Wayside crosses and
Celtic inscribed stone
Celtic inscribed stones are stone monuments dating from 400 to 1000 AD which have inscriptions in Celtic or Latin text. These can be written in Ogham or Roman letters. Some stones have both Ogham and Roman inscriptions. The stones are found in Ire ...
s are found in
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlan ...
in large numbers; the inscribed stones (about 40 in number) are thought to be earlier in date than the crosses and are a product of
Celtic Christian
Celtic Christianity ( kw, Kristoneth; cy, Cristnogaeth; gd, Crìosdaidheachd; gv, Credjue Creestee/Creestiaght; ga, Críostaíocht/Críostúlacht; br, Kristeniezh; gl, Cristianismo celta) is a form of Christianity that was common, or held ...
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 and 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 route 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. The cross in
Perran Sands has been dated by
Charles Henderson as before 960 AD; that in
Morrab Gardens
Morrab Gardens are a municipal garden covering to the south of Penzance town centre, Cornwall. It is known for its Mediterranean and sub-tropical plants; and for housing the Morrab Library in the grounds.
Morrab House with its walled garden w ...
,
Penzance
Penzance ( ; kw, Pennsans) is a town, civil parish and port in the Penwith district of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is about west-southwest of Plymouth and west-southwest of London. Situ ...
, has been dated by
R. A. S. Macalister as before 924 AD; and the
Doniert Stone
King Doniert's Stone ( kw, Menkov Donyerth Ruw) consists of two pieces of a decorated 9th-century cross, near St Cleer on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. The inscription is believed to commemorate Donyarth, Dungarth, Kingdom of Cornwall, King of Cornwall, ...
is thought to be a memorial to King
Dumgarth
Donyarth ( la, Doniert) or Dungarth (died 875) was the last recorded king of Cornwall. He was probably an under-king, paying tribute to the West Saxons.
He is thought to be the 'Doniert' recorded on an inscription on King Doniert's Stone, a 9 ...
(died 878).
Celtic art
Celtic art is associated with the peoples known as Celts; those who spoke the Celtic languages in Europe from pre-history through to the modern period, as well as the art of ancient peoples whose language is uncertain, but have cultural and styli ...
is found in Cornwall, often in the form of stone crosses of various types. Cornwall boasts the highest density of traditional 'Celtic crosses' of any nation (some 400). Charles Henderson reported in 1930 that there were 390 ancient crosses and in the next forty years a number of others have come to light. In the 1890s Arthur G. Langdon collected as much information as he could about these crosses (''Old Cornish Crosses''; Joseph Pollard, Truro, 1896) and one hundred years later Andrew G. Langdon has done a survey in the form of five volumes of ''Stone Crosses in Cornwall'', each volume covering a region (e.g. Mid Cornwall) which the
Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies (FOCS) was formed in 1924, on the initiative of Robert Morton Nance, with the objective of collecting and maintaining "all those ancient things that make the spirit of Cornwall — its traditions, its o ...
has published.
Similar crosses are also found on Dartmoor in Devon.
In modern times many crosses were erected as
war memorials and to celebrate events such as the
millennium
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannus, kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting ...
. "Here is an example of continuity in cultural traits extending over many generations: for we can look beyond the medieval cross to the inscribed stone and even farther back to the prehistoric mênhir, and yet bring the custom right up-to-date with the twentieth-century war memorial."—W. G. V. Balchin (1954).
"The Celtic crosses found in their hundreds at the roadside, in churchyards, towns and in the open landscape ... are the most pervasive and memorable evidence of the presence of Christianity across medieval Cornwall. They were long considered to be pre-Conquest but it is now believed that they began to be erected in the 9th century with the majority dating between then and the 13th century, though documentary evidence suggests that some were still being put up as late as the mid 15th century. Two of the best pre-Conquest examples are St Piran's Cross near St Piran's Oratory, mentioned in a charter of 960, and King Doniert's Stone (a cross shaft) near St Cleer commemorating Doniert's death in 875. Most crosses are of granite and they are especially numerous ... in the Cardinham area and ... around Sancreed, with smaller clusters in Wendron and Lanivet. The most distinctive is the Celtic wheel-head design, which has many variants, but there are significant numbers of holed crosses that are pierced right through, and numerous Latin crosses. The most elaborate are the larger and more decorated churchyard crosses ... Their purpose is varied: the most common is the wayside cross to mark directions, and there are also a large number of boundary crosses... Some are memorial crosses and a few are true village or market crosses, though some of the latter have been adapted from wayside crosses. ''In situ'' crosses are rare, with many rediscovered, relocated and re-erected since the later 19th century, and more still coming to light today."--Peter Beacham.
File:The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall BHL22111541.jpg, Fig. 3: some more stone crosses
File:The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall BHL22111538.jpg, Fig. 4: some more stone crosses
File:The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall BHL22111546.jpg, Fig. 5: some more stone crosses
File:The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall (1906) (14591036668).jpg, Fig, 6: some more stone crosses
Crosses in East hundred
;Parishes C - Q
In the churchyard of
Callington there is a Gothic lantern cross. It was first mentioned by the historian
William Borlase
William Borlase (2 February 169631 August 1772), Cornish antiquary, geologist and naturalist. From 1722, he was Rector of Ludgvan, Cornwall, where he died. He is remembered for his works ''The Antiquities of Cornwall'' (1754; 2nd ed., 1769 ...
in 1752. Each of the four faces of the cross head features a carved figure beneath an ogee arch. The heads of these figures have been chiselled off, no doubt in the Commonwealth period.

In the churchyard of
Laneast
Laneast ( kw, Lanneyst) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies above the River Inny valley, about six miles (11 km) west of Launceston. The population in the 2001 census was 164, increasing to 209 at the ...
is a four-holed Cornish cross (''fig. a1'') which was found in 1952 buried in the churchyard. The lower part of the shaft and the base were made in 1954. There is a Cornish cross on Laneast Down (''fig. a2''). It is unusual in being made of
Polyphant stone
Elvan is a name used in Cornwall and Devon for the native varieties of quartz-porphyry. They are dispersed irregularly in the Devonian series of rocks and some of them make very fine building stones (e.g. Pentewan stone, Polyphant stone and C ...
rather than granite; the two sides of the head are elliptical and have Latin crosses.
There is a Cornish cross at Treniffle in the parish of
Lawhitton
Lawhitton ( kw, Nansgwydhenn) is a village in the civil parish of Lawhitton Rural, in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated two miles (3 km) southwest of Launceston and half-a-mile west of Cornwall's border with Dev ...
; it was found built into an old barn at Tregada Farm about 1883 and then placed in her garden by Mrs. Morshead.

Arthur Langdon (1896) records two Cornish crosses in the parish of
Lewannick: one is Holloway Cross at a road junction one and half miles north of the churchtown; the other is a cross head in the grounds of a house called Trelaske.
Arthur Langdon (1896) records a Cornish cross and a cross base at North Coombe; and another cross base at Sturt's Corner, both in the parish of
Linkinhorne
Linkinhorne (in Cornish ''Lanngynhorn'') is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at and is approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Callington and seven miles ( ...
. Andrew Langdon (1996) records the cross at Northcoombe (it was set up on a stone in 1908).
A stone wayside cross was found at Hendra Farm,
Menheniot
Menheniot (pronounced Men-en-yut; kw, Mahynyet) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is southeast of Liskeard. The meaning of the name is "sanctuary of Neot" (from ''minihi'' and ''Neot'').
Menheniot ...
, in the early 1960s. It had been buried upside down in the ground to form a gatepost. In 1991 the two separate pieces of the cross were repaired and erected on a new base near Hendra farmhouse.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded a Cornish cross in the grounds of
Trebartha Hall, North Hill; it had been found built into the gable of a nearby cottage.

There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of
Quethiock
Quethiock ( kw, Koosek, meaning ''forested place'') is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, roughly five miles east of Liskeard. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 429, increasing to 443 at the ...
. An account of its discovery was published in the ''Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall''; vol. 7, 1882. Arthur Langdon said of it: "Undoubtedly this is a magnificent monument, and in regard to height is, with the exception of the cross in Mylor churchyard, since discovered, the tallest in Cornwall".
;Parishes S - T
There is a Cornish cross at Carracawn in the parish of
St Germans.
There are two stone crosses in the churchyard of
St Ive
St Ive ( ; kw, Sen Iv) is a village in the civil parish of St Ive and Pensilva in eastern Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is split into four parts: St Ive Church End, St Ive Cross, St Ive Keason and St Ive Parkfield.
In additio ...
. One is a Latin wayside cross which was found in use as a gatepost in one of the glebe fields near the churchyard in 1932. A month later it was erected in its present position. The other is an incomplete cross which was found in the vicarage garden in 1965. In 1982 it was erected in the churchyard.
In the churchyard of St Stephens-by-Saltash is a Gothic lantern cross. This cross was first recorded by Joseph Polsue in 1872; it stood for many years in the vicarage garden. In the 1970s it was resited in the churchyard. Andrew Langdon is of the opinion that it originally stood in the churchyard. There is a Cornish cross at a road junction between the village of
Trematon and the castle.
There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of
St Thomas-by-Launceston
St Thomas the Apostle Rural, also known as St Thomas-by-Launceston ( kw, Sen Tommos Lannstefan) is a civil parish in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is centred on the village of Tregadillett ( kw, Tregadylet) and is in the Registratio ...
, found when the church was rebuilt in 1869–70.
A stone cross stands by the side of the road at
Crafthole, Sheviock. It was first recorded in 1858 as a cross without a base. By 1896 it was standing on a base; in the 1950s it was removed to the side of the road from its previous site in the middle. Crafthole was granted a weekly market in 1315; it has been suggested that this cross was the market cross.
There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of
Tresmeer. According to Arthur Langdon it was formerly in the churchyard of
Laneast
Laneast ( kw, Lanneyst) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies above the River Inny valley, about six miles (11 km) west of Launceston. The population in the 2001 census was 164, increasing to 209 at the ...
. He observed it in the 1890s placed at the head of the grave of a late vicar of Tresmeer.
Crosses in Kerrier hundred
;Parishes B - L

In the churchyard of
Breage
Breage or Breaca (with many variant spellings) is a saint venerated in Cornwall and South West England. According to her late hagiography, she was an Irish nun of the 5th or 6th century who founded a church in Cornwall. The village and civil par ...
there is an unusual Hiberno-Saxon cross head. There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard at
Godolphin Cross
Godolphin Cross ( kw, Krows Hirlan) is a village in the former Kerrier District of west Cornwall, England. It is in the civil parish of Breage, midway between the towns of Hayle and Helston.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End' ...
. In 1886 it was moved to the churchyard having been found in use as a gatepost on the Chytodden estate.
There are two Cornish crosses (''illustrated Fig. b6'') in the parish of
Budock; both are in the churchyard. There is also a cross base at Nangitha.

Andrew Langdon (1999) lists twelve stone crosses, or parts of crosses located in the parish of
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given nam ...
. One of these was carved and erected in 1991. Several have been transferred from other sites. The stone cross at the cross-roads in
High Cross
A high cross or standing cross ( ga, cros ard / ardchros, gd, crois àrd / àrd-chrois, cy, croes uchel / croes eglwysig) is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval traditi ...
was found in 1992 and re-erected nearby at the crossroad, in April 2000.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded six Cornish crosses in the parish; in the churchyard, at Bosvathick, at Merthen, at Nanjarrow, at Trevease and at Trewardreva (''illustrated Fig. b8''). In 1993 a medieval stone cross was found built into a collapsing
Cornish hedge at the junction of the road from Constantine to
Penryn and the road from
Mawnan Smith
Mawnan Smith ( kw, Mownan an Gov) is a village in the civil parish of Mawnan in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three miles south of Falmouth. In 2019 it had an estimated population of 1020.
The parish c ...
(''illustrated Fig. b9'').
There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated Fig. b10'') in the churchyard of
Cury
Cury ( kw, Egloskuri) is a civil parish and village in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately four miles (6 km) south of Helston on The Lizard peninsula. The parish is named for St Corentin and is reco ...
; it is probably the old churchyard cross but was found in a ditch nearby in 1849 and set up in its present position.

The small cross in
Gunwalloe
Gunwalloe ( kw, Pluw Wynnwalow) is a coastal civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Lizard Peninsula south of Helston and partly contains The Loe, the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall. The parish pop ...
churchyard was found in the 19th century and taken to Penrose. At a later date it was placed in the churchyard.
There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated Fig. b11'') in the churchyard of
Gwennap
Gwennap ( kw, Lannwenep (village), Pluw Wenep (parish)) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England. It is about five miles (8 km) southeast of Redruth. Hamlets of Burncoose, Comford, Coombe, Crofthandy, Cusgarne, Fernsplatt, Frogp ...
which was moved to the vicarage garden in the 1840s from Chapel Moor. It has a crude crucifixus figure and a small Latin cross on the front and a large Latin cross on the back and is probably a fragment of a larger cross. There is also an ornamented cross shaft which was found in the church wall about 1860 and by mistake used again in the vestry foundations.
There are three Cornish crosses in
Helston
Helston ( kw, Hellys) is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula approximately east of Penzance and south-west of Falmouth.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map she ...
: one in Cross Street (''illustrated Fig. b12'') and two in Mr. Baddeley's garden (Cross Street). One of the latter crosses was removed from Tresprison, Wendron, and other from near Trelill Holy Well, Wendron. The cross from Trelill has ornament on the front and back of the shaft. One of the crosses is now Grade II* listed as "Stone cross near junction with Church Street".
There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated Fig. b13'') in the village of
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia al ...
, Landewednack.
;Parishes M - P
In the churchyard of
Mabe there is a Celtic cross (''illustrated Fig. b14'') which was found in the vicarage garden and installed near the porch, at some time between 1919 and 1930.
[ Henderson, Charles (1930) ''Mabe Church and Parish''. Long Compton: The King's Stone Press] There is another cross at Helland, a farm where there was a garden formerly the site of an ancient chapel.

There is a fragment of a cross head built into the north aisle wall at the parish church of
Mawnan
Mawnan ( kw, Maunan, meaning ''St Maunan'') is a village and civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is in the former administrative district of Kerrier and is bounded to the south by the Helford River, to the east by the s ...
; it was found in the churchyard in 1881.
Mullion: There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated Fig. b15'') near the hamlet of Predannack. It has a broad Latin cross on the front and an incised Latin cross on the back.

The cross in the churchyard of
Mylor is the largest in Cornwall (10 ft high). The cross was only identified as such in 1870 as it had been buried head downwards in the earth so that the part above ground could serve as a post. The stone is 17 ft 6 in long and there is a local tradition that it marked the site of St Mylor's grave not far from the place where it was found. It is thought to be of pre-Christian origin. It was set up as it is now by sailors from
HMS Ganges. There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of Flushing. It was found in a farm building at Porloe in 1891 and moved to the churchyard. The head has a crude crucifixus figure on the front and a Latin cross on the back.
;Parishes S - W
At Tregullow near
Scorrier
Scorrier is a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is in the civil parish of St Day, about northeast of the centre of Redruth and southeast of the coast at Porthtowan, on the A30 road at the junction of the A3047 road that leads we ...
, St Day, there are two Cornish crosses: one of them formerly stood between
Ponsanooth
Ponsanooth ( kw, Pons an Woodh, meaning "bridge at the stream") is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is about four miles southeast of Redruth and two and a half miles northwest of Penryn on the A393 road Redrut ...
and Pengreep and was for a time used as a gatepost. There are two Cornish crosses in the gardens of
Scorrier House: the original site of the first cross is unknown; on the front of it is a curious representation of Christ with his right hand raised and on the back a Latin cross. The other cross originally stood at
Rame in the parish of Wendron; the shaft is ornamented on all four sides.
There are two Cornish crosses in the parish of
St Gluvias
St Gluvias is a settlement in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is now a suburb on the northern edge of Penryn which is northwest of Falmouth. Until 1 April 2021 there was civil parish was called St Gluvias which doesn't include ...
; one at Enys and one at Penryn. The cross at Enys (''illustrated Fig. b16'') was originally at
Sancreed
Sancreed (''Cornish: Eglossankres'') is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, approximately three miles (5 km) west of Penzance.
Sancreed civil parish encompasses the settlements of Bejouans, Bosvennen, Botreah, Drift, Sanc ...
and was set up at Enys in 1848. The small cross at Penryn was once built into the fish market; when this was pulled down the cross was saved and resited near the town hall in 1895.

There are four Cornish crosses in the parish of
Stithians
Stithians ( kw, Stedhyans), also known as St Stythians, is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies in the middle of the triangle bounded by Redruth, Helston and Falmouth. Its population (2001) is 2,004, inc ...
; they are in the vicarage garden, and at Repper's Mill and Trevalis. The cross at Repper's Mill has a crude crucifixus figure on the front and a Latin cross on the back. There are two crosses at Trevalis: both have a crude crucifixus figure on the front and a Latin cross on the back. One of the crosses formerly stood at Hendra Hill near the churchtown but was moved to Trevalis about 1860. Another cross (''illustrated Fig. b17'') stands in the grounds of Tretheague House. There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated Fig. b18'') in the churchyard of
Penmarth
Penmarth ( kw, Pollmargh) is a hamlet in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, about west of Penryn and about south of Redruth.
The hamlet is often referred to as Carnmenellis, which it was signposted as in the 1970s, and for centuries before th ...
(historically in the parish of Wendron); it was found in a stream near Tolcarn Wartha Mill and brought to the churchyard for preservation.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of seven stone crosses in the parish of
Wendron
Wendron ( kw, Egloswendron (village), Pluw Wendron (parish); historically St. Wendron) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, to the north of Helston. The parish population at the 2011 census was 2,743. The elect ...
, including two at
Merther Uny
Wendron ( kw, Egloswendron (village), Pluw Wendron (parish); historically St. Wendron) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, to the north of Helston. The parish population at the 2011 census was 2,743. The electora ...
(one ''illustrated above right & Fig. b7''). The other crosses were in the churchyard, and at Boderwennack, Bodilly, Manhay-vean and Trenethick. There is also an early cross-slab in the church. An old carved granite stone can be seen approximately south-west of Porkellis Crossroads in the private field on the corner near
Bodilly
Bodilly is a hamlet in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, that lends its name to neighbouring farms and settlements. It is situated in the civil parish of Wendron approximately northwest of Wendron. The hamlet itself is at , but the name ...
. The stone stands high, with a
bas-relief
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term '' relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...
cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a s ...
on one side and an incised cross on the other. According to local
oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people w ...
, it was called the "Wendron God" and people made the
sign of the cross
Making the sign of the cross ( la, signum crucis), or blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. This blessing is made by the tracing of an upright cross or + across the body with ...
when passing by. Formerly located on a hill between Carilley and Burhos, it was unlawfully removed several times in the 19th century and finally relocated to Bodilly in 1886. Arthur Langdon (1896) gave the following account of the Merther Uny crosses: "The cross stands ''in situ'' on the Merther Uny estate, on Polglaze Hill, by the left-hand side of the road from St. Wendron to Constantine. Formerly there was a road leading down to Merther Uny old churchyard, the entrance to which was close to the cross; but all traces of this road have now disappeared. A tradition is still believed in the neighbourhood that a man lies buried beneath the cross. The monolith is known locally as 'Meruny Cross'."--"The cross occupies its original site, near the south side of the entrance to the old churchyard, and stands on a base ... The cross has some very curious ornament, and in many points resembles that at Roche ..." Another cross was originally at Rame, Wendron: it is described above under ''St Day''.
;Gallery
File:Cross in Budock Churchyard (4297793629).jpg, Fig. b6: one of the crosses in the churchyard of Budock
File:Ancient cross - geograph.org.uk - 369577.jpg, Fig. b7: a cross carved onto a standing stone next to the lane from Treloquithack to Brill
File:Ancient stone cross beside the road at Trewardreva Mill - geograph.org.uk - 840362.jpg, Fig. b8: a cross beside the road at Trewardreva Mill
File:Cross and menhirs - geograph.org.uk - 418540.jpg, Fig. b9: a cross beside the road from Constantine to Penryn
File:Ancient cross in Cury churchyard Geograph-2238117-by-Rod-Allday.jpg, Fig. b10: the cross in Cury churchyard
File:Cross, Gwennap (3859275896).jpg, Fig. b11: the cross in the churchyard of Gwennap
File:Stone cross in Cross Street, Helston Geograph-1825803-by-Dr-Neil-Clifton.jpg, Fig. b12: the cross in Cross Street, Helston
File:Cornish Cross in The Lizard - geograph.org.uk - 943719.jpg, Fig. b13: the Cornish cross at Lizard
File:Mabe Churchyard, reworked Celtic cross (DSCN0511).jpg, Fig. b14: the cross in the churchyard of Mabe
File:Mullion Cross - geograph.org.uk - 935380.jpg, Fig. b15: Predannack Cross
File:Cornish Cross (5689914565).jpg, Fig. b16: the Cornish cross at Enys
File:Ancient cross in the grounds of Tretheague House - geograph.org.uk - 1025801.jpg, Fig. b17: an ancient cross in the grounds of Tretheague House
File:Ancient stone cross in Penmarth Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 868349.jpg, Fig. b18: Carnmenellis churchyard
Crosses in Lesnewth hundred
;Parishes A - L
In a field on the west side of the parish church of
Advent
Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity.
The name was adopted from Latin "coming; arrival", translating Greek ''parousia''.
In ...
stands a tall and elegant Cornish cross.

Arthur Langdon (1896) records seven stone crosses in the parish of
Altarnun
Altarnun ( ; kw, Alternonn) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is located west of Launceston on the north-eastern edge of Bodmin Moor at .
The parish of Altarnun includes the village of Fivelanes and the ha ...
, 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
Davidstow ( kw, Logdewi (village) and kw, Pluwdhewi (parish)) is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is north of Bodmin Moor straddling the A395 road about north of Camelford. The hamlets of Hall ...
, 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
__NOTOC__
Lesnewth ( kw, Lysnowyth) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is about six miles east of Tintagel Head and two miles east of Boscastle.
The parish is bounded on the north by St Juliot (where the 2011 c ...
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
St Juliot is a civil parish in north-east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish is entirely rural and the settlements within it are the hamlets of Beeny and Tresparrett. - plus a part of the adjacent village of Marshgate. The parish popu ...
. 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
Tintagel () or Trevena ( kw, Tre war Venydh, meaning ''Village on a Mountain'') is a civil parish and village situated on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall, England. The village and nearby Tintagel Castle are associated with the legends surroundi ...
; they have both been moved from their original positions. Aelnat's cross (''illustrated Fig. 2'') which was found at
Trevillet
Trevillet or ''Trevillett'' is a hamlet in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is located within the civil parish of Tintagel, to the east of Bossiney village.
Trevillet was the site of a mansion built in the 16th century by Thomas Wood of Lew ...
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
he good of
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (pronoun), an English pronoun
* He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ
* He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets
* He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' in ...
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
Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Wo ...
's poems, "By the runic stone" (1917) was interpreted by Evelyn Hardy as referring to Aelnat's cross. At a crossroads near
Bossiney
Bossiney ( kw, Boskyny, meaning ''Cyni's dwelling'') is a village in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is north-east of the larger village of Tintagel which it adjoins: further north-east are the Rocky Valley and Trethevy. Until 1832 t ...
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 wheel-headed wayside cross in the churchyard of
Trevalga
Trevalga ( kw, Trevelgi) is a coastal civil parish and hamlet in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish is bounded on the north by the Celtic Sea, on the southeast by Forrabury and Minster parish and on the west by Tintagel parish.
...
. The cross is believed to date from the 8th century. It used to stand by the church path but was moved to the churchyard in the early 19th century by the then rector.
At Lower Youlton farm,
Warbstow
Warbstow ( kw, Lannwarburgh) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish has a population of 439 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 520 at the 2011 census.
The parish is one of the few left in England ...
, is a Cornish cross in use as a footbridge; it has undergone much wear from foot passengers and its original location is unknown.
;Gallery
File:Cross at Forrabury.jpg, Fig. c3: the Cornish cross at Forrabury
File:Camelford, Valley Truckle Cross - geograph.org.uk - 934397.jpg, Fig. c4: a Cornish cross in the churchyard at Lanteglos; it was found in a blacksmith's shop at Valley Truckle
File:A Stone Cross - geograph.org.uk - 1755022.jpg, Fig. c5: the Cornish cross, Trevia, Camelford
File:Lesnewth, churchyard cross - geograph.org.uk - 49231.jpg, Fig. c6: the cross in the churchyard of Lesnewth
File:Cornish Cross at Fenterleigh - geograph.org.uk - 741981.jpg, Fig. c7: Hendra or Pentaly Cross
Crosses in Penwith hundred
;Parishes C - G
Camborne
Camborne ( kw, Kammbronn) is a town in Cornwall, England. The population at the 2011 Census was 20,845. The northern edge of the parish includes a section of the South West Coast Path, Hell's Mouth, Cornwall, Hell's Mouth and Deadman's Cove ...
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
William Borlase (2 February 169631 August 1772), Cornish antiquary, geologist and naturalist. From 1722, he was Rector of Ludgvan, Cornwall, where he died. He is remembered for his works ''The Antiquities of Cornwall'' (1754; 2nd ed., 1769 ...
's account of it when it was at Fenton-ear. Arthur Langdon (1896) records six crosses in the parish, including two at
Pendarves
Pendarves is a Cornish surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Alexander Pendarves, English politician
* John Pendarves, English Puritan controversialist
* Edward Wynne-Pendarves, English politician
;Other uses
* The Pendarves estate ...
(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 is a cross at Camborne Park Recreation Ground (NHLE ref. no. 1003049).

There are four Cornish crosses in the parish of
Crowan
Crowan ( kw, Egloskrewen (village), Pluw Grewen (parish)) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is about three-and-a-half miles (6 km) south of Camborne.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End'' A fo ...
; 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
Gulval ( kw, Lannystli) is a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Although historically a parish in its own right, Gulval was incorporated into the parishes of Ludgvan, Madron and Penzance in 1934, and is now considered to be a subu ...
; 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
Gwithian ( kw, Godhyan) is a coastal village in west Cornwall, England. It is three miles (5 km) north-east of Hayle and four miles (6.5 km) east of St Ives, Cornwall across St Ives Bay. Gwithian is in the civil parish of Gwinear-Gwit ...
. (See also fig. d11, below)
;Parishes I - P

The Cornish cross in the churchyard of
Illogan
Illogan (pronounced ''il'luggan'', kw, Egloshalow) is a village and civil parish in west Cornwall, UK, two miles (3 km) northwest of Redruth. The population of Illogan was 5,404 at the 2011 census. In the same year the population of the Ca ...
is probably ''in situ''. It is Grade II listed.
Arthur Langdon (1896) records eight stone crosses in the parish of
Lelant
Lelant ( kw, Lannanta) is a village in west Cornwall, England, UK. It is on the west side of the Hayle Estuary, about southeast of St Ives and one mile (1.6 km) west of Hayle.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End'' The vi ...
, 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
Ludgvan ( ; kw, Lujuan) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, UK, northeast of Penzance. Ludgvan village is split between Churchtown, on the hill, and Lower Quarter to the east, adjoining Crowlas. For the purposes of local g ...
; 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
Madron ( kw, Eglos Madern) is a civil parish and village in west Cornwall, Great Britain. Madron is named after Saint Madern's Church. Its annual Trafalgar Service commemorating the death of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson was started on 27 Oct ...
, 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
Newlyn ( kw, Lulyn: Lu 'fleet', Lynn/Lydn 'pool') is a seaside town and fishing port (the largest fishing port in England) in south-west Cornwall, UK.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End''
Newlyn lies on the shore of Moun ...
; 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
Paul may refer to:
*Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name)
* Paul (surname), a list of people
People
Christianity
* Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chr ...
. 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
boss
Boss may refer to:
Occupations
* Supervisor, often referred to as boss
* Air boss, more formally, air officer, the person in charge of aircraft operations on an aircraft carrier
* Crime boss, the head of a criminal organization
* Fire boss, a p ...
es 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 of
Phillack
Phillack ( kw, Eglosheyl) is a village (and formerly a parish) in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is about one mile (1.6 km) northeast of Hayle and half-a-mile (0.8 km) inland from St Ives Bay on Cornwall's Atlantic ocean co ...
, including two in the churchyard. The others were at Copperhouse, at Bodriggy, in a field and in the rectory garden.
;Parishes S - Z

Arthur Langdon (1896) records twelve crosses in the parish of
St Buryan
St Buryan ( kw, Pluwveryan) is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of St Buryan, Lamorna and Paul in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.
The village of St Buryan is situated approximately west of Penzance along the B3283 tow ...
of which one is in the churchyard. A letter, dated 25 June 1879, to ''
The Cornishman
''The Cornishman'' is a weekly newspaper based in Penzance, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom which was first published on 18 July 1878. Circulation for the first two editions was 4,000. An edition is currently printed every Thursday. In early Fe ...
'' newspaper complained of the platform of the village cross (''illustrated Fig. d25''), in front of the churchyard gate, being used as the site for the mid-summer bonfire, leaving the cross blackened and charred.
Boskenna
Boskenna is an early medieval settlement and large 17th-century manor house (formerly with associated farms and cottages) in the civil parish of St Buryan, west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Nearby, to the south, is the valley and cove of St ...
cross (''illustrated Fig. d26'') is a Cornish cross which stands where three roads meet south-east of St Buryan churchtown. It was found buried in a hedge at this road junction in 1869. Only the carved upper part of the cross is ancient. A cross near St Loy's Cove is ''illustrated Fig. d27''; a cross near Down's Barn Farm is ''illustrated Fig. d28''. Another cross is at
Crows-an-Wra
Crows-an-Wra ( kw, Krows an Wragh, meaning ''the witch's cross'') is a hamlet in West Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the civil parish of St Buryan, Lamorna and Paul approximately four miles (6 km) northeast of Land's E ...
(''illustrated Fig. d8'').
Langdon (1896) recorded that six stone crosses existed in the parish of
St Erth
St Erth ( kw, Lannudhno) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England.
St Erth takes its name from Saint Erc, one of the many Irish saints who brought Christianity to Cornwall during the Dark Ages, and is at the old crossing point of t ...
, including two in the churchyard. One of the crosses is ''illustrated Fig. d29''.
There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of
St Hilary; it has a Latin cross on both sides. There is another cross on Trewhela Lane.
There is a Cornish cross at
Penbeagle
Penbeagle ( kw, Pennbegel, meaning "top of the hillock") is a suburb of St Ives in Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and i ...
near St Ives, bearing an incised Latin cross.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of seven stone crosses in the parish of
St Just in Penwith
St Just ( kw, Lan(n)ust), known as St Just in Penwith, is a town and civil parish in the Penwith district of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies along the B3306 road which connects St Ives to the A30 road. The parish encompasses the ...
, including two in the vicarage garden and two at
Kenidjack. Another cross has been built into the church wall; there are also crosses at Leswidden (''illustrated Fig. 30'') and Nanquidno. There is a Cornish cross in the vicarage garden of
Pendeen
Pendeen (from kw, Penn Din meaning "headland fort", previously known as kw, Boskaswal Wartha, meaning "Caswal's high dwelling") is a village and ecclesiastical parish on the Penwith peninsula in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is north-northea ...
. Boslow Cross is 550 yds (500 m) NW of Boslow Farm (ref. no. 1003110).
Arthur Langdon (1896) records five stone crosses in the parish of
St Levan
St Levan ( kw, Selevan) is a civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish is rural with a number of hamlets of varying size with Porthcurno probably being the best known. Hewn out of the cliff at Minack Point and overlooking t ...
, of which one is in the churchyard (''illustrated Fig. d31''), one on the churchyard wall and the others at Rospletha (''illustrated Fig. d32''), Sawah and Trebehor.

In the grounds of the castle of
St Michael's Mount
St Michael's Mount ( kw, Karrek Loos yn Koos, meaning " hoar rock in woodland") is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite s ...
are a number of medieval crosses (including a late 15th-century lantern cross) and an octagonal cross shaft.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of eight stone crosses in the parish of
Sancreed
Sancreed (''Cornish: Eglossankres'') is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, approximately three miles (5 km) west of Penzance.
Sancreed civil parish encompasses the settlements of Bejouans, Bosvennen, Botreah, Drift, Sanc ...
, including four in the churchyard. One is at Anjarden; one of the crosses in the churchyard was found at Trannack and another at Sellan. Two more crosses in the churchyard are ornamented (''one of them is illustrated top right Fig. 1, no. 37''; the other below, Fig. d33); the heads are unusual and the only ones of their type and the shafts are ornamented, in one case on all four sides and in the other on three sides. These two crosses are
Hiberno-Saxon
Insular art, also known as Hiberno-Saxon art, was produced in the post-Roman era of Great Britain and Ireland. The term derives from ''insula'', the Latin term for "island"; in this period Britain and Ireland shared a largely common style dif ...
and both have the same unusual shape of the heads, with a crucifixus on one side. There is also a cross at Brane (''illustrated Fig. d34'') which serves as a boundary stone between Brane and Boswarthen. Another cross at Lower Drift was found about 1850 and there is yet another at Trenuggo Hill.
[Pevsner, N. (1970) ''Cornwall''; 2nd ed., revised by Enid Radcliffe. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 207.]
There are five Cornish crosses in the parish of
Sennen
Sennen (''Cornish: Sen Senan'' or ''Sen Senana'') is a coastal civil parish and a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Sennen village is situated approximately eight miles (13 km) west-southwest of Penzance.Ordnance Survey: Landra ...
. One is at Escalls and another at Sennen Green. Trevilley cross is one of only two crosses with a crucifixus figure on a cross carved onto the stone (there is a cross on the other side of the head). A cross on the churchyard wall came from a site near the Giant's Stone. A fine cross in the cemetery adjoining the churchyard (''illustrated Fig. d35'') was found in use as a footbridge near Trevear and moved to the churchyard in 1878. About 1890 it was moved to its present position. A cross at
Mayon Farm is ''illustrated below, fig. d36''.
There was a Cornish cross at Tredorwin,
Towednack
Towednack ( kw, Tewydnek) is a churchtown and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish is bounded by those of Zennor in the west, Gulval in the south, Ludgvan in the west and south, and St Ives and the Atlantic Ocean in th ...
; it was found in use as a building stone in a cottage at Coldharbour in 1880. It is now in the churchyard (''illustrated Fig. d37''). The stone in the porch of the church forms a bench; the cross shaft has crosses at both ends.
There are three Cornish crosses in the parish of
Zennor
Zennor is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish includes the villages of Zennor, Boswednack and Porthmeor and the hamlet of Treen. Zennor lies on the north coast, about north of Penzance,Ordnance Surve ...
: one is in the vicarage garden and two are in the churchyard. Those in the churchyard are fixed on the tombstone of the Rev. William Borlase, Vicar of Zennor (died 1888).
;Gallery
File:Two ancient crosses in the grounds of Camborne Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 1017203.jpg, Fig. d10: two crosses in Camborne churchyard
File:Cross and gateway above Gwithian - geograph.org.uk - 139107.jpg, Fig. d11: a Cornish cross just off a footpath leading east above the Red River valley near Gwithian
File:In St. Uny graveyard. - panoramio.jpg, Fig. d12: one of the crosses in Lelant churchyard
File:Stone Cross in Lelant Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 580451.jpg, Fig. d13: another cross in Lelant churchyard
File:Woodlands Cross. - panoramio.jpg, Fig. d14: Woodlands cross, Lelant
File:Tall wayside cross, Ludgvan churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 230820.jpg, Fig. d15: the tall Cornish cross in the churchyard of Ludgvan
File:The East Gate of Lugdvan Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 540404.jpg, Fig. d16: the short Cornish cross in the churchyard of Ludgvan
File:Tregender Manor Cross. - panoramio.jpg, Fig. d17: the cross at Crowlas
File:Ancient cross in the grounds of Madron church - geograph.org.uk - 1416688.jpg, Fig. d18: the churchyard cross of Madron
File:Boswarthen cross near madron.jpg, Fig. d19: Boswarthen cross
File:Trembath Cross - geograph.org.uk - 254142.jpg, Fig. d20: Trembath Cross
File:Boscathnoe Cross - geograph.org.uk - 1219536.jpg, Fig. d21: Boscathnoe Cross
File:Faith restored - geograph.org.uk - 1620047.jpg, Fig. d21a: Tremethick Cross
File:The wall of Paul Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 1002552.jpg, Fig. d22: the cross on the churchyard wall at Paul
File:Cross and stile, Kemyel Drea - geograph.org.uk - 485264.jpg, Fig. d23: a cross at Kemyel Drea near Castallack
Castallack is a hamlet in the civil parish of St Buryan, Lamorna and Paul in west Cornwall, England, UK. It is on a minor road between Sheffied and Lamorna.
Castallack lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Al ...
File:Ancient cross in Carharrack village centre - geograph.org.uk - 1050084.jpg, Fig. d24: the cross at Carharrack
Carharrack ( kw, Karardhek) is a civil parish and village in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated two miles (3 km) east of Redruth in a former mining area.
The parish is of a rural/residential character, albeit with an ...
File:The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall (1906) (14777733565).jpg, Fig. d25: one of the crosses in the churchyard of St Buryan
File:Boskenna Cross - geograph.org.uk - 862914.jpg, Fig. d26: Boskenna cross
File:CrossStLoy.JPG, Fig. d27: a cross near St Loy's Cove
File:Gate and cross, Downs Barn farm - geograph.org.uk - 119234.jpg, Fig. d28: a cross near Down's Barn Farm, St Buryan
File:Ancient cross in St Erth - geograph.org.uk - 1331234.jpg, Fig. d29: a cross at St Erth
File:Roadside stone near Leswidden Farm - geograph.org.uk - 1470196.jpg, Fig. d30: the cross at Leswidden
File:St Levan's stone and cross - geograph.org.uk - 933636.jpg, Fig. d31: the cross in the churchyard of St Levan
File:Cross on footpath between St Levan and Portcurno - geograph.org.uk - 1530889.jpg, Fig. d32: the cross at Rospletha
File:Ancient stone cross in the churchyard at Sancreed - geograph.org.uk - 1296868.jpg, Fig. d33 a cross in Sancreed churchyard
File:Brane Cross - geograph.org.uk - 505324.jpg, Fig. d34: Brane cross
File:Sennen Church Yard Celtic Cross - geograph.org.uk - 941234.jpg, Fig. d35: a Cornish cross in the cemetery, Sennen
File:Ancient cross at Mayon Farm - geograph.org.uk - 948294.jpg, Fig. d36: a cross at Mayon Farm, Sennen
File:Celtic cross, Towednack church - geograph.org.uk - 1025856.jpg, Fig. d37: a Cornish cross in the churchyard of Towednack
Crosses in Powder hundred
;Parishes C - L

Creed-with-Grampound: Dr. Reginald Merther-derwa, rector of
Creed in 1423–47 left a will providing for the erection of a series of stone crosses at
Camborne
Camborne ( kw, Kammbronn) is a town in Cornwall, England. The population at the 2011 Census was 20,845. The northern edge of the parish includes a section of the South West Coast Path, Hell's Mouth, Cornwall, Hell's Mouth and Deadman's Cove ...
. The five similar stone crosses in Creed parish, including one now at Grampound church, may also have been due to him. Merther-derwa's will says "New stone crosses to be put up of the usual kind in those parts of Cornwall from Kayar Reslasek to Camborne church where dead bodies are rested on the way to their burial, that prayers may be made and the bearers take some rest". As there are no Gothic stone crosses in Camborne or adjacent parishes it is likely that these crosses were set up at Creed instead. In Creed parish there are the remains of four 15th-century crosses, three of which were cut from Pentewan stone. The market cross of Grampound is more ornate than the other three crosses. Fair Cross is a Gothic cross shaft. Nancor Cross has a cross head which was found in the 1920s near Nancor Farm; it was later set on a new shaft and erected beside the A390 road. In 1995 it was broken into four pieces but repaired in 1996. The fourth cross consists only of a cross base at Creed Lane.
There are two Cornish crosses in the parish of
Feock: one is in the churchyard and the other at
Trelissick. The cross in the churchyard probably dates from the 13th century (it has a crude crucifixus figure on one side of the head and a foliated cross on the other). The cross at Trelissick was moved from Tredrea in the parish of St Erth in the 1840s; it has a crude crucifixus figure on the front of the head but the back is defaced.
There is a fine Cornish cross in the churchyard of
Gerrans
Gerrans ( kw, Gerens) is a coastal civil parish and village on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village adjoins Portscatho (the villages have almost merged into one but retain their identities) on the east side of ...
. According to Andrew Langdon (1994) this cross was not originally a churchyard cross but a wayside cross. No other ancient stone cross exists in the Roseland Peninsula; however a cross called Penpirthe Cross is shown on the parish terrier of 1613 as standing on the boundary of the parishes of Gerrans and
Philleigh
Philleigh ( kw, Eglosros) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom; one of the four in the Roseland Peninsula.
Philleigh lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Almost a third of Co ...
.
Arthur Langdon (1896) describes a Cornish cross in the manor house grounds at
Eastbourne
Eastbourne () is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, east of Brighton and south of London. Eastbourne is immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and part of the l ...
, Sussex, which was originally at
Kenwyn
Kenwyn ( kw, Keynwynn) is a settlement and civil parish in Cornwall, England. The settlement is a suburb of the city of Truro and lies 0.5 mi (1 km) north of the city centre, within Truro parish, whereas Kenwyn parish covers an area w ...
.
Davies Gilbert
Davies Gilbert (born Davies Giddy, 6 March 1767 – 24 December 1839) was an English engineer, author, and politician. He was elected to the Royal Society on 17 November 1791 and served as President of the Royal Society from 1827 to 1830. He ...
, a former resident of the manor house removed it from a roadside gate west of Truro where it was in use as a gatepost and had it transported to Eastbourne in 1817. The shaft is ornamented on all four sides.
The churchyard cross at
Lamorran
Lamorran is a village southeast of Truro in Cornwall, England (). Lamorran lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Lamorran church was built in the mid-13th century and has never been enlarged. It was dedicated (to S ...
is a fine example of a Gothic stone cross. This cross is made of Pentewan stone; the crosshead is now incomplete as the upper limb is missing.

There are four stone crosses in the parish of
Lanlivery
Lanlivery ( kw, Lannlyvri) is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is about west of Lostwithiel and five miles (8 km) south of Bodmin. The Saints' Way runs past Lanlivery. H ...
: Trethew Cross consists of a crosshead which was found in 1900 and a separate base; Trevorry or Sandyway Cross was found in 1936; Menawink Cross is a cross with a mutilated head which was found c. 1990 and erected shortly thereafter on the opposite side of the road; Crewel Cross was first reported in 1870 built into a stile (in 1900 the two separate parts were joined together and erected on a base). Two stone crosses from Lanlivery were removed in the 1840s and turned into monuments: one was taken to Boconnoc and one to St Winnow.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded three Cornish crosses and one cross base in the parish of
Luxulyan
Luxulyan (; kw, Logsulyan), also spelt Luxullian or Luxulian, is a village and civil parish in mid Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village lies four miles (6.5 km) northeast of St Austell and six miles (10 km) south of Bodmin. ...
. One cross is in the churchyard (''illustrated above right''); it was brought there in the 19th century from Three Stiles near Consence. Another cross is at Methrose and the third at Trevellan (lying horizontally and built into a hedge). The cross base is at Trevellan Lane End. Andrew Langdon (1994) does not mention the cross at Methrose. Trevellan Cross was removed from the hedge and erected at
Lockengate
Lockengate is a hamlet in Cornwall, England, UK. It is two miles south of Lanivet on the A391 road. It is in the civil parish of Luxulyan
Luxulyan (; kw, Logsulyan), also spelt Luxullian or Luxulian, is a village and civil parish in mid Cor ...
in 1903; in 1972 it was moved a few yards to the crossroads on the A391.
;Parishes M - V
There is a small Cornish cross on top of the church wall at
Tresillian
:''see also Tresillian House''
Tresillian ( kw, Tresulyan) is a small village in mid Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is three miles (5 km) east of Truro on the A390 road. Tresillian means "a place of eels" in the Cornish language, ...
, Merther.
Trelowthas Cross was found in the 1940s at Trelowthas in the parish of
Probus Probus may refer to:
People
* Marcus Valerius Probus (c. 20/30–105 AD), Roman grammarian
* Marcus Pomponius Maecius Probus, consul in 228
* Probus (emperor), Roman Emperor (276–282)
* Probus of Byzantium (–306), Bishop of Byzantium from 293 t ...
. Great Trelowthas was the site of one of the medieval chapels in the parish, recorded as licensed in 1379. Probus was one of four places in Cornwall having a
right of sanctuary
The right of asylum (sometimes called right of political asylum; ) is an ancient juridical concept, under which people persecuted by their own rulers might be protected by another sovereign authority, like a second country or another entit ...
which extended beyond the walls of the church, the others being Padstow, St Keverne and St Buryan. The missing Carvossa cross is thought to have marked the eastern limit of sanctuary and it is likely that this cross marked the western limit.

There are two Cornish crosses in the parish of
Roche
F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, commonly known as Roche, is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has shares listed on the SIX S ...
: one in a meadow near the rectory garden is thought to be in situ; the other in the churchyard has ornament on the four sides of the shaft. The churchyard cross is made of a massive piece of moorland granite; it has similarities to the cross in the graveyard at
Merther Uny
Wendron ( kw, Egloswendron (village), Pluw Wendron (parish); historically St. Wendron) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, to the north of Helston. The parish population at the 2011 census was 2,743. The electora ...
. Glebe Cross has crosses in relief on either face of the cross head.
The Old Rectory cross at
Ruan Lanihorne
Ruan Lanihorne is a civil parish and village in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately four miles (6.5 km) east-southeast of Truro between the River Fal and its tributary the Ruan River.Ordnance Sur ...
is a small Gothic latin cross in the grounds of the Old Rectory. It was found buried in the churchyard before 1920 and taken to what was then the new rectory.
There is a Cornish cross in the churchyard of
St Austell
St Austell (; kw, Sans Austel) is a town in Cornwall, England, south of Bodmin and west of the border with Devon.
St Austell is one of the largest towns in Cornwall; at the 2011 census it had a population of 19,958.
History
St Austell was ...
which was found buried in the ground on the manor of Treverbyn in 1879. This cross was erected in the churchyard on a new base in 1879. Another cross is in the grounds of a house originally known as Moor Cottage. This house was built in 1819; the cross was brought from Hewas in the parish of
Ladock
Ladock ( kw, Egloslajek) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is about six miles (9.5 km) north-east of Truro.
Historically, Ladock was two small settlements; Bissick by the river and Ladock on the hill. ...
.
The Biscovey Stone, St Blazey, is the shaft of an ancient
Celtic cross. It was inscribed, but the text is no longer readable. There are several theories about the stone; one says it dates from around 600 AD to show the
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country ( Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the No ...
advance into the county, another puts the date at around 900 AD. The head is thought to have been removed during the
Reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and i ...
. The stone served as a gate post near the St Blazey turnpike gate. In 1896 it was moved to St Mary's Church, Biscovey.
Arthur Langdon described the stone in 1896: he read the inscription as "+ Alroron Ullici + filius". It was also described by
William Borlase
William Borlase (2 February 169631 August 1772), Cornish antiquary, geologist and naturalist. From 1722, he was Rector of Ludgvan, Cornwall, where he died. He is remembered for his works ''The Antiquities of Cornwall'' (1754; 2nd ed., 1769 ...
in his ''Antiquities of Cornwall'' (1754), pp. 363–64.
The churchyard cross of
St Dennis has a head of horseshoe shape and is ornamented with some unusual incised ornament.

A roadside
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses e ...
once stood near Nunnery Hill,
St Ewe
St Ewe ( kw, Lannewa) is a civil parish and village in mid-Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, which is believed by hagiographers to have been named after the English moniker of Saint Avoye. The village is situated approximately five miles (8&nbs ...
(
Charles Henderson in 1925 refers to it being at Lanhadron). However, the crosshead and shaft were thrown down in 1873 by a farmer looking for buried treasure, and both pieces were afterwards lost. The base has survived ''in situ'' with an inscription in
insular script
Insular script was a medieval script system originating from Ireland that spread to Anglo-Saxon England and continental Europe under the influence of Irish Christianity. Irish missionaries took the script to continental Europe, where they foun ...
, unreadable except for the word ''crucem''; Elisabeth Okasha dates the construction of this monument between the ninth and eleventh centuries. There is another cross at Corran, about half a mile east of the churchtown. This cross is also known as Beacon Cross since its site is known as the Beacon. There is a cross at Heligan known as Bokiddick Cross; it came from Bokiddick Farm in the parish of
Lanivet
Lanivet ( kw, Lanneves) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately southwest of Bodmin, and before the Bodmin by-pass was built, the A30 road between London and Land's End passed t ...
which was then owned by the Tremaynes who also owned Heligan. The cross in the churchtown stands on a massive base which is the only original part of it. The stones forming the cross came from elsewhere and nothing is known about the design of the original cross.

Fentongollan Cross is a wayside Latin cross in the parish of
St Michael Penkevil
St Michael Penkivel ( kw, Pennkevyl), sometimes spelt ''St Michael Penkevil'', is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is in the valley of the River Fal about three miles (5 km) southeast of Truro. The popul ...
. Only the upper part of the cross is original. Another cross from this parish was taken to Canada in the 19th century and still exists at
Greensville, Flamborough, Ontario.

Treneague Cross (''illustrated Fig. e5'') in the parish of
St Stephen-in-Brannel
St Stephen-in-Brannel (known locally as ''St Stephen's'' or ''St Stephen'') ( kw, Eglosstefan yn Branel) is a civil parish and village in mid Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. St Stephen village is four miles (6.5 km) west of St Austell ...
consists of an ancient cross head mounted on a modern shaft. The cross head was found at Treneague at the end of the 19th century and afterwards attached to a new shaft and set up in the churchyard. Treneague was the site of a chapel which was licensed in 1381.

At the edge of
High Cross
A high cross or standing cross ( ga, cros ard / ardchros, gd, crois àrd / àrd-chrois, cy, croes uchel / croes eglwysig) is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval traditi ...
near Pydar Street in Truro, there is an ancient Celtic cross. A cross in Truro was mentioned in a document of 1290. In 1958 during excavations in St Nicholas Street the upper section of a stone cross was found and placed next to the museum. In 1981 it was erected outside the Marks and Spencer store. After it had been extended with a piece of Hantergantick granite it was re-erected at High Cross in 1988 and dedicated in 1992. It is likely that the cross originally at High Cross was a Gothic latin cross and that this cross was originally a simple
wayside cross
Wayside may refer to:
* Wayobjects, trackside objects
* Wayside (band), an early version of As Friends Rust
* ''Wayside'' (TV series), a television show based on the children's book ''Sideways Stories from Wayside School''
*A rest area
Places
...
.
The vicarage cross at
Veryan
Veryan ( Cornish: ''Elerghi'') is a coastal civil parish and village on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village has been described as one of Cornwall's loveliest inland villages and as ′a mild tropic garden′ ...
consists of an ancient shaft with a modern base and cross head; it was erected early in the 20th century.
Crosses in Pydar hundred
;Parishes C - L
In
Colan churchyard is a 15th-century Gothic cross.
This cross, which was untraced for many years, was found near a hedge in 1908 by Dr. W. J. Stephens of the
Old Cornwall Society
The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies (FOCS) was formed in 1924, on the initiative of Robert Morton Nance, with the objective of collecting and maintaining "all those ancient things that make the spirit of Cornwall — its traditions, its ol ...
. Initially, it was claimed by owners of the property where it was found. In 1970, the Newquay Old Cornwall Society intervened and were successful in having the cross installed in the churchyard.
A Cornish cross stands against the wall of the north transept of
parish church. The small cross head was brought to the churchyard about 1860 from Ellenglaze Lane and mounted on a shaft brought from outside the churchyard.

There are two Cornish crosses and two cross bases (at Tredinnick Cross and Reperry) in the parish of
Lanhydrock
Lanhydrock ( kw, Lannhedrek, meaning "church enclosure of St Hydrock") is a civil parish centred on a country estate and mansion in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The parish lies south of the town of Bodmin and is bounded to the north by Bodmin par ...
. One cross is in the churchyard (''illustrated Fig. f5'') and the other is half a cross head at Treffry. The cross in the churchyard is ornamented on all four sides of the shaft. Of the Reperry Cross only the base remains but the cross was illustrated in the ''Gentleman's Magazine'', vol. 75 (1805). In addition to these there is a cross called Bodwen Cross; this cross was recorded in 1850 but was not mentioned by J. T. Blight or Arthur Langdon. It was found again in 1937 near
Helman Tor
Helman Tor ( kw, Torr Helman) is a granite hill in mid Cornwall, UK with several separated tors, and is designated as a (non-statutory) County Geology Site (with similar criteria to a County Wildlife Site). The hill also has a Scheduled Ancien ...
in the parish of Lanlivery. It was taken from there and erected in the new cemetery at Lanhydrock. A request for it to be returned to Lanlivery to a site on the Saints' Way was refused.

In the churchyard of
Lanivet
Lanivet ( kw, Lanneves) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately southwest of Bodmin, and before the Bodmin by-pass was built, the A30 road between London and Land's End passed t ...
are two ancient stone crosses (''illustrated Fig. f6'') and a rare example of a
hogback grave dating from
Viking
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and s ...
times. Arthur G. Langdon (1896) also records the existence of four more stone crosses in the parish. Andrew Langdon (1994) records 13 crosses: two in the churchyard and Bodwannick Cross, Reperry Cross, St Ingunger Cross (''illustrated Fig. f8''), Fenton Pits Cross, Lesquite Cross (''illustrated Fig. f7''), Treliggan Cross, Laninval Cross, Tremore Cross, Woodley Cross, St Benet's Cross and Lamorick Cross.
;Parishes P - W
There are two Cornish crosses in the parish of
Padstow
Padstow (; kw, Lannwedhenek) is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately northwest of Wadebridge, northwest of Bodmin and ...
: one is built into a wall in the old vicarage garden and another is at
Prideaux Place
Prideaux Place is a grade I listed Elizabethan country house in the parish of Padstow, Cornwall, England. It has been the home of the Prideaux family for over 400 years. The house was built in 1592 by Sir Nicholas Prideaux (1550–1627), a dis ...
(consisting of a four-holed head and part of an ornamented cross shaft). There is also part of a decorated cross shaft in the churchyard.

St Piran's Cross at
Perranzabuloe
Perranzabuloe (; kw, Pyran yn Treth) is a coastal civil parish and a hamlet in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Perranzabuloe parish is bordered to the west by the Atlantic coast and St Agnes parish, to the north by Cubert parish, to the ...
(believed to be the earliest recorded stone cross in Cornwall) stands in the dunes between the oratory site and the graveyard of the old church. It is dedicated to tinners and miners and stands high. Arthur Langdon suggested that the shaft had once been ornamented but the ornament had not survived because of the poor quality of the granite.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded four Cornish crosses in the parish of
St Allen
St Allen ( kw, Eglosalan (hamlet), Pluw Alan (parish)) is a civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The church town of St Allen is an isolated hamlet and the main settlement in the parish is Zelah which is situated on the A30 trun ...
: one at the farm of Lower Town is buried upside down in the ground; the others are defaced crosses at Tolcarn, Trefronick and Trevalsa. Andrew Langdon (1994) also recorded four crosses as well as a font adapted from a Gothic cross base. Three of these crosses (''illustrated Fig. f9, f10 & f11'') are in the churchyard, of which one was removed from Trefronick Farm in 1911. Andrew Langdon (citing a 1913 paper by William J. Stephens in the ''Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall'') notes that Arthur Langdon had described the same cross twice, as Trevalsa cross and Lower Town cross are the same.

There are four Cornish crosses in the parish of
St Columb Major
St Columb Major is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Often referred to locally as ''St Columb'', it is approximately southwest of Wadebridge and east of Newquay
Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 ''Newquay ...
: two are in the churchyard (one of these is St Columba's Cross; ''illustrated Fig. f12''), one is at the hamlet of
Black Cross and another (defaced) at Black Rock. In 1856 the old college buildings next to St Columb church were pulled down and a stone cross from the site was rescued and re-erected near the church door.
As of 1896 there were a Cornish cross and four cross bases in the parish of
St Columb Minor
St Columb Minor ( kw, Sen Kolumm Vyghan) (Latin: ''Columba Minor Sancta'') is a village on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.
''St. Columb'' alone by default refers to the nearby St. Columb Major.The village of St Columb Minor ...
: the cross was at Cross Close and is unusual in being almost circular in section. This cross, known as Double Stiles or Three Stiles Cross (''illustrated, Fig. f13'') was moved to a new position when a housing estate was built in 1954. A cross formerly at Lavethan, Blisland, was sold in 1991 and set up in a cottage garden in Newquay.
There is a stone cross in the churchyard of
St Enoder
St Enoder ( kw, Eglosenoder) is a civil parish and hamlet in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hamlet is situated five miles (8 km) southeast of Newquay. There is an electoral ward bearing this name which includes St Columb Road. The populatio ...
which was found beside the road from the churchtown to Fraddon. It was set up in the churchyard in 1879 but moved to a different position in the churchyard in 1893.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded two Cornish crosses in the parish of
St Mawgan
St Mawgan or St Mawgan in Pydar ( kw, Lanherne) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The population of this parish at the 2011 census was 1,307. The village is situated four miles northeast of Newquay, and the ...
: one, a small cross, is at Mawgan Cross and the other at Lanherne. The Lanherne cross is a highly ornamented example and stands in the grounds of the nunnery having been brought from Roseworthy in the parish of
Gwinear. "It is the most beautiful specimen of an elaborately decorated cross in Cornwall." Andrew Langdon (1994) records four crosses. These are the Lanherne cross, the churchyard cross, Bodrean Cross and Mawgan Cross. The churchyard cross is the best preserved medieval lantern cross in Cornwall. Bodrean Cross (a cross head and small part of the shaft) was found in 1904 at Bodrean Farm in the parish of St Clement. In 1906 the cross head was provided with a new shaft and set up in St Mawgan churchyard.
The mutilated head of a medieval lantern cross was found buried in the churchyard of
St Newlyn East
St Newlyn East ( kw, Eglosniwlin) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is approximately three miles (5 km) south of Newquay. The name St Newlyn East is locally abbreviated to Newlyn East and acco ...
in 1959.
William Borlase
William Borlase (2 February 169631 August 1772), Cornish antiquary, geologist and naturalist. From 1722, he was Rector of Ludgvan, Cornwall, where he died. He is remembered for his works ''The Antiquities of Cornwall'' (1754; 2nd ed., 1769 ...
left a description of a lantern cross he had seen at Treledra (Treluddra) Farm; it is probable that these two crosses are the same.
In the parish of
St Wenn
St Wenn ( kw, Sen Gwenna) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated six miles (10 km) west of Bodmin and nine miles (14.5 km) east of Newquay. The parish population at the 2011 census w ...
there is a Cornish cross at Cross and Hand, a place in the valley next to Castle-an-Dinas and in the extreme northwest of the parish. This cross (locally known as Crossy Ann) marks the boundary of the parishes of
St Wenn
St Wenn ( kw, Sen Gwenna) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated six miles (10 km) west of Bodmin and nine miles (14.5 km) east of Newquay. The parish population at the 2011 census w ...
, St Columb Major and Roche.
There are two Cornish crosses and a cross base in the parish of
Withiel. One of the crosses is at a road junction about a mile south of the churchtown and the other in the rectory garden. The latter formerly stood in the road outside the rectory but was moved into the garden about 1860; it is in a good state of preservation. The former cross is called Inches Cross; it is thought that most of the cross shaft is buried in the ground.
;Gallery
File:Ancient cross - St Hydroc's Church - geograph.org.uk - 1351273.jpg, Fig. f5: the cross in the churchyard of Lanhydrock
File:Cross in Lanivet Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 56428.jpg, Fig. f6: the cross in Lanivet churchyard
File:Celtic Cross by the Roadside - geograph.org.uk - 155220.jpg, Fig. f7: Lesquite Cross
File:Signpost and Cross - geograph.org.uk - 155228.jpg, Fig. f8: St Ingunger Cross
File:Trefronick Cross.jpg, Fig. f9: Trefronick cross
File:Celtic Cross in St Allen Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 231708.jpg, Fig. f10: a cross in the churchyard of St Allen
File:Old Cross in St Allen Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 231703.jpg, Fig. f11: another cross in the churchyard of St Allen
File:The Victoria history of the county of Cornwall (1906) (14591097209).jpg, Fig. f12: St Columba's Cross
File:DoublestilesCross.jpg, Fig. f13: Double Stiles Cross
Crosses in Stratton hundred
In the churchyard of
Morwenstow
Morwenstow ( kw, Logmorwenna) is a civil parish in north Cornwall, UK. The parish abuts the west coast, about six miles (10 km) north of Bude and within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Morwenstow is the most north ...
is a granite
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses e ...
which is said to have been moved from a nearby moor by Parson Hawker to commemorate the death of his first wife, Charlotte. Her initials C E H are carved on the shaft. A round-headed Celtic cross was found at Tonacombe, Morwenstow, in the early 20th century; no round-headed cross was known north of Laneast before this one was found. This cross is Grade II* listed as "Red Cross Stone in Pleasaunce to the east of Tonacombe Manor".
Crosses in Trigg hundred
Arthur Langdon (1896) records twelve stone crosses in the parish of
Blisland
Blisland ( kw, Blyslann) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is approximately five miles northeast of Bodmin. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 565. This had increased to 608 at the ...
, of which one is at St Pratt's Well and four are at Lavethan. Others are Peverell's cross and crosses at Cross Park, in the village, at Tregaddick and two crosses at Trewardale. Andrew Langdon (1996) records crosses at Cross Park, in the churchyard, in the village, as well as St Pratt's Cross, Peverall's Cross, one at Tregaddick, three at Lavethan and three at Trewardale.
Arthur Langdon (1896) records three Cornish crosses at
Bodmin
Bodmin () is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated south-west of Bodmin Moor.
The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character. It is bordere ...
; one was near the Berry Tower, one was outside Bodmin Gaol and another was in a field near Castle Street Hill.
Carminow Cross
Carminow Cross is a stone Celtic cross near a major road junction southeast of Bodmin in mid-Cornwall, England. Immediately to the north is Castle Canyke, an Iron Age fort. The cross is a Grade II* listed building
In the United Kingdom, a ...
(''illustrated Fig. g4'') is a stone
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses e ...
near a major road junction southeast of Bodmin. The cross is a Grade II*
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern I ...
.
See also Fig. g3.

Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded that there were six stone crosses in the parish of
Egloshayle
Egloshayle (pronounced "eglos-hale" kw, Eglosheyl – meaning church and ''heyl'' meaning estuary) is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is beside the River Camel, southeast of Wadebridge. Th ...
, including two in the parish churchyard and one at Washaway. Three-holes Cross is about a mile and a half north of Egloshayle at a crossroads. A stone cross head (''illustrated Fig. 1, bottom left'') at
Pencarrow was described by Arthur Langdon (1896). It was found c. 1870 on the estate and afterwards set up in the grounds.
Arthur Langdon (1896) records seven crosses and six cross-bases in the parish of
St Breward
St Breward ( kw, S. Bruwerd) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is on the western side of Bodmin Moor, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Bodmin. At the 2011 census the parish population including Cooksland ...
: two of the crosses are at Lanke; other crosses are at Penvorder, Deaconstow and Middlemoor (illustrated Fig. g5'').
There is a Cornish cross at Polrode Mill in the parish of
; its original site is unknown and the head has been damaged. Job's Cross is on the road from
Trewethern
Trewethern is a hamlet in the Civil parish St Kew, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It contains four Grade II Listed buildings, being Trewethern Farmhouse, Threwethern Cottage, Carns Farmhouse and Walts Cottage, the buildings varying in date ...
to St Kew (''illustrated g8''). See also Fig. g7.

Arthur Langdon (1896) records four Cornish crosses in the parish of
St Mabyn
St Mabyn ( kw, S. Mabon) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated three miles (5 km) east of Wadebridge. The parish includes a hamlet called Longstone to the east and many small manor hous ...
: one in the churchyard and others at Colquite, Cross Hill (''illustrated g8'') and Penwine. The Penwine cross is at
Longstone.
In the churchyard of St Enodoc's Church in the parish of
St Minver
St Minver ( kw, Sen Menvra) is the name of an ecclesiastical parish, a civil parish and a village in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.
The civil parish of St Minver is in Bodmin Registration District and is nominally divided into St Mi ...
is a Cornish cross which consists of a head and upper part of the shaft. These were found built into the churchyard wall in 1863. See also Fig. g9.
There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated g10'') in the cemetery on the other side of the road from the churchyard at
St Teath
St Teath (; kw, Eglostedha) is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom.
Geography
The village is situated approximately three miles (5 km) southwest of Camelford and seven miles (11 km) northeast o ...
. An account of it was given in the ''Antiquarian Magazine'', August 1883. Part of it was once used as a footbridge; it was afterwards used in the churchyard wall but the parts were reunited and repaired; both the head and the shaft are ornamented. There is also a cross base in the churchyard.
Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded the existence of eight stone crosses in the parish of
Temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called church (building), churches), Hindui ...
, including two cross slabs, all in the churchyard. Several of these crosses were subsequently incorporated into a stone outbuilding on the south side of the church.
;Gallery
File:Ancient Stone Cross on Old Callywith Road - geograph.org.uk - 757140.jpg, Fig. g3 a Cornish cross on Old Callywith Road, Bodmin
File:Carminow Cross - geograph.org.uk - 519482.jpg, Fig. g4: Carminow Cross
File:Middle Moor Cross, Bodmin Moor - geograph.org.uk - 419893.jpg, Fig. g5: Middle Moor cross
File:DSCN1894StKewChurchCross.jpg, Fig. g6: a cross in St Kew churchyard
File:Jobs' Cross on the road from Trewethern to St. Kew - geograph.org.uk - 264465.jpg, Fig. g7: Job's Cross
File:Page 191 of 'Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor, in the County of Cornwall. (With illustrations.)' (11060882886).jpg, Fig. g8: The cross at Cross Hill
File:Porthilly cross.JPG, Fig. g9: Porthilly cross (a listed grade 2 medieval four-holed cross in Porthilly Churchyard)
File:St Teath Cross - geograph.org.uk - 689711.jpg, Fig. g10: St Teath cross
Crosses in West hundred
;Parishes B - L
At
Boconnoc
Boconnoc ( kw, Boskennek) is a civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, approximately four miles east of the town of Lostwithiel. According to the 2011 census the parish had a population of 96.
The parish is rural in character and i ...
there are Cornish crosses in the churchyard, on Druids' Hill and in Boconnoc Park. The latter cross was removed here from Lanlivery and has some curious incised ornament.
Killboy or Penventon Cross is a stone cross standing on the route of a disused path which runs from Penventon Farm to
Braddock church. An account of this cross was published in ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' in 1805. The original site of the cross is uncertain.

Two freestanding
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is a form of Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring that emerged in Ireland, France and Great Britain in the Early Middle Ages. A type of ringed cross, it became widespread through its use in the stone high crosses e ...
es of stone (''illustrated Fig. h4, h5 & h5a''), bearing inscriptions in
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...
have been found in
Cardinham
Cardinham ( kw, Kardhinan) (the spelling 'Cardynham' is almost obsolete) is a civil parish and a village in mid Cornwall, England. The village is approximately three-and-a-half miles (6 km), east-northeast of Bodmin. The hamlets of Fletchers ...
; both had been embedded in the walls of the fifteenth-century church and were moved after their discovery to the churchyard. One has been dated to the fifth to eighth centuries, the other to the tenth or eleventh centuries: Arthur Langdon (1896) also records five other stone crosses in the parish. Andrew Langdon (1996) records two crosses in the churchyard, Higher Deviock Cross, Pinsla Cross at Glynn, Poundstock Cross, Treslea or Wydeyeat Cross and Treslea Down Cross.
A cross now in the churchyard of
Lansallos
Lansallos ( la, Lansalux; kw, Lansalwys, meaning ''St Salwys' church'') is a village in the civil parish of Polperro in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated between Polruan and Polperro about 5 miles (8 km) east of Fowey i ...
was mentioned by Arthur Langdon (1896) as being in a field west of the churchyard. In 1919 the rector had it erected in the churchyard.
There are two stone crosses in the churchyard of
Lanteglos-by-Fowey
Lanteglos (Old kw, Nant Eglos, meaning ''church valley'') is a coastal civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is on the east side of the tidal estuary of the River Fowey which separates it from the town and civil parish of ...
. One is a tall Gothic lantern cross (''illustrated Fig. h6'') which was found buried in a trench next to the church in 1838. It has been suggested that it was buried deliberately to prevent its destruction by Commonwealth iconoclasts. It was erected in its present position in 1841. The other cross consists of a cross head found in Pont Pill Creek. When it was moved to the churchyard the corresponding shaft was found there and a few years later c. 1910 it was restored and re-erected. A cross known as Polruan or St Saviour's Cross stands at the top of Fore Street in
Polruan
Polruan ( kw, Porthruwan) is a coastal village in the parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is bounded on three sides by water: to the north by Pont Creek, to the west by the River Fowey and to the south by the ...
. The latter name comes from the former chapel of St Saviour nearby.
Tencreek cross and Culverland cross are stone crosses in the churchyard of
Liskeard
Liskeard ( ; kw, Lyskerrys) is a small ancient stannary and market town in south-east Cornwall, South West England. It is situated approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Plymouth, west of the Devon border, and 12 miles (20 km) eas ...
; the former was found in 1903 at Tencreek Farm and was moved to the churchyard in 1908. The latter was also moved here in 1908 and is thought to have come from a site near Trevecca.
In the churchyard of
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel (; kw, Lostwydhyel) is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739, increasing to 2,899 at the 2011 ...
is a grave of a member of the Hext family with a medieval lantern cross mounted on a modern shaft. The cross head was found in the 19th century at an unknown location and in 1882 set up in the churchyard. It was later moved to its present position.
;Parishes S - W

Arthur Langdon (1896) recorded five Cornish crosses in the parish of
St Cleer
St Cleer ( kw, Ryskarasek) is a civil parish and village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated on the southeast flank of Bodmin Moor approximately two miles (3 km) north of Liskeard. The population of the par ...
; one called Long Tom is at St Cleer Common, another is at St Cleer's Well (''illustrated Fig. h7'') and a cross at Trevorgy is missing. There are also two stones at Redgate of which one is the
Doniert Stone
King Doniert's Stone ( kw, Menkov Donyerth Ruw) consists of two pieces of a decorated 9th-century cross, near St Cleer on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. The inscription is believed to commemorate Donyarth, Dungarth, Kingdom of Cornwall, King of Cornwall, ...
and the other is known at the Other Half Stone. Another cross was discovered at East Fursnewth Farm in 1930 and afterwards removed and erected at Pendean House, Liskeard.
A stone cross was found at Tregoad Farm in the parish of
St Martin-by-Looe
St Martin-by-Looe ( kw, Penndrumm) is a coastal civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish is immediately east of the town and parish of Looe, seven miles (11 km) south of Liskeard. The parish is in the Liskeard R ...
in 1906 built into the wall of a stable. In 1931 it was set up on a new base at Tregoad by the Looe Old Cornwall Society. In 1971 it was removed to the Guildhall Museum in East Looe for preservation. It is a rare example in east Cornwall of a cross with a carved figure of Christ, in this case incised.

Arthur Langdon (1896) records eight Cornish crosses and two cross bases in the parish of
St Neot. Four-hole Cross is located by the main Launceston to Bodmin road close to the milestone showing eight miles to Bodmin. The shaft is ornamented on all four sides. The other crosses are three in the vicarage garden, another in the village, another in the churchyard (its shaft is ornamented on all four sides with interlaced carving; ''illustrated Fig. h8''), and others at Hilltown and Newtown. A cross at Tredinnick, found in 1958, is ''illustrated Fig. h9''; Wenmouth Cross is ''illustrated Fig. h10''.
Bosent Cross (''illustrated Fig. h11'') in the parish of
St Pinnock
St Pinnock ( kw, Sen Pynnek) is a hamlet and civil parish in southeast Cornwall, England, 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Liskeard. Other settlements in the parish include East Taphouse, and Penfrane, containing 421 inhabitants. The parish ...
is a fine 14th-century cross; the cross in the rectory garden came from
Towednack
Towednack ( kw, Tewydnek) is a churchtown and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish is bounded by those of Zennor in the west, Gulval in the south, Ludgvan in the west and south, and St Ives and the Atlantic Ocean in th ...
.
Andrew Langdon (1996) records three stone crosses in the parish of
St Winnow
St Winnow ( kw, Sen Gwynnek) is a civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Its name may be connected with either that of Saint Winnoc or Saint Winwaloe. It has a population of 304, which had increased to 328 at the 2011 census. ...
. A cross found at Higher Coombe in 1903 was afterwards erected at St Nectan's chapel. A cross from Lanlivery was made into the upper section of "The Monument" on Druids Hill. It was brought from
Lanlivery
Lanlivery ( kw, Lannlyvri) is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is about west of Lostwithiel and five miles (8 km) south of Bodmin. The Saints' Way runs past Lanlivery. H ...
in 1846; this monument commemorates the loss of life in the
Battle of Braddock Down
The Battle of Braddock Down was a battle of the south-western campaign of the First English Civil War. It was fought on open ground in Cornwall, on 19 January 1643. An apparently easy victory for the Royalists under Sir Ralph Hopton secured ...
in 1643. A third cross called Waterlake Cross stands in a private garden near Respryn. The third cross had already been recorded by Arthur G. Langdon in 1896; at Waterlake, a hamlet near Bodmin Road station, there is a Cornish cross.
A stone cross was found in the 1920s at East Waylands Farm in the parish of
Talland as part of farm buildings. On 12 May 1930 it was erected at Portlooe Cross, a road junction northeast of Portlooe Farm.
At Tregaminion in the parish of
Tywardreath
Tywardreath (; kw, Ti War Dreth, meaning "House on the Beach" (or Strand)) is a small hilltop village on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, about north west of Fowey. It is located in a sheltered spot overlooking a silted up ...
was a private chapel belonging to the Rashleighs of Menabilly. There is a Cornish cross outside the northwest angle of the chapel. Another cross is also in the chapel grounds; this was found in 1889 in use as a footbridge in Lostwithiel (one cross is ''illustrated Fig. h12'')
Andrew Langdon (1994) records five crosses in the parish of Tywardreath. These are two at Tregaminion, two at Menabilly and Trenython Cross. The crosses at Menabilly are Methrose Cross and Barrs Cross. The former was originally in the parish of Luxulyan and the latter on the boundary of the parishes of St Sampson and Lanlivery. Trenython Cross was found in 1898 by
John Gott, Bishop of Truro; it was re-erected in the grounds in 1987.
There is a Cornish cross (''illustrated Fig. h13'') in the churchyard of
Warleggan
Warleggan or Warleggon ( kw, Gorlegan) is a civil parish on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.
The parish is roughly oblong in shape with hamlets near the church and at Mount. The River Warleggan, a tributar ...
; its original location is unknown but it was brought here from Carburrow. In 1858 it was found on Warleggan Down between Carburrow and Treveddoe; later in the 19th century it was moved to its present position.
[Langdon, A. G. (2005) ''Stone Crosses in East Cornwall''; 2nd ed. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies; p. 69]
;Gallery
File:St. Meubred's church, Cardinham - geograph.org.uk - 750099.jpg, Fig. h4: St Meubred's church, Cardinham (note the cross on the right)
File:Cross in the churchyard, Cardinham - geograph.org.uk - 1364368.jpg, Fig. h5: one of the crosses in the churchyard of Cardinham
File:Cross in the churchyard, Cardinham - geograph.org.uk - 1364375.jpg, Fig. h5a: one of the crosses in the churchyard of Cardinham
File:Churchyard, St. Wyllow, Lanteglos-by-Fowey (geograph 4104994).jpg, Fig. h6: St Wyllow's Church, Lanteglos-by-Fowey (note the lantern cross near the porch)
File:St Cleer holy well.jpg, Fig. h7: St Cleer's holy well, with its stone cross
File:Ancient crosses in St Neot churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 955363.jpg, Fig. h8: ancient crosses in St Neot churchyard
File:Ancient cross at Tredinnick - geograph.org.uk - 955313.jpg, Fig. h9: a cross at Tredinnick (found in 1958)
File:Wenmouth Cross - geograph.org.uk - 290033.jpg, Fig. h10: Wenmouth Cross
File:Bosent cross - geograph.org.uk - 1539389.jpg, Fig. h11: Bosent Cross
File:Celtic Cross in Tregaminion Chapel Yard - geograph.org.uk - 558694.jpg, Fig. h12: one of the crosses at Tregaminion Chapel
File:Ancient cross in Warleggan churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 1547251.jpg, Fig. h13: the cross in Warleggan churchyard
Some modern crosses
File:Celtic Cross in St Just in Roseland Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 308170.jpg, The cross on the grave of Charles Bowen Cooke
Charles John Bowen Cooke (11 January 1859 – 18 October 1920) was born in Orton Longueville (then in Huntingdonshire) and was Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). He was the first to add superheatin ...
, St Just in Roseland
St Just in Roseland ( kw, Lannsiek) is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is south of Truro and north of St Mawes, a small village within the parish of St Just in Roseland. The 2011 Census recorded ...
File:East Taphouse War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 1551298.jpg, East Taphouse
East Taphouse ( kw, Diwotti Est) is a village in Cornwall, England, in the civil parish of St Pinnock, west of Doublebois on the A390 Liskeard to St Austell road.Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 201 ''Plymouth & Launceston'' A little fu ...
war memorial
File:Celtic Cross at the end of Higher Bore Street - geograph.org.uk - 754614.jpg, The cross at the end of Higher Bore Street, Bodmin
Bodmin () is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated south-west of Bodmin Moor.
The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character. It is bordere ...
File:Millennium Cross, Landrake - geograph.org.uk - 99003.jpg, Millennium Cross, Landrake
Landrake ( kw, Lannergh) is a village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately three miles (5 km) west of Saltash in the civil parish of Landrake with St Erney (where the population of the 2011 census was ...
Footnotes
References

*Langdon, Arthur G. (1896) ''Old Cornish Crosses''. Truro: Joseph Pollard (sometimes cited as "Old crosses 1896")
*Langdon, Andrew G. (2005) ''Stone Crosses in East Cornwall''; 2nd ed. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
*Langdon, Andrew G. (2002) ''Stone Crosses in Mid Cornwall''; 2nd ed. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
Further reading
*Baring-Gould, S. (1899). ''A Book of the West ... Vol. 2: Cornwall''. London: Methuen, pp. 38–43 "Cornish crosses"
*
Blight, John Thomas (1872) ''Ancient Crosses and Other Antiquities in the East of Cornwall'' 3rd ed. (1872)
* Blight, John Thomas (1856) ''Ancient Crosses and Other Antiquities in the West of Cornwall'' (1856), 2nd edition 1858. (A reprint is offered online a
Men-an-Tol Studios (3rd ed. Penzance: W. Cornish, 1872) (facsimile ed. reproducing 1856 ed.: ''Blight's Cornish Crosses''; Penzance: Oakmagic Publications, 1997)
{{commons category
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlan ...
Cornish culture