Base of Marshchapel (2) – Now displayed to the north of the tower

There are the remains of two crosses in the churchyard at Marshchapel. (1) is a the repaired stump of a standing cross – possibly still in situ; Marshchapel (2) is a socket stone – now re-housed in the churchyard to the north of the tower. Description for (2) below:

Parish/DistrictMarshchapel/East Lindsey
LocationSet on gravel to the north of the tower of St Mary’s Church
CategoryVillage cross
National Grid Refnow at TF 35966 98813 – possibly moved from c. TF 35718 98220
DesignationNone
Stone TypeLimestone
RefsMentioned in Marshchapel churchyard trail leaflet (Item No.6)
VisitsAP 23 Jan 1998 | DS/HH: 23 Aug 2007

The remains of two standing crosses are in the churchyard of St Mary’s at Marshchapel and there is some slight confusion in the records of their descriptions and background, but cross number (2), which is (now) set on gravel to the north of the tower, is generally octagonal in shape, whereas number (1) – listed as a churchyard cross – has a square base.

The HER (and NMR) records suggest that the octagonal base was ‘for a butter cross … found at the crossroads by West End and moved to the churchyard’. West End is a hamlet of Marshchapel.

The socket stone appears to have been octagonal and then trimmed as if to mount against a wall (see sketch). It is c.0.8m across with a socket c. 0.27 x 0.3m – There is a stub of shaft in the socket. Records suggest it is lead lined (we failed to record this).

The 1888 O.S. map shows a guide post at the West End cross roads but no cross. Davies, writing in 1915, records cross (1) in Marshchapel churchyard but does not comment on (2) – Did he miss it? When was it moved to the churchyard?

Marshchapel (2) – Octagonal(?) base with a stump of shaft – said to be originally from West End cross roads.
A sketch of the base of Marshchapel 2 – it seems to be a trimmed octagon
Churchyard Trail Leaflet (HERE)
Marshchapel (2)

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