THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE CROSSES OF MONMOUTHSHIRE BY Elizabeth 'Harcourt Mitchell. ^Iciantelti IPrititeb for (C,aevleoii antf ^on>noutl)«i)ici! S^ntliiuacian ^«ociat{oi|. ..il. i.i.wi_ rv x ,^iy.>.j. cOMMEKClAL-Sl., NKWl'Okl. 1893- I1 '■ V I THE CROSSES OF MONMOUTHSHIRE BY Elizabeth Harcourt Mitchell. Vvivately ^llriiiteb fov ®aevUo») aixb iMoiimoutljaljice Autlquoviat? Association, HV MULLOCK s. SONS, COMMEKCIAL-Sl., NKWl'OKT. 1893- -3 I ^ TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER, N ^-v U JOHN ETHEf^lNGTON WELCH f^OLLS, Esq. OF THE JHENDF^E, IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHOSE WISH THIS WORK WAS UNDERTAKEN. 629809 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Introductiou 1 Abergavenny Deanery, North West. Cwm-y-oy 6 Grosmont 6 Llanddewi Ehydderch 6 Llanddevvi Skyrrid 7 Llanfoist 7 Llangattock Lingoed 7 Llantilio Pertholey 7 Llanvaplny . 8 Llanvetheriue 8 Llanweuarth Citia 8 Old Uastle 8 Abergavknny Deaneky, Blaenau Gwent. Bedwellty . . 9 Llanhilleth 9 Trevethin 9 Abergavenny Deanery, South West. Bettws Newydd . . 10 Bryngwyn . . 10 Goytrey . . . . '10 Kemeys Commauder 10 Llanartli 11 Llangattock-jiixta-Usk .. 11 Llanover 11 Llanvair Kilgedin 11 Llanflhangel-j uxta-Usk 12 Mamhilad . . 12 Llausaiutli'raed 12 Trostrey 12 Abekgavenny Deanery, East. Tregare Llautilio Cresseney Cwmcarvon Wonastow Peurhos Dingestow . . Dixton Llangattock-Vibon-Avel Mitchel Troy Eockiield PAGE. 13 13 13 14 14 15 15 15 15 16 Itton . . Matherne Pen terry Netherwent Deaneky, East. 17 17 17 Nethekwent Deaneky, Middle. Caerwent Penhow Sudbrook .. . Llanvihangel Rogiet Eedwick Undy . . Magor Portskewett S. Bride's .. 18 18 19 19 19 20 20 20 21 Netheuwen' r Deansuy, West. Bishton Caerloon Kemeys Inferior Llanhenog . . Llanwern Llanfrechfa Wilcriuk Goldcliff . . 22 22 22 23 23 23 23 24 UsK Deanery, Easi. PAGE Llandenny 25 Llanishen . . 25 Llangovan 26 Llanfihangel Tor-j'-Mynydd 26 Kilgwrrwg 26 Wolves Newtou 26 Pen-y-Clawdd 27 TreUeck 27 Penalt 27 Eaglau 27 UsK Deaneky, West. Ghveniesney Llanddewi-Vach Llangibby Llantrissent Tredunnock Usk 28 28 28 28 29 29 Newport Deanery. Henllys Llanvihangel-Llantamam Marshfield S. Bride's, Wentloog . . S. Mellon's Machen Eisca . . Bedwas 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 The Wayside Ceobbes o> Monmouthshike. Market Cross, Gro&mont Stow Hill, Newport Monmoutli Abergavenny Magor 32 32 32 33 33 Vlll. The Wayside Ckosses of Monmouthshire. — Cont. PAGE Eedwick 33 Penalt 34 Tintern Parva 34 Cross Kyrig 34 Cross Careg 35 Cross Las 35 Cross Llwydd 35 Eockfield 36 Trelleck Stone 36 Cross Vaen 36 The May-pole 37 Head of Cross at the Pant . . 37 Skeufrith Wayside Cross and Bridge 37 Caldicot 38 Cross Philip Jack 38 Vemey Cross 38 Cross Vane 39 Cwmcarvan 39 Restokeu Crosses. Llaufrechfa ■ Mou mouth Llano-ua 40 40 41 ILLUSTRATIONS. Abergavenuy Deanery, North West . , opposite page 6 11 11 Blaenau Gwent . . 9 )) >i South West • • ) 10 )) n East 13 Netherwent Deanery, East Middle 17 1» n JJ Middle 20 yy " West 22 Usk Deanery, East . . •26 West . . 28 Newport Deanery .•30 Wayside Crosses . > 32 IJ n 36 Eestored Crosses . . . . 40 INTRODUCTION The crosses of Monmouthshire are neither so numerous as those of Cornwall, nor so beautiful as the best examjjles in Glamorganshire and Gloucestershire, yet they possess an interest of their own and in the study of their remains nuich may be learnt and luucli is to be admired. 1 have divided this W(jrk into two portions ; the first contains all the churchyard crosses I have been able to discover, the latter the wayside crosses I have succeeded to the best of my ability in identifying. In the part containing the wayside crosses it is probable that there are some inaccuracies owing to the lapse of time and the death of })ersons acquainted with local traditions. In nearly every case the site of each cross has been pei-sonally visited, and in some of the churchyards tlie base of the cross has been dug out of the turf. In the ten rural deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Monmouth there exist remains of seventy-nine churchyard crosses. These are very unequally distributed, the ancient and agricultural deaneries having a great many : the modern and manufacturing ones, such as Abergavenny Blaenau Gwent, very few. Some of the bases, shafts, and remains are extremely handsome : notably Mitchel Troy, Bettws Ncwydd, Raglan, Bedwas, and Undy. Some of them are little more than square stones, or a piece of turf marking the site. In many instances trees have been planted where the old crosses stood, and it is very regrettable that in some places the vegetation has been allowed to intertwine and entangle the handsome base and steps to such an extent as to render restoration impossible. The old chm-cliyard cross belonged to the old Church life, and as the old Church life revives amongst ourselves it is to be hoped that the churchyard cross will again form one of its holy and picturesque features. In ancient days people were anxious to be buried near it, it fcjrmed the goal of processions, and the words of life were often heard from its steps, whilst on festival days it was hung with garlands. It had its secular uses too ; bargains were struck beneath it and engagements so made were considered binding. The Parish clerk proclaimed the news f i*om its steps after the morning service when pt)sts were few and far between, and there were no newspapers ; and tlie lowest step, so often hollowed under- neath, shows its emjjloyment as a seat for the village elders. A little attention to detail wU in many instances give us the approximate date of these crosses. The Rev. Elias Owen in his " Old Stone Crosses of the Vale of Clwyd" tells us that tapering octagonal shafts with scjuare broaches belong to the fourteenth century. We have many of these. In fact there seems to have been quite a rage for cross building at that time. The ballilower ornament at Mitchel Troy and Bedwas speak of the same period, whilst the line work of Undy shaft and the shape of the head of the Caerwent cross seem to speak to us of the fifteenth century. In some places the ribs and mouldings of the base tell us of the same period of building, almost of the same architect. In a few instances the bases of wayside crosses have been moved into churchyards for safety : these require to be carefully noted and distinguished, or they may be mistaken for the original churchyard crosses. In all cases the history of each stone should be investigated. The destruction of crosses in and near populous })laces and towns has been alas ! thorough and complete. Usk, Monmouth, Newport, Chepstow, Abergavenny, are one and all destitute of a handsome flight of steps, a carved base, or anything but the poorest remains where we have reason to believe that these towns were once rich in such reHcs. In out of the way places, on the contrary, very imposing fragments exist, and in some instances the head of the cross was merely knocked off (perhaps hidden,) to comply with the letter of the law. In Queen Elizabeth's days an attempt was made to get an order to destroy all the churchyard crosses, but that Sovereign would not sanction it. In 1643 however, the Puritans succeeded, and an order was issued for theii- destruction, and committees of magistrates were to be formed in every county to carry this out. Thus we owe the ruin of these sacred memorials, not to the wanton and temporary rage of Cromwell's soldiers as they scom-ed the country, but to the cool deliberate bigotry of the Parliament in London. In only one instance has a churchyard cross been left with its ancient head, at Kilgwrrwg, and tliis prolmbly because the iconoclasts could not get it off as the whole cross is very hard and cut out of one piece. It may have owed its mimunity to the fact of not being carved with figures. One wayside cross, Croes Llwydd, retains its ancient head, probalily because it had no figures, or perhaps a cavalier knight or squire ruled in that neighbourhood. In very few instances has a cross retained more than a small portion of its original shaft. All the restorations have been carried out according to modern ideas, with the exceptions of Pen-y-Clawdd and of Llanfrechfa churchyard crosses, which are not unpleasing in theii- attempt to reproduce the mediaeval spirit. The wayside crosses have been more difiicult to identify than the chm-chyard, and in many cases the name has survived whilst the thing has gone. In Monmouthshire there are about thirty known sites : of these about seventeen have some trace of a stone. Some remains are very interesting though not so nmch so as those in Cornwall. It is more tlian probable that there are many more mikuown to the antiquaiy, but hidden away in corners of old paths and in field ways, and in the ditches that used to serve as roads. It is also likely that these crosses and also those in the churchyards were built upon the sites of others still more ancient. Pelliccia in his " Ecclesiastical Polity" writes thus of the extreme antiquity of wayside crosses : . " The ancients were accustomed to set up very high crosses in the public streets. Chrysostom tells us that this was the custom in his time at Constantinople and other places in the East. AVherefore Balsamon says : Holy images and crosses are set up by one who is thus disposed : and for Grod's. sake, and for the sake of piu'e faith towards His saints, we adore and salute holy things of this kind wherever they are erected. According to Eusebius this custom was first begun by Constantine the Great who, as he tells us, set up in aU places triumphal little colmims clearly marked with a cross. The Emperor did this that he might entii-ely eradicate every monument of Pagan religion ; f(_)r he ordered that crosses should be erected in all places where there was a Bivilia (a statue of the goddess who delivers from straj'ing from the paths) of the Romans, or a three headed Hermes of the Greeks, (Mercurius Triceps) which used in those times to stand in the public roads, and therefore, the endeavour which some are making to restore tliis ancient use, and to place crosses in the public roads is a design worthy of all j^i-aise ; it is but folly to say that this design is one wliich is forbidden by the laws of the Empei-or, for such objections to the ancient policy were nowhere made by him ; the Imperial laws merely forbid the indiscriminate erection of crosses, because fonnerly any spot of ground on which a cross was raised became the property of that Clim-ch to which the cross belonged." — Bellett's translaticm, p. 396. Before leaving the subject of wayside crosses, it may be well to refer to the custom of burying suicides *' at the cross roads." Of course such persons could not be laid in consecrated ground but it is fair to imagine that this practice was a merciful alternative. The suicide was forbidden bui'ial beneath the shadow of the churchyard cross but he was allowed a resting-place where the arms of the wayside cross stretched out, a fitting emblem of the mercy of Him who knoweth the sorrows and temptations of all hearts. I must mentif)n that the drawing of the Monmouth cross, the ]\Iaypolc ])ase, the head of the Pant cross, and of the old Bridge at Skenfrith are from photographs liy ]\Ir. Tudor Williams, photographer, of Monmouth. And in conclusion, I beg heartily to thank Mrs. Bagnall Oakeley for her drawings of Penalt churchyard cross and of the " resting stone " at Trelleeh ; the Rev. W. B. Oakeley for a sketch of Penalt wayside cross ; Miss Crawley of Bryngwyn for guidance and information concerning the wayside crosses in her neighbom-hood ; Mrs. Still for affording me facilities for drawing and examining the cross at Caerwent ; Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas for helping me in the vicinity of Llanweni ; the Rev. T. Pitt Eykyn for infoi-mation about Magor and Redwick ; the Rev. Watkin Davies for his help at Mathenie, without which I should never have found the base of the old cross under a pump ; the Rev. Mr. Morris of Llanvihangel Rogiet for much valuable information and kind hospitality ; and above all to my husband, Frank Johnstone Mitchell, F.S.A., who by his unwearied hel}} (especially in measurements) and his hearty spnpathy in the whole undertaking made the days spent in these investigations some of the happiest of my life. Elizabeth Hakcouk'I' MrrciiELL. Llanfrechfa Grange, Caerleon, 1893. Abergavenny Deanery, North West. CWM-Y-OY. A broken shaft fixed in a base broached at the corners. Base, 3 feet square, 2 feet 10 inches high, on four shallow steps, rough and broken. On South side of Cwin-y-oy Church. In the garden of a neighbouring fann house, the stone crucifix to the right is shown as the head of the chui'chyard cross, but this is doubtful as it has nothing on the reverse side. It is more probably a gable cross or one that has been built into a wall. The figure has a curious crown, something in the shape of a Lombardic M, and the feet are tui'ned inwards. GROSMONT. A handsome broached octagonal base, 2 feet 6 inches high and 4 feet across ; bearing remains 4 feet 6 inches high of octagonal shaft, neatly broached. It stands on the North side of the Church. LLANDDEWI RHYDDERCH Has remains of a churchyard cross on the South side of Clhurcli. About 3 feet 6 inches of octagonal shaft broached, resting on a handsonie base 2 feet 1 inch high and 1 2 inches s(]uare, with corners ribbed and moulded. There are fom- steps, the lowest (12 feet square and 1 foot 4 inches high) is Ijevillcd, to serve for a seat. The whole is enveloped in a tangled mass of grass, ferns, and shrubs. <&^)twc^p$crb ^ro;5/e^,^l3e¥2«' inches high, 1 foot U inches scjuare. The steps are U feet, 7 feet, and 4 feet G inches sipiare, and 1 foot 'S inches high. Pai't of the shaft has been recut and used to carry a sundial. LLANHILLETH. Part of an octagonal shaft, 1 foot 8 inches, with vcrv long bruaches, on square base deeply cut at the corners. It is at present on the North side of the Church, l)ut looks as if it had been moved. The base is 2 feet 4 inches square at the top and 1 foot 10 inches high. It has been placed upon a rough brick stand. Near it is the old Font, 15 inches l)y 14 s(juarc inside and 7 inches deep. TREVETHIN. On the West side of the Church opposite the tower stands a base and part of the sliaft of the ancient churchyard cross, mounted upon one old step. The shaft is octagonal, the base broached and square with i-ibs at the corners. 2 feet 6 inches square at the bottom and 1 foot 10 inches liigh. About 1 fool 7 inches of tlie old sliaft remains, the upper part of the shaft and ilie head was reljuilt ])\ (lie lale Vicar, the Rev. J. Llewellyn. 10 Abergavenny Deanery, South West. BETTWS NEWYDD. A broached octagonal shaft on a very handsome square base, having on its sides, 1 — St. George's Cross ; 2 — St. Andrew's Cross ; 3 — A large quatrefoil ; 4 — Two small ([uatrefoils. It stands (jn three steps in the churchyard, and on the South side of the Church of Bettws Newydd, near Usk. BRYNGWYN Has a restored chui-chyard cross on the South side of the Chm-ch. The base is ancient, with the usual broached corners. It is 2 feet 8 inches square and 1 foot 9 inches GOYTREY. Remains of a cross on South side of Church. About 2 feet of the original shaft broached. The base is 3 feet square and 2 feet high, and is by no means of ancient appearance. The steps have been removed. The lowest one must have been 12 feet square by the line still remaining. KEMEYS COMMANDER. Remains of a cross on South side of Church, once on three ste})s. The steps arc now all broken and overgrown by grass. The lower step, 7 feet 8 inches square, with hollow moulding. The base with hole for shaft is lying near ; it is 2 feet 8 inches square, with cliamfered comers. «^ur4pard /e«>'. l'XelI)e^"oofCavt Be2:ne-i^ <3^£c^t. -4 ^ i . ^ -t ITTON MATHER Kit . PENTERRY, i-Ml 17 Netherwent Deanery, East. I cau only find three ci'osses in this Deanery. The others appear to have been destroyed, root as well as branch. ITTON. Here are remains of a very curious cross, a shaft consisting of a pillar formed of four half-rounds. This shaft is 9 inches square and 4 feet high. It stands on the South side of Itton Churcli. MATHERNE Has the base of a churcliyard cross very much worn, with socket for shaft. It has been moved from its original place on the South of Matherne Church, and is now in the yard of the old Episcopal Palace of Matherne, doing duty as a cistern to a ^Dump. The foundation and steps in the churchyard were destroyed in order to make room for the grave (if General Williams. PENTERRY. The Ijase and part of a shaft stands on South side of Penterry Church, on a mound under a thorn tree. The base is oblong, 2 feet 2 inches by 1 foot 10 inches, and slopes. The shaft is 2 feet 8 inches high, and is octagonal and broached. 18 Netherwent Deanery, Middle. caerwp:nt. • This is part of the broken head of a cross, but whether the churchyard or the village cross, is not known. It is kept at Mr. Till's, of the Great house in the village of Caerwent, and he bought it for one shilling from a cottager who found it in her garden. The face represents the crucifixion, with S. Mary and S. John. The reverse has the Holy Child and the Virgin Mother. The latter is seated on a chair, her right hand on the Child's shoidder ; her left, a very large one, grasping the stem of a flower. The Child is standing on the arm of the chair, and is clothed in a long dress. On one end of the head is a figure which probably represents a Bishop, with staff and book. The carving on the opposite end is undecipherable. Owing to its weather worn condition, the whole appeared in a state of dire confusion, and it was only after some hom-s of careful cleaning that the above could be made out. The head is 1 foot 2 inches high, and 1 foot 1 inch wide, and 7 inches across. PENHOW. This has been a veiy fine cross. The remains consist of three steps, 2 feet 2 inches high, 1 foot 2 inches, and 6 inches. They are 10, 8, and 6 feet square. The lowest step is remarkably high and handsome. A large yew tree grows out of the highest step. It is said that the Kell;)cYi. .Bc^'xaicrK) iXy^bbU HEAD OF CROSS FOUND AT CAERWE-NT FACE or CROSS WITH FlGvURPS OF OUR UORD , S. MARY AND S.OQHN. SKD OF CROSS BVSHOP \V>Tl-» STAFF AMD BOOK ? Reverse or cross with S.MARV /!i.tsiO THe CHIV-U, LHD OF CROSS UNDECIPHERABLE a-^io) 19 cross fell down about 200 years ago, and the yew tree was planted by the grandfather of a sexton who is buried near it. The steps and the yew tree are on the South side of the Church. SUDBROOK (Holy Tkinitv). Near Portskewett stand the ruins of the ancient Chapel of Sudbrook or Southbrook, and in the churchyard is the base of a cross of very good design, broached and chamfered at the corners, and of the usual 14th century type. The drawing is copied from one by J. E. Lee, Esq., F.S.A., printed in the " Description of the Churches of Runstou, Sudbrook, Dinham, and Llanbedr," Ijrought out by the Caerleon and Monmouthshire Antiquarian Society in 1858. LLANVIHANGEL ROGIET Has three steps very much broken, on the South side of the Church. The lowest is extremely high. Large blocks of stone form these steps, which are 2 feet, 1 foot 5 inches, and 1 foot 2 inches high, and 9 feet 6 inches, 6 feet 4 inches, and 4 feet square. The base has been cut in half and built into the N.W. and S.W. corners of the tower buttresses. It is 2 feet high. REDWICK (St. Thomas's). Square base of the old churchyard cross. It formerly stood near the wall of the churchyard, but was moved by the Rev. Pitt Eykyn because it had been worn down as a 20 stepping stone. It is now near the chancel. It nieasm'es 1 foot high and 2 feet 2 inches square. The shaft socket is 10 inches deep. UNDY. On the South side of Chui'ch is a base and part of a very handsome and peculiar shaft, with a kind of canopy work upon it. The base is of the usual kind, chamfered and broached at the four comers, but sloped in the uj^per part in a peculiar manner and diWded by ribs. It is inserted and partly buried in a very large grassy step, apparently the lowest of three. Probably the others were removed for building purposes. The base is 1 foot 6 inches high and 2 feet 10 inches square ; the shaft, 2 feet 6 inches high. The grass step, 10 feet square and 1 foot 6 inches high. MAGOR. Remains of a cross on South side of Church. The base and two broken steps each a foot high, 8 feet 6 inches, and 5 feet 6 inches square. An evergreen is j^lanted where the shaft ought to be. It was planted by a Mr. Churchwarden Hodges, about the year 1832. PORTSKEWETT. Near the path on the North East side of Chm-ch stands an octagonal shaft, chamfered and broached on a much worn base square and broached. Seven feet of the fine old shaft still remains. The base is 2 feet high and 2 feet 9 inches square. It rests ujjon a handsome flight of five steps, 16, 15, 12, 11, and 9 inches high ; and 13 feet 6 inches, 11 feet, 8 feet 6 inches, 6 feet 8 inches, and 4 feet 6 inches square. This is a remarkably fine specimen. SUDBROOK PENHOW. .v\\«^WS^^ >-«=.^ LLANVIWKNGEU :n ■■t-ir,.-..-v-^ MAGOR . Pary OV ©uo S. BRVDE'S ^.l;.09. 21 S. BRIDE'S Churchyard cross stands close to the entrance gate of the chui'chyard. The base only is ancient and measures 1 foot 6 inches high and 2 feet 9 inches square. About two feet of the original shaft lies near it. On the preaching step is this inscription : " Restored to the glory of God, and to commemorate the jubilee of a good Queen's reign, June 20, 1887." This was done by the Rev. J. R. Jones, the Rector, who resigned in 1891. 22 Netherwent Deanery, West. BISHTON. On the North side of the Church is a square stone, lialf buried- iu the earth. It is of oolite, much weathered aud worn. The shaft is broken off at the base, which is 2 feet 7 inches square. CAERLEON. On the South side of the Church are the remains of a cross, consisting of a square base, 2 feet high, with the corners chamfered off, and part of the ancient octagon shaft which at present carries a lamp. KEMEYS INFERIOR. On the high ground of the churchyard, to the South of the Church, is the base of a cross. It is of octagonal form, broached at four corners. The turf had to be scraped off in order to render it visible. Against the Cliurch wall an old stone was found ; this proved to be a gable cross, and had probably been placed on the hip knob of the Church or chancel after one of the alterations or restorations of the building. On further examination it appeared to have been carved out of the head of the churchyard cross, the crucitix is roughly cut on one side and S. Mary on the other. What remains of the stone is 19 inches high and 10 inches wide. In this Church in the beginning of this centmy 200 skuUs were found under tlie rood loft staircase, and also the image of our Lord in wood belonging to the rood. This image is now in Caerleon Museum. II-barcbgaYb (t'^Q0e^- i^^tl)^^'^^*^^ "B^Anzr^^ ^i(¥t- : ^^^^sV,-,: i^.^2^. Mr '•■■"*v}k«j v.,^^^<^i: ^VvCv-"^- ri:j§-"'.4»»|*~'Sl.S*^ vt-^u^RECH^"■A "^L'^ ^v\.u«./' ^^.v WlUtRlCK I % M- ■a. LIANNVFK.H 23 LLANHENOG. A handsome base with ribbed corners, 2 feet 6 inches square and 2 feet high. It bears part of the ancient shaft, and is on its original site, but was mounted on two steps by the. late Sir Digby Mackworth, of Glanusk, about A.D. 1840. LLANWERN. A base deeply sunk in the ground on the South side of the Church. It is broached at the corners, but much damaged, and is 2 feet 5 inches square. It carries part of the ancient octagonal shaft, 4 feet 6 inches high, and stands near the tower. LLANFRECHFA. Base of a cross on the South side of the Church. It is quite plain and much iujm-ed by pieces having been broken off to sharpen scythes with. A very old inhabitant of this parish told me that this stone stood inside the Church for many years, and that all her childi-en were baptized out of its cavity. It was afterwards replaced beside the Chm-ch pathway, and in 1881 was mounted on thi-ee steps and made the base of a veiy handsome memorial cross. WILCRICK. The base of a cross with hole for shaft, now filled by a modern shaft carrying a sundial. It stands just inside the churchyard gate, near the West end of the Church. The base is bevilled and cut off at the corners. It is 2 feet 6 inches square and 1 foot 4 inches high. 24 GOLDCLIFF. A fine base and shaft, much worn, on South side of Chm-ch. The steps, probably four- in number, have been overlaid with rubbish and turf, forming a mound about 4 feet high. The shaft is octagonal, about three feet of it is left. The base is square with broached comers, 1 foot 10 inches high and 2 feet .3 inches square. ^5 Usk Deanery, East. LLANDENNY. A handsome base on three steps on South side of Llandenny Church. The shaft and head are modern. A metal on the base bears this inscription : " To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Richard, 2nd Baron Raglan. On Easter Day, 1884, the last occasion he worshipped in this Church, he expressed a desire to restore this cross. This intention, frustrated by his sudden death, was carried out by his wife and children, 1884." The base is well moulded and broached, and is 2 feet 4 inches square and 1 foot 6 inches high. The steps are respectively, 10 feet, 8, and 6 feet square ; and 13, 11, and 10 inches high. LLANISHEN. The remains of a cross on the South side of the Church consist of two steps, respectively 5 feet and 7 feet 8 inches square, and 11 and 12 inches high. An imperfect thii-d step exists, 10 feet square. Six feet of the shaft remain ; the shaft is octagonal and broached at the bottom, which is 1 foot 1 inch square. It is fixed much lower in the step than appears in the drawing, which is arranged to show the broaches. The base was removed at some period, and the shaft was then placed deeply in the step instead of in its proper place. 26 LLANGOVAN. A handsome flight of five steps, respectively 12^, 13, 11, 10, and 9 inches high ; and 12 feet, 10, 7 feet 9 inches, (5 feet, and -1 feet 2 inches square. The base of the cross is broached, 2 feet 1 inch high, and 2 feet 7 inches square. 6^ feet of the shaft remains. LLAXFIHANGEL TOR-Y-MYNYDD. Two good steps of large blocks of stone, and a thuxl only on one side owing to the inequality of the ground. The higher step is 7 feet square and 1 foot 3 inches high ; the lower step is 9 feet 6 inches square and 1 ioot -1 inches high. The base has been removed as well as the shaft. These remains are on the South side of the Church. KILGWRRAVG. A plain stone cross on South side of the Chui'ch. It is cut (jut of one block of plum-pudding stone, and has never been destroyed, probably owing to the absence of any figm-e on it. It is 7 feet high and the arms 1 foot 6^ inches wide. The shaft is 8^ inches wide at the base and 7 inches at the top. It is fixed in a base which is 2 feet 10 inches square. WOLVES NEWTON. ThkivE handsome steps much damaged, respectively 12 feet 6 inches, 10 feet 6 inches, and 8 feet 6 inches square ; and 12 inches, 12 inches, and 11 inches high. The lowest step has a set-off. The fom-th and topmost step has been removed. The base is chamfered and broached. It is 2 feet 1 1 inches square and 2 feet high. Four feet of the old shaft remain. This cross is on the South side of Wolves Newton Church. «^J)itfcl)g8r-:^'ib €:Yo^^e/ tl^k Bes:^ty^ &-^p%. Vdil^s-- RAGLAN ^.yj.co. 27 PEN-Y-CLAWDD. A cross on the South side of the Chui-cli, restored from the design of Henry Prothero, Esq. The base is ancient and has the old mortice, but only the lowest step is old. The restoration has been effected in the ancient manner, with a well-cut iigure on the cross, and is very superior to most modern so-called restorations, which are generally as different as possible from the original. TRELLECK. A handsome base on five stone steps in fair condition. The upper part of tlie shaft is modern, as may be seen by the rapid tapering of it. This must liave been formerly a very remarkable and beautiful cross. The remains stand on the South side of the Church. PENALT. A handsome base on three steps on the South side of Penalt Chm-ch. RAGLAN. A very handsome base mounted on four steps on South side of the Church. The steps are respectively 12 feet, 9 feet 9 inches, 8 feet, and 6 feet square. Tlie interesting carved base has a cavity for relics. It is finely broached, and is y feet 3 inches square and 2 feet 1 1 inches high. Tlie top is modern. 28 Usk Deanery, West. GWERXESNEY. . In the North-west part of the churchyard i.s the base of a cross with hole for shaft. It is nicely moulded at the corners, and is 2 feet 5 inches square and 1 foot 6 inches high. LLANDDEWI-VACH. An octagon base on the South-west of the Church, 2 feet square at the bottom and 1 foot 7 inches from the ground. It is not in the original site, and was once used as a font inside the Church. LLANGIBBY. One step, 12 feet 10^ inches square, is all that is left. It is on the South side of the Church. A Scotch tir grows out of the earth and tm*f on the sui-face. LLANTRISSENT. This cross stands on the South side of the Churcli, and consists of a modern cross smiuounting a square modem sliaft, resting on the ancient base, which is chamfered at the corners. It has four very dilapidated steps, 12 feet inches, 10, 8, and 6 feet square. The base is 'S feet square and 2 feet high. fi^u¥ct;^ayi> ^vo^stp tt^Jt Beiincy:n'^S'^e5t. I 29 TREDUNNOCK. Two feet i inches of a broached shaft, set m octagonal stone on a square block, with rounded comers. 2 feet 7 inches square, 1 foot 10 inches high. Steps, probably three, but they are covered by a green bank. It is on the South side of the Church. USK. A })Iain square liase, with a mortice for the shaft, is all that is left of the old cross in Usk churchyard. It stands on the North side of the Chui'ch, and is 3 feet square. 30 Newport Deanery. HENLLY8. A square broached base, much weathered. It has a small portion of an octagonal shaft, and stands upon foui- good steps, the lowest bevilled and hollowed to serve as a seat. The base is 2 feet 8 inches square and 1 foot 10 inches high. The steps are 1 foot 8 inches, 1 foot 2 inches, 12 inches, and -i inches high. The topmost step, -4 feet 9 inches square. LLANVIHANGEL-LLANTARNAM. A very handsome square base, with corners cut and rounded. A great deal of the shaft remains, and is surmounted by a ball, substituted, it is needless to say, in modern times, for the cross. It is mounted on four well proportioned steps, and stands on the South side of the Church. MARSHFIELD. A base standing on South side of Church. It is octagonal and has a quatrefoil carved in one of the panels, but all the work is indistinct and weather-worn. It is 2 feet high and 2 feet 10 inches across ; it carries 13 inches of the old shaft. There are no traces of steps. S. BRIDE'S, WENTLOOG. The site of tliis cross is on the South side of the fine old Church of S. Bride's. It is a square of turf, measuring 13 feet, with a stone in the centre, 2 feet 8 inches square. ^bvvrcbp^r^ tto^^^p XnHte^port ^^s-'n'^WJ Heklly.s ^-^^ -^N. u^Nn^^s^Gt'L llahtk^mam .>AU ' . . j\ ^^U ••^V*'' J.M..-.V S. BRIDE,? , NNEHTUOOG .^vvv-^/:;; '^y. y 5, ^AELLOH'S ,-,^- Hw»»-^^ MACHEK BEDVVAS €009. 31 The size of it shows that a large and probably handsome erection stood here. Most likely a fine flight of steps supported the cross. S. MELLON'S. A square base on South side of Churcli. It is chamfered at the coi'ners and much worn. It carries 2 feet 8 inches of the original octagonal broached shaft, and is 2 feet 4 inches square. MACHEN. Part of a shaft fixed in a base, which has probably been tampered with, as it is sloped in an unusual manner. It stands on two steps on the South side of the Church. The base is 2 feet 1 inch square and 1 foot 8 inches high. The shaft 2 feet 10 inches high. The steps are 7 feet and i feet 1 inches square ; and 1 foot 6 inches and I foot i inches high. RISCA. A square base, 1 foot 2 inches high, with the corners broken off. It bears 2 feet 9 inches of the ancient shaft, chamfered and broached. All much weather-woi'n. On South side of Church. BEDWAS. A very handsome octagonal base, with three ball flowers on each panel. About 18 inches of the shaft remain. The shaft is four-sided but not square, two sides being 8 inches wide, and two 1-1 inches. The remains of this cross arc close under the wall of the South side of the Church, but it is probably not on the original site as it stands loose, and is said to have been often carried round the Church by an old man for a bet. 32 The Wayside Crosses of Monmouthshire. MARKET CEOSS, GROSMONT. The base of a market cross in the viEage of Grrosmont. It is under a modern roof of no interest. It is much weather-worn and has a quatrefoil ornament, but has been displaced and is evidently not in proper position. It is 4 feet 2 inches high and i feet broad at the top. STOW HILL, NEWPORT. The base of a cross on the wall of the causeway on Stow Hill, opposite Havelock Street. It formerly stood on the other side of Stow Hill, close to a house called, from that cii-cmnstance. Cross House, but its original site is not certainly known. It is probably a wayside cross, and is severely weather-worn. The height of the base is 2 feet from the wall on which it rests to the shaft, and the width of the top of it is 2 feet 7 inches. MONMOUTH. The base of a cross in the street near over Monnow Church. There was another in White Cross Street oj)posite Dixton Road, and another in or near S. Mary's churchyard. W\BiX^^\ht ^^X'C^^^^p ^if^onmottX^^Vilre MARKET CROSS, GROSMOWr isA ^* '. STOW'HtUL,^'^-^*'-'^'^ k;)onmouth ^l.- CKOK KYRlGi CROES UKS CRO£& LtWYOD ^\)iV 33 ABERGAVENNY. The base of a cross near the Parish Church, but outside the churchyard. It formerly stood at the cross roads. It is niucli weather-worn, but is handsomely broached at the corners, and has a mortice for the shaft. It is 3 feet square and 2 feet high. N.B. — Since this was written it has been removed into the churchyard, and wiU probably bq^ mistaken in future for the churchyard cross. MAGUR. The base of the village cross, rescued from the miU pond by the Rev. T. Pitt Eykyn, and re-christened and placed in the churchyard for safety. It had been laid down half in the water to conceal the entrance of a horrible sewer, which had no business to be emptpng into the village pond. It is an octagonal stone with the shaft socket cut in deeply. (Jld peo})le can remember it standing opposite the Wheat Sheaf Iim, where the chesnut tree now grows. It is 2 feet 10 inches high and 3 feet square at the bottom. REDWICK. A base and part of the shaft of a wayside cross, which formerly stood by the road about 200 yards away from Redwick Church towards Whitsun. The Rev. Pitt Eykyn, when Vicar of Redwick, had it removed into the churchyard for safety, as it was being used for a kerbstone and pieces were broken off. The base is 1 foot 6 inches high and 2 feet broad at the top. AVliat remains of the shaft is 2 feet 3 inches high. ;54 PENALT. The square base of a cross on the cross roads between Monmouth and Penalt Chui-ch, and Trelleck and Penalt Church. It is chamfered at the top, and is 8 feet square and 2 feet hiyh. It has mortice for shaft. TINTEUN PAKVA. This base of a wayside cross is situated near the Tintern Parva Church, by the side of a lane. It has a mortice for shaft and is broached at the corners, but is much broken and defaced. It is 1 foot 9 inches square and 1 foot 2 inches high. CKU8S KYRIG. The base of a cross on the left hand side going from Raglan to Usk. It is tlius mentioned in a letter from the late Rev. Arthur Wyatt to the late John E. W. Rolls, Esq., dated Sept. 4th, 1867 :— " This cross, now standing in a cottage garden and commonly called White Cross, has been removed within the memory of a man still living, aged 88 j'ears. It formerly formed part of Kyrig or Doves Cross, the foot of which may still be seen on the road from Eaglan to Usk opposite Blue Broom, which in my informant's early days went by the name of Las House." With all deference to Mr. Wyatt's opinion, 1 must beg to differ from it ; inasmuch as the stem of Cross Llwydd, which was shown to me in a cottage garden for tlie White Cross mentioned in this letter, could not by any means have fitted into the mortice of tlie base opposite the house known as lilue Broom, being a great deal to(j large. The base is a s(|uare stone chamfered at the top. 3,5 CROSS CAREG. A handsome base at the junction of three roads in the Pai'ish (jf Penrhos. It is clianifered at the corners ; the sides batter slightly, and there is a socket for the shaft. It is 2 feet 3 inches square at the foot, and 1 foot lU^ inches across the top ; and 2 feet 2^ inches high. This is a veiy elegantly shaped base. CROSS LAS. A base and one step in a field amongst trees and long grass, near a lane about three miles South-west of Raglan. The shaft has been broken off, not taken out of the socket. The base is 2 feet 7 inches square and 1 foot high. The step, 3 feet 4 inches by 3 feet 2 inches square, and 10^ inches high. CROSS LLWYDD. A cnjss in a cottage garden behmging to a cottage on Cross Llwyd Farm, about a mile and a half South-west of Raglan. It is the White Cross alluded to under the head of Cross Kyrig. It is a thick shaft with a diamond shaped head moulded all round and hollowed out in the lower part. A cross is carved upon it. It is the only wayside cross I have found with a head. The shaft is 5 feet 6 inches from the bottom to the collar ; 2 feet 3 inches below the ground. It is thick and moulded and the same width all the way up, but chipped at the bottom, no doubt in separating it from the base. The head is 2 feet high and 1 foot 8 inches wide. The whole cross, head and sliaft, has be(^n whitewashed. Miss Crawley writes, " I give the account of the cross to you as it was detailed to us by Mr. Jeffreys, the present ye owner (jf Cross Llwyd Farm. A man living at tlie Blue Broom moved it from the base at the cross roads to his garden ; from that moment he liad no luck with anything ; his animals died, &c. ; he attriljuted his misfortunes to his having sacriligiously taken possession of the cross, so carried it out of his garden and cast it down on a piece of waste ground. Mr. Farr, a pig- jobber, afterwards built a couple of cottages, and enclosed the waste and with it the cross." RUCKFIELD. This is a wayside cross standing in a plantation of spruce firs at the junction of the Abergavenny and Hereford roads. It formerly stood in the churchyard, and was removed to its present position in 1865, on the erection of the present handsome churchyard cross by Sir John Dorney Harding. The shaft is octagonal. It is a plain cross, neatly chamfered. TRELLECK STONE. This wayside cross is on the road from Trelleck to Chepstow. It is still used as a "Resting Cross" by all funerals that pass by it. The bearers cany the corpse from S. to N. and resting the coffin on the step on the West side, change bearers and proceed to the Church, which is about half a mde distant. CROSS VAEN. A wayside cross on a bank near four cross roads, the Raglan, Skenfrith, Abergaveiniy, and ]\Ionmouth. Nothing- is ancient but the base Avhich was found under the steps of Hls:p5\>:;C Ir^u^^ "'^n Aionn\-nttbdn^x :^ — fe^-S^f-XSl "'^-vwx'-'tei'' , \ 'L. Tt X! "o e; 13 S td > *'"' J3 -4-1 o 3 o lu ^4H 'U4 H O c 'X c ^ u W a o o en 13 S > u ^ rt o ^ -*-» ^ K (^ en j!i O o o 0) •v 2 "en J2 o (U ^ "rt en H J3 o o u .^ IL. ."^ X! 3 o C Si en 1) tn O 13 U u o u eU T^ a > a 38 CALDICOT, NEAR CHEPSTOW. In Caldicot Village a cross existed which had a timber pent house or j^ulpit where John Wesley once preached. He notes in his diary this preaching at Caldicot. I have been unable to find any representation of the fonn of this cross. Sad to say the whole was removed on the pretext that it formed a gossiping place for the village, duiing the incumbency of the Rev. E. Turberville Williams. CROSS PHILIP JACK, near ABERGAVENNY. A cross once existed here, but nothing is remembered of it but a heap of stones. VERNE Y CROSS, near CALDICOT, Has only the name. There are no remains. Other names of crosses existed concerning which I have been unable to obtain information or to tiud the remains. Croes-y-Ceilog (cock), between Caerleon and Pont}q3ool. Croes-y-Giach (snipe), near Llantilio. Croes Elm, near Camp Llantilio. Croes Rheol-y-Merch (Horse Road). Croes Bychan. Croes Onen (ash tree). Croes Robert, near Llanover. Croes Howell, near Menachter. Hansen's Cross. Llanvaii" Cross. Cross Ash. Tintern Cross. Llanishen Cross. It is possible that one or two of these names may belong to crosses ah-eady given. 39 CROSS VANE. There was a cross at Cross Vane at the cross roads from the river to Monmouth, and from the Churches of Trelleck and Penalt, but it was broken up many years ago, and the stones of the base are in a wall near the Argoed. CWMCARVAX. The Rev. W. B. Oakeley informs me of the base of an old cross near Cwmcarvan, about 200 yards North of Lower Cwm Farm, fixed in the bank of the old lane running South to Cwmcarvan Hill, and North-west towards Cwmcarvan Church, which is about half a mile distant. It is a rough stone, 2 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 6 inches on surface of base, and 1 foot high. It has a socket for shaft, 8^ inches by 9 ; the depth of which is 6 inches. I much regret that Mr. Oakeley's sketch reached me too late for insertion. 40 Restored Crosses. LLANFRECHFA CHUKCHYAKD CRU8S. Llanfkechfa chm-cliyard cross is restored as far as ])ossible in the ancient manner. The only ancient part is the base which has been repaii'ed and slightly refunded at the corners. On the East face of the head is the crucifixion, with S. Maiy and S. John under a canop}'. On the West face, the Visitation. The ends have respectively the lily and the rose. On the North side of the base is engraved, " To the glory of God, and in beloved memory of John Ethei-ington Welch Rolls, of ye Hendi-e, and Elizabeth Mary Rolls, his \vife, this cross was rebuilt by Frank Johnstone Mitcliell, of Llanfrechfa Grange, and Elizabeth Harcourt Mitchell, his wife, daughter of the above, a.d., MDCCCLXXX ; " and on the East side, " Grant them, O Lord, eternal rest, and let everlasting light shine upon them." The steps are 8, 6, and 4 feet square, and 1 foot 3 inches, 1 foot, and 1 foot high ; the base, 2 feet 4 inches square and 1 foot 8 inches high ; the shaft, 8 feet 6 inches high, and the head, 2 feet 7 inches high and 1 foot 6 inches by 1 foot wide. Mr. W. Clarke was the Sculptor of the head. MONMOUTH WAYSIDE CROSS. This cannot properly be called a cross, for there is no cross in the design. It is a canopy with fom- niches enclosing four very beautiful figures of S. Mary, S. Thonuis, S. Michael, and S. Cenhedlon, oi Purbeck marble. It wa« Jlt^ioreb ^ro^'^^X- LL^^Gu^ church^akd Vmm MOHtWOVJTH YVAVSlD£ ^00 41 l)uilt by the late C. Cromjjton Roberts, Esq., Mr. F. A. Powell being the Architect, and Mr. Wall the Sculptor. The shaft is highly decorated. The ancient base, figured in the tirst jjage of wayside crosses, has been made use of, but is set a little low in the step. LLANGUA CHURCHYARD CROSS. This is placed on the page in a supplementary manner, for St. James's Church, Llangua, is just within the borders of Monmouthshire, but belongs to Kentclmrch in Herefordsliire, and comes not within a Monmouthshire rural deanery. It is a modern cross and sliaft upon the old base. Two shallow steps and one embedded in the grass. The cross and shaft, 7 feet high ; base, 2 feet i inches square and 1 foot 2^ inches high, broached and chamfered, much weather-worn. Steps, 5 feet 10 inches and 4 feet 2 inches square, probably rebuilt as the remains were found covered with turf nearer the South wall of the Church. The cross was rebuilt by Mr. and Mrs. Mathews, of Pontrilas Court, in 1892. 43 INDEX OF PLAGES. PAGE Abergavenny 33 Bedwas 31 Bedwellty 9 Bishton 22 Bettws Newydd . . . , 10 Bryngwyn 10 Caerleon 22 Caerwent 18 Caldicot 38 Cross Careg 35 Cross Kyrig 34 Cross Las 35 Cross Llwyd 35 Cross Pliilip Jack 38 Cross Vaen 36 Cross Vane 59 Cwmcarvan 39 Cwwcarvou 13 Cwm-y-oy 6 Dingestow 15 Dixton 15 GoldclifE 24 Goytrey 10 Grosmont 6, 32 Gwernesney 28 Henllys 30 Itton 17 Kemeys Commander 10 Ken»eys Inferior 22 Kilgwrrwg 26 Llanarth 11 Llanddewi Ehydderch 6 Llanddewi Skyrrid 7 Llanddewi Vack .. 28 Llanilenuy 25 44 PAGE. Llanfoist . . . . . . . . 7 Llanfrechfa . . . . . . . . 23, 40 Llangattock Lingoed . . . . . . . . 7 Llangattock-juxta-Usk .. .. .. 11 Llangattock- Vibon-Avel .. .. .. 15 Llangibbj' . . . . . . . . 28 Llangovan . . . . . . . . 26 Llangua . . . . . . . . 41 Llauhenog . . . . . . . . 23 Llanhilleth . . . . . . . . 9 Llanishen . . . . . . . . 25 Llanover . . . . . . . 11 Uansaintffraed . . . . . . . . 12 Llantilio Cresseney .. .. .. 13 Llantilio Pertholey . . . , . . . . 7 Llantrissent . . . . . . . . 28 Llanvair Kilgedin . . . . . . . . 11 Llanvapley . . . . . . . . 8 Llanvetherine . . . . . . . . 8 Llanvihangel Eogiet .. .. .. 19 Llanvibangel-Llantarnam . . . . . 30 Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd . . . . . . 26 Llanfihangfil-juxta-Usk . . . . . . 12 Llanwenarth Citra . . . . . . 8 Llanwern . . . . . . . . 23 Machen . , . . . . . . 31 Magor . . . . . . . . . . 20, 33 MamliUad .. .. .. .. 12 Marsbfield . . . . . . . . . . 30 Matherne . . • . • • 17 May-pole . . . . . . • • . . 37 Mitcbel Troy .. .. .. ' •• 15 Monmouth . . . . . . . • . 32, 40 Newport . . . . . • 32 Old Castle . . . . . . • • • ■ 8 Pant .. .. .. .. 37 Penalt . . . . . . . . . 27, 34 Penbow . . . . • • • • 18 Penrbos . . . . • • • • '4 Penterry . . . . . . • • 17 Pen-y-Clawdd .. .. .. ..27 Portskewett . . . . . . • • 20 45 Raglan Eedwick Eisca Rockfield Skenfrith . S. Bride's, S. Bride's, 8. Mellon's Sudbrook Tintern Parva Tredunnock Tregare Trelleck Trelleck Stone Trevethin Trostrey Undy Usk Verney Cross Wilcrick Wolves Nowton Wonastow Netherwent Wentloog . PAGE , , 27 19 33 31 •• 16, 36 37 21 30 31 19 34 29 18 27 36 9 12 20 •• 29 38 23 26 14 1_>J.^ A T A^AVhJX XX V^X V^JX Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-50m-ll,'50 (2554)444 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ■*•:•• ^^WV^^^fe: