21 September 2011

Ancient Cross returns to Dartmoor

An ancient granite cross, discovered last year by a group of walkers on Dartmoor, has been returned to the location of its discovery with a new base constructed by Dartmoor National Park Authority’s stone mason.

The previously unrecorded granite cross was discovered by a group of walkers on the King Way near Bridestowe on northern Dartmoor. Ron’s Ramblers - Ron Johns, Mike Smith, Bill Furneaux, Ed Squires and Peter Hodges - a group of former dockyard workers from Plymouth were enjoying one of their regular Dartmoor walks when they spotted the cross set into a corn ditch wall.

Corn ditches originate from the time when Dartmoor was a royal hunting area and there was a need to keep the King’s deer out of the cultivated land.   A stone revetted wall and external ditch faced onto the open moor which deterred deer and other animals from jumping over,  whilst the sloping grassy bank on the inner face allowed those animals which had entered to exit again without difficulty.

The wall, known as the King Wall, lies close to Great Nodden, along an ancient route known as the King Way.

The cross is cut in relief on just one side.  This is a method of carving where the design stands out from the surface in a raised fashion.  The lower part of the cross shaft has broken off, but when complete it was most probably over 2 metres high.  It is likely that this was once a wayside cross marking an ancient route.
 
The King Way is the Tavistock to Okehampton section of the old coaching route between London to Plymouth along which the King’s Mail was taken.
The King is believed to be Charles I and much of the route can still be found.   However it is very probable that the route was in existence long before this period, and could be associated with Tavistock Abbey and Lydford; both of which have Saxon origins.

Andrew Langdon, an expert on Cornish crosses, has looked at the cross and feels that it is probably post Conquest in date.  The design of the cross is described as being Greek rather than Latin, which is a style much more commonly found in Cornwall than on Dartmoor.

The cross was temporarily removed to Dartmoor National Park Authority’s works yard whilst the new base was made for it by the Authority’s stone mason Andy Cribbett.  During the summer the cross was on display at the High Moorland Visitor Centre in Princetown where it was unveiled with its new base by His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall, as part of the celebrations of Dartmoor National Park’s 60th anniversary.

The cross can be seen on the King Way at Ordnance Survey grid reference SX 5351 8740.

Ends

For further information

Jane Marchand, Archaeologist
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer
Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093

Notes for editors

  Dartmoor National Park Authority’s purposes under the Environment Act 1995 are:

•    to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park;

•    to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area  by the public.

In carrying out this work, we are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.

 Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are available on the Authority's web site.You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority. Subscribe to Dartmoor National park Authority News.

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There are 15 members of the National Parks family in the UK: Brecon Beacons, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, South Downs, Yorkshire Dales, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, the Cairngorms and the Broads.  National Parks are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment.  However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers.  Over 34,500 people live in Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.