page_title: Stone crosses in Cornwall
section_title: Crosses in Penwith hundred
hierarchical_section_title: Stone crosses in Cornwall / Crosses in Penwith hundred
caption_attribution_description: English: Cross on St Michael's Mount
context_page_description: Wayside crosses and Celtic inscribed stones are found in Cornwall in large numbers; the inscribed stones are thought to be earlier in date than the crosses and are a product of Celtic Christian society. It is likely that the crosses represent a development from the inscribed stones but nothing is certain about the dating of them. In the late Middle Ages it is likely that their erection was very common. Since they occur in locations of various types, e.g. by the wayside, in churchyards, and in moorlands. Those by roadsides and on moorlands were doubtless intended as rout markings. A few may have served as boundary stones, and others like the wayside shrines found in Catholic European countries. Crosses to which inscriptions have been added must have been memorial stones. According to W. G. V. Balchin "The crosses are either plain or ornamented, invariably carved in granite, and the great majority are of the wheel-headed Celtic type." Their distribution shows a greater concentration in west Cornwall and a gradual diminution further east and further north. In the extreme northeast none are found because it had been settled by West Saxons.
context_section_description: Parishes C - G
  Camborne churchyard (illustrated Fig. d10) contains a number of crosses collected from nearby sites: the finest is one found in a well at Crane in 1896 but already known from William Borlase's account of it when it was at Fenton-ear. Arthur Langdon (1896) records six crosses in the parish, including two at Pendarves (Troon), two at Trevu and one outside the Institute. One of the Pendarves crosses was found in a ditch on the estate and then set up near the house. It has a crude crucifixus figure on the front and a Latin cross on the back. The other is a cross head found in the kitchen garden at Pendarves.
  There are four Cornish crosses in the parish of Crowan; one cross is at Praze-an-Beeble and three are at Clowance. The original location of the Praze cross is unknown. Two of the Clowance crosses have a cross on one side and a crude crucifixus figure on the other; one formerly stood at Bold Gate on Clowance Down and the other at Binnerton Cross. The third cross is curiously ornamented on the front and back of the shaft; it formerly stood at the northwest corner of Nine Maidens' Down.
  There is a Cornish cross at Rosemorran, Gulval; on the front of the head is a crude crucifixus figure and on the back is a cross of unusual shape (the only similar one is at Lelant).
  There are three Cornish crosses in the parish of Gwinear; one on Connor Down and two in the churchyard. One of those in the churchyard was brought there from a road junction about half a mile east of the churchtown.
  There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of Gwithian. (See also fig. d11, below)
  Parishes I - P
  The Cornish cross in the churchyard of Illogan is probably in situ. It is Grade II listed.
  Arthur Langdon (1896) records eight stone crosses in the parish of Lelant, of which four are in the churchyard (two crosses: illustrated Fig. d12 & d13); the other crosses are at Brunian Cairn, Lelant Lane, Sea Lane and the churchtown. Three of the crosses are Grade II* listed as "Stone cross in churchyard, immediately south of St Uny's Church", "Stone cross in furthermost southern churchyard south of St Uny's Church" and "Stone cross in western cemetery (at crossing of paths) west of St Uny's Church". See also Fig. d14.
  There are four Cornish crosses in the parish of Ludgvan; one is at Crowlas (illustrated Fig. d17), another at White Cross (this has a cross on one side of the head and a crude crucifixus figure on the other; illustrated Fig. d2 above right) and two are in the churchyard (illustrated Fig. d15 & d16).
  Arthur Langdon (1896) records eight stone crosses in the parish of Madron, of which one is in the churchyard (illustrated Fig. d18) and one is at Heamoor (illustrated Fig. d4). The others are at Boscathnoe (illustrated Fig. d21), Boswarthen (illustrated Fig. d19), Parc-an-Growse, Trembath Cross (illustrated Fig. d20) and Trengwainton Carn. Tremethick, Tremathick or Trereife cross (illustrated Fig. 21a) is a stone Latin cross which was brought to Tremethick Cross from Rose-an-Beagle in the parish of Paul. There is a Cornish cross by the road near the churchyard of Newlyn; it was found at Trereiffe about 1870 and much later placed near the church by the Rev. W. L. Lach-Szyrma.
  Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of five stone crosses in the parish of Paul. One is at Carlankan, one at Halwyn and one at St Paul Down. There are also crosses in the vicarage hedge and on the churchyard wall; the former is a short shaft and unpierced wheel-head with a Greek cross in relief. and the latter is the head of a pierced wheel-head cross with a figure of Christ in relief on one side and five bosses on the other. (illustrated Fig. d22; the latter has a crude crucifixus figure on one side). See also the cross at Kemyel Drea illustrated Fig. d23.
  Penlee Cross is a large granite cross situated outside Penlee House at Penzance; it dates from the 11th century and has been moved, on at least three occasions, and its original location being the Green Market in Penzance.
  Arthur G. Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of six stone crosses in the parish o
caption: Fig. d9: one of the crosses on St Michael's Mount
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