Browse crosses

Grid Ref: SX 57889 66778          Map location: Click here to view map.

Purpose:  Possibly a waymarker or a boundary stone.

Size:  The length of the cross, above ground, is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 metres).  The width of the shaft is 18 inches (0.46 metres) and the depth is 15 inches (0.38 metres).  The top of its only arm is set 8 inches (0.20 metres) down from the top of the cross and protrudes out from the shaft by only 5 inches (0.13 metres).

Information: 

The cross was discovered by the Archaeology Unit of Plymouth University, led by Win Scutt and Ross Dean, in December 2009.  The unit were surveying a medieval settlement around the slopes of Gutter Tor and stumbled across this important find quite by accident, on the very last day of their survey.

The cross, which is thought to be around 6 feet 6 inches (2 metres) long protrudes from the ground at roughly a 45° angle.  A decorative groove has been incised along the whole length of the shaft.  In its current state, the cross has only one arm and this appears to be a lot shorter than it would originally have been.

Between the path, leading down from Gutter Tor, and the cross is another interesting relic.  This is a granite boulder, roughly round in shape, which has been hollowed out to a depth of a couple of inches.  It would appear as though it was an attempt at creating a round trough, a small apple crusher or, perhaps, a millstone for grinding corn.  No doubt it was connected with the medieval settlement and abandoned before the work on it was complete, perhaps due to a flaw in the stone.