Scheduled Monument: WAYSIDE CROSS KNOWN AS ECCLES CROSS (1012159)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION Wayside crosses are one of several types of Christian cross erected during the medieval period, mostly from the 9th to 15th centuries AD. In addition to serving the function of reiterating and reinforcing the Christian faith amongst those who passed the cross and of reassuring the traveller, wayside crosses often fulfilled a role as waymarkers, especially in difficult and otherwise unmarked terrain. The crosses might be on regularly used routes linking ordinary settlements or on routes having a more specifically religious function, including those providing access to religious sites for parishioners and funeral processions, or marking long-distance routes frequented on pilgrimages. Over 350 wayside crosses are known nationally, concentrated in south west England throughout Cornwall and on Dartmoor where they form the commonest type of stone cross. A small group also occurs on the North York Moors. Relatively few examples have been recorded elsewhere and these are generally confined to remote moorland locations. Outside Cornwall almost all wayside crosses take the form of a `Latin' cross, in which the cross-head itself is shaped within the projecting arms of an unenclosed cross. In Cornwall wayside crosses vary considerably in form and decoration. The commonest type includes a round, or `wheel', head on the faces of which various forms of cross or related designs were carved in relief or incised, the spaces between the cross arms possibly pierced. The design was sometimes supplemented with a relief figure of Christ and the shaft might bear decorative panels and motifs. Less common forms in Cornwall include the `Latin' cross and, much rarer, the simple slab with a low relief cross on both faces. Rare examples of wheel-head and slab-form crosses also occur within the North York Moors group. Most wayside crosses have either a simple socketed base or show no evidence for a separate base at all. Wayside crosses contribute significantly to our understanding of medieval religious customs and sculptural traditions and to our knowledge of medieval routeways and settlement patterns. All wayside crosses which survive as earth- fast monuments, except those which are extremely damaged and removed from their original locations, are considered worthy of protection. Eccles Cross is a good example of a documented wayside cross which, although no longer in its original location, is important due to its good state of preservation. DETAILS The monument includes the remains of a medieval wayside cross currently located in St Peter's churchyard approximately 2m north of the church. The remains include the socle or socket stone of the cross and the stump of its shaft. The remainder of the shaft and the cross head are now missing, possibly due to post-medieval religious iconoclasm. The socle comprises a 50cm high dressed gritstone block with an octagonal upper section and a square lower section with a base diameter of approximately 70cm. The upper section has pyramidal stops on alternate faces. The shaft stump is also approximately 50cm tall and is octagonal with narrow pyramidal stops and a 20cm square base. The cross is known as Eccles Cross and is believed to be the cross which formerly stood on high ground c.500m south east of the churchyard, next to the lane past Eccles House Farm. The name `Eccles' indicates that the cross was related to the church and, in its original location, it is believed to have marked the intersection of medieval trackways leading to the church from Bradwell in the south and Brough in the east. It is recorded as being of 13th century date and was removed to the churchyard in 1966. SELECTED SOURCES Book Reference - Type: SMR - Description: Derbyshire SMR (PRN 8115) Book Reference - Author: Angela Shackleton Hill - Date: 1994 - Type: PHOTO - Description: On EH file