page_title: Stone crosses in Cornwall
section_title: Crosses in Lesnewth hundred
hierarchical_section_title: Stone crosses in Cornwall / Crosses in Lesnewth hundred
caption_attribution_description: English: St Nonna's Celtic Cross at Altarnun Dating back to the 6th century and probably still in the same situation for over 1400 years.
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 A - L
  In a field on the west side of the parish church of Advent stands a tall and elegant Cornish cross.
  Arthur Langdon (1896) records seven stone crosses in the parish of Altarnun, of which one is in the churchyard. A Celtic cross from the time of St Nonna is located by the church gate of Altarnun. This cross consists of a cross head resting on a stone base. Another cross is located at Two-gates by the road about half a mile (0.8 km) north of the church; it is locally known as "Short Cross" and is probably a fragment of what was once a taller stone. Other crosses are known as Sanctuary Cross, Halvana Cross, Occasiney Cross, Trekennick Cross, Tresmeak Cross and St Vincent's Mine Cross.
  Arthur Langdon (1896) records two Cornish crosses in the parish of Davidstow, one at Lambrenny and one at Trevivian.
  Forrabury and Minster: Outside the churchyard of Forrabury stands a Cornish cross (illustrated Fig. c3) which has been moved from its original site, which is likely to have been near the field called Cross Park. At Waterpit Down (in Minster parish on the road towards Launceston) are the remains of a cross probably from the 10th century.
  Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of seven stone crosses (illustrated Fig. c4 & c5) in the parish of Lanteglos-by-Camelford, including three at the rectory.
  There is a Cornish cross (illustrated Fig. c6) in Lesnewth churchyard which consists of an ancient cross head mounted on a modern shaft.
  Parishes M - W
  There is fine tall Cornish cross in the churchyard of Michaelstow. Its original location is unknown; until it was removed in 1883 it formed part of a series of steps up to the churchyard. There are three Cornish crosses and a cross base at Trevenning. In 1896 they were in Mr. Bastard's garden. Mr. Bastard had brought two of the crosses from part of Bodmin Moor in the parish of St Breward in 1888. Trevenning Cross (illustrated top right, no. 70) is at a road junction about one and a half miles northeast of St Tudy churchtown. It was found in the hedge some years before 1896 close to its present position by J. R. Collins of Bodmin.
  Arthur Langdon (1896) records five stone crosses in the parish of St Clether of which four are at the old manor house of Basill Barton.
  There are three Cornish crosses of early dating in the parish of St Juliot. There are two Cornish crosses in the churchyard. One of the crosses was originally sited at Anderton Mill, Lesnewth, but was brought here for preservation in 1852.
  There are two stone crosses in the parish of Tintagel; they have both been moved from their original positions. Aelnat's cross (illustrated Fig. 2) which was found at Trevillet and then moved to the Wharncliffe Arms Hotel at Trevena, is finely carved. The inscription can be read as 'Aelnat fecit hanc crucem pro anima sua' (Ælnat made this cross for [the good of] his soul) (the back of the stone has the names of the four evangelists): the name of this man is Saxon (together with Alfwy mentioned in 1086 he is the only Anglo-Saxon recorded in connection with the area). One of Thomas Hardy's poems, "By the runic stone" (1917) was interpreted by Evelyn Hardy as referring to Aelnat's cross. At a crossroads near Bossiney stands Hendra Cross or Pentaly Cross (towards Trevillet; illustrated Fig. c7): it has been moved from its former position due to road widening in 1959.
  There is an early Cornish cross in the churchyard of Trevalga.
  At Lower Youlton farm, Warbstow, is a Cornish cross in use as a footbridge; it has undergone much wear from foot passengers and its original location is unknown.
  Gallery
caption: Fig. c1: St Nonna's Cross
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