
Sancreed 13 Catchall/Trenuggo |
------------ |
Broken cross missing. Base may be Sancreed 14 |
|
Sancreed 14 Catchall/Trenuggo |
------------ |
Base missing. May relate to Sancreed 13 |
|
Sancreed 15 Sellan |
------------ |
Base missing |
|
Sancreed 16 |
------------ |
Missing from unknown location |
|
Sennen 01a Churchyard Sennen |
|
Moved from Trevear |
|
Sennen 01a former location |
 |
|
|
Sennen 01b Churchyard Sennen |
|
Moved from near Giants Grave |
|
Sennen 01b former location |
 |
|
|
Sennen 02 Brew |
|
Unearthed nearby and placed in modern base |
|
Sennen 03 former location |
|
Moved from Escalls to Carn Towan (no photo) |
|
Sennen 04 Mayon Sennen Green |
|
In situ |
|
Sennen 05 Trevescan |
|
Moved a short distance |
|
Sennen 06 Trevilley |
|
In situ - base by side of cross |
|
Sennen 07 former location |
|
Moved = St.Just 9b |
|
Sennen 08 Treve |
------------ |
Base missing but probably once belonged to Sennen 1a |
|
St.Buryan 01 Churchyard St.Buryan |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 02 Churchtown St.Buryan |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 03 Alsia |
|
Moved from near Alsia Well? |
|
St.Buryan 04 Alsia |
 |
May belong to St.Buryan 3? |
|
St.Buryan 05 Boskenna |
|
In situ in modern base |
|
St.Buryan 06 Boskenna Stile |
|
In situ on modern shaft |
|
St.Buryan 07 Boskenna Gate |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 08 Choone |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 09 Crows-an-Wra |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 10 Merry Maidens |
|
Probably moved slightly from St.Buryan 11 |
|
St.Buryan 11 Merry Maidens |
|
In situ, probably belongs to St.Buryan 10 |
|
St.Buryan 12 Tregurnow |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 13 Penberth (private garden) |
------------ |
Cross from unknown location (no photo) |
|
St.Buryan 14 Pendrea |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 15 Pendrea |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 16 Trevorian |
 |
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 17 Trevorian |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 18 Trevorgans |
|
Moved from No Man’s land, now in modern base |
|
St.Buryan 19 Higher Trevorian |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
St.Buryan 20 Vellansaga |
|
In situ |
|
St.Buryan 21 Alsia Mill |
------------ |
Cross and base missing |
|
St.Buryan 22 Trelew |
------------ |
Base missing |
|
St.Buryan 23 Lower Leah |
------------ |
Possible cross missing |
|
St.Buryan 24 No Man’s Land |
|
Cross missing |
|
St.Ives 01 Churchyard St.Ives |
|
In situ? |
|
St.Ives 02 Halsetown |
|
Moved from unknown location |
|
St.Ives 03 Penbeagle |
|
In situ? |
|
St.Ives 04 Trowan |
|
Probable shaft remains at stile |
|
St.Ives 05 Ayr |
------------ |
Cross missing |
|
St.Ives 06 Carn Crowze |
------------ |
Cross missing |
|
St.Just 01a Church St.Just |
|
Original location unknown |
|
St.Just 01b Church St.Just |
|
Original location unknown |
|
St.Just 01c Church Entrance |
|
Back in situ after several moves - original base missing |
|
St.Just 01d By side of church porch |
 |
Moved from No-Go.By = St.Just 16 |
|
St.Just 02a Bosorne Road |
|
Broken base |
|
St.Just 02b Built into cottage by St.Just church |
|
Doubtful piece of cross shaft |
|
St.Just 02c St.Just South Place |
------------ |
Boundary stone? (no photo) |
|
St.Just 03 Boslow |
|
In situ |
|
St.Just 04 Leswidden |
|
In situ |
|
St.Just 05 Gurland |
------------ |
Possible missing cross base (no photo) |
|
St.Just 06 Nanquidno |
|
Moved from near Nanjulian chapel |
|
St.Just 06 former location of base |
|
Cross base pieces moved from churchway fields to Nanquidno Cross |
|
St.Just 07 Churchyard Pendeen |
 |
Moved from Portheras Cross |
|
St.Just 07 former location |
|
|
|
St.Just 08 Cape Cornwall Chapel |
|
Moved from unknown location nearby |
|
St.Just 09a Boscean Hotel |
|
Moved - possibly from Grouse Hill |
|
St.Just 09b Boscean Hotel |
|
Moved = Sennen 7 |
|
|
