Monument record MDO8673 - Staple Cross, Christchurch

Medieval roadside cross located at the junction of five roads and on parish boundary. It has a circular pedestal base of two steps surmounted by a square stepped and chamfered socket stone - badly chipped. Into this is set a fragmentary shaft, 0.6m high, the head and arms of which are missing.

The remains of an ancient cross. I have known it, since I was a boy, as a 'Butter' cross. It has something to do with the Plague. A circular pedestal base of two steps surmounted by a square stepped and chamfered socket-stone - badly chipped on its west corner - into which is set a fragmentary shaft 0.6m high, the head and arms of which are now missing. Situated on a small mound 0.8m high at the junction of four roads, the parish boundary passes through it. <3>

The cross is as described but the mound has been completely levelled. Published 1:1250 revised. <4>

Roadside cross located at the junction of five roads and on parish boundary. It has a circular pedestal base of two steps surmounted by a square stepped and chamfered socket stone - badly chipped. Into this is set a fragmentary shaft, 0.6m high, the head and arms of which are missing. (1)

Now a scheduled ancient monument (Dorset 828) thought to be post-medieval in date. The structure was dismantled in 1946 but is now reset.

The second paragraph was taken from an English Hertiage field monument warden's report held at Dorset CC (Leech, P, 1987, FILE AA 60556/1)

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1931-38 (Map). SWX1540.

(SZ 17199380) Staple Cross (GT) (Remains of)

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Object Name Book reference revision, 1939 (Unpublished document). SDO17452.

<3> Woodhouse, W C, Various, Field Investigators Comments WCW, F1 WCW 15-JUL-54 (Unpublished document). SWX3798.

<3.1> Browner, G, Mr George Browner, FCS Local Antiquarian (Verbal communication). SDO20265.

<3.2> Wren, D F, Oral: Mr D F Wren (Farmer), Staplecross Farm, Christchurch, 15.7.54 (Verbal communication). SDO20266.

<4> Aldsworth, F G, Various, Field Investigators Comments FGA, F2 FGA 31-MAR-69 (Unpublished document). SWX1161.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458537 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 29 2024 4:20PM