Crowle

There is a very important pre-Conquest cross shaft in Crowle church – full info in Everson and Stocker, here.

Crowle churchyard cross is a large and imposing structure – so much so, that one can’t help but wonder if it was once the market cross, now come to rest in the churchyard – Crowle had a market charter from 1305 and Cross Street forms part of the old market place, although there are no references to a market cross.

The cross has three broad steps with a massive socket stone set upon them. The steps are un-mortared and very loose. The socket stone is about 0.65m high and has three chamfered corners with big knobs – the fourth corner is different and has probably been damaged.

There is about 1m of shaft surviving, chamfered with corner stops. Pevsner says that this cross is made into a sundial – the sundial is no more, but the top of the shaft has many lead intrusions – which possibly relate to its reuse as a sundial. The socket is also lined with lead. The whole is in well-weathered limestone and has a pleasing, if rickety, look.

But it’s a shame about the sterile churchyard surrounding it . . . it has been stripped of almost everything that a churchyard should have, with just this ramshackle stepped base and cross, with a couple of park benches with a litter bin, fastened down in front of it.

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