Part 1

OLD CROSSES AND LYCHGATES

OLD CROSSES AND LYCHGATES

BY AYMER VALLANCE

LONDON

B·T·BATSFORD, L^{TD} 94, HIGH HOLBORN

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE DARIEN PRESS, EDINBURGH

PREFACE

The genesis of this book was an article on "Churchyard Crosses," written by request for the _Burlington Magazine_, and published therein in September 1918. It was at a time when the hearts of the British people were being stirred to their innermost depths, for the European War was yet raging, and the question of the most suitable form of memorials of our heroic dead, sacrificed day by day, was continually present to us. Nor, though hostilities happily ceased when the Armistice was agreed upon within a few weeks thereafter, has the subject of commemorating the fallen on that account declined in interest and importance. Nay, its claims are, if anything, more insistent than ever, for, the vital necessity of concentrating our energies on the attainment of victory having passed away, the nation is now at leisure "to pour out its mourning heart in memorials that will tell the generations to come how it realised the bitterness and glory of the years of the Great War." Such being the case, it was hoped that it might prove useful to gather together a collection of examples of old crosses and lychgates, as affording the most appropriate form of monuments for reproduction or adaptation to the needs of the present. Too many of the manifestations of modern so-called art betray its utter bankruptcy, because having broken with tradition, it has no resource left but to express itself in wayward eccentricity and ugly sensationalism, the very antitheses of the dignified beauty which the following of time-hallowed precedent alone can impart.

To obtain a sufficiently representative series there has been no occasion to go beyond the confines of England and Wales. Within those limits a very large number of types is to be found, every one of which is illustrated in the following pages. I do not pretend to have treated the subject exhaustively, but I do claim that never before has so manifold a range of crosses been depicted within the compass of a single volume; nor has so systematic an analysis and classification of the various types of crosses, tracing the course of their historic evolution, been attempted by any previous writer in the English language. My classification, based solely upon the study of anatomical form and structure, is original, and presents the subject in an entirely new aspect.

Without the generous co-operation of friends and strangers alike, my task would have been impossible. A considerable amount of material had been collected by my friend, the late Mr Herbert Batsford, and of this I have gladly availed myself. To my dear and revered friend, the late Sir William St John Hope, I, for one, am more indebted archæologically than I can find words to express. No sooner did he learn that I had undertaken this work than he remarked to me, "You must quote documents," and, by way of giving practical effect to his advice, he offered, with his wonted liberality, to place at my disposal some important notes he had made from the original accounts of the royal expenditure on the Eleanor Memorial Crosses. These notes, to my profound regret, I never received, because St John Hope, being shortly afterwards stricken with his fatal illness, had not the opportunity to look them up for me. My pages in consequence are the poorer for lack of his invaluable material. I have, however, been able to quote in full the historic description of Nevill's cross from the _Rites of Durham_ (Surtees Society, 1902), of which St John Hope was Joint Editor.

Among my innumerable obligations I desire to record my indebtedness to the following for facilities given, and for help in divers ways:--

The authorities and assistants of the British Museum, of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and of the Guildhall Museum; the President and Council of the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the St Paul's Ecclesiological Society; the _Burlington Magazine_, the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, the Provost of Eton (who kindly went to Oxford expressly to examine the Jews' cross for me), Mr F. T. S. Houghton (who journeyed from Birmingham to Halesowen in order to photograph the remains of the cross-head at the latter place), and Dr F. J. Allen, of Cambridge (for photographs and much valuable information); also to Miss E. K. Prideaux, the Rev. G. C. Richards, F.S.A., the Revv. F. and F. R. P. Sumner, and C. Eveleigh Woodruff, Major C. A. Markham, and Messrs Harold Brakspear, F.S.A., G. C. Druce, F.S.A., Reginald A. Smith, F.S.A., J. H. Allchin, and H. Elgar, Maidstone Museum; Oxley Grabham and W. Watson, York Museum; H. St George Gray, Taunton Museum; Frank Woolnough, F.R.Met.S., Ipswich Museum; Richard Scriven, George Clinch, F.G.S., F.S.A.(Scot.), W. Plomer Young, P. M. C. Kermode, G. Granville Buckley, M.D., F.S.A., F. H. Crossley, F. E. Howard, Arthur Hussey, F. C. Elliston-Erwood, Robert Richmond, George H. Widdows, F.R.I.B.A., R. P. Stone, Oswald Stone, P. Bedford, Alfred Watkins; and last, but not least, my publisher, Mr Harry Batsford and his assistant, Mr A. W. Haggis, whose constant and ready co-operation has lightened many hours of laborious research in museum libraries and of industry at High Holborn.

AYMER VALLANCE.

AYMERS, LYNSTED, _February 1920_.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION 1

II. MONOLITH CROSSES 27

III. THE SHAFT-ON-STEPS TYPE 42

IV. SPIRE-SHAPED OR ELEANOR CROSSES 94

V. PREACHING CROSSES 113

VI. MARKET CROSSES 125

VII. UNCLASSIFIED VARIETIES 158

VIII. LYCHGATES 164

BIBLIOGRAPHY 191

INDEX 195

TOPOGRAPHICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS ILLUSTRATED

CHAPTERS I. to VII.--CROSSES

Subject. Source. Illustration Page No. Referred to in Text.

Aldborough Photo, Frith & Co. 193 158 Alphington _Del._, J. Buckler 199 161 Ampney Crucis Photo, Rev. F. Sumner 97} " " Rev. F. R. P. Sumner 98} " " F. T. S. Houghton 99} 50 Axbridge _Gentleman's Magazine_ 148 128

Bakewell Engraving by F. L. Chantrey, R.A. 39 32 Bedale Photo, Frith & Co. 119 54 Bewcastle " Gibson & Sons 3} " " " 25} " " " 26} 32 Bingley " Frith & Co. 182 125 Bisley " " 197 163 Bishop's Lydeard " Dr F. J. Allen 20} 42,44, } 46 Blakemere _Del._, J. Buckler 15 13 Blanchland Abbey Photo, Gibson & Sons 44 41 Bleadon " Dr F. J. Allen 89 48 Bonsall " Frith & Co. 120 54 Bristol Engraving by S. and N. Buck, 1734 9 123 Brigstock Photo, B.T.B. 122 54 Bungay " " 187 157

Castle Combe _Del._, J. Buckler 173} " Photo, Frith & Co. 174} " _Del._, W. G. Allen 175} " " " 176} 157 Carlton Peart Collection, R.I.B.A. 63 43 Charlton Mackerel Photo, Frith & Co. 19 42,44 Charing Cross, Engraving by Ralph Agas, 1792, Crace 135} nr. London Collection, British Museum } " " Crowle Pennant Collection, British 136} Museum } " " Crace Collection, British Museum 137} 108 Cheadle Photo, W. Watson 35 37 Cheapside Photo, B.T.B., Guildhall Museum 130} Crosses, London } " " " " " 131} " " Water Colour Drawing at Society of 132} Antiquaries, after Mural Painting } at Cowdray } " " Drawing in Pepysian Library, 133} Cambridge } " " Photo, G. Clinch, from Contemporary 134} Woodcut } 102 Cheddar " Frith & Co. 165 146 Cheshunt, Waltham _Vetusta Monumenta_ 127} " _Del._, J. Buckler 128} " _Vetusta Monumenta_ 129} 95,101 Chester, High Pen Drawing by Randle Holme, Harleian MSS. 2073, British Museum 24 24,158 Chichester _Del._, J. Coney } (lent by F. H. Crossley) 11} " Photo, J. Valentine 161} " Print, Victoria and Albert Museum 162} " " 163} 137 Child's Wickham Photo, B.T.B. 7 54 Coventry Dugdale's _Warwickshire_ 8 111 Cricklade Photo, Rev. F. R. P. Sumner 116} Churchyard } " Town Cross " Rev. F. Sumner 117} 54 Croxden _Del._, J. Buckler 88 47 Crowcombe Photochrom Co. 118 46,54 Cumnor _Del._, J. Buckler 59 43

Derwen Photo, Aymer Vallance 110} " " " 111} " " " 112} 52 Doncaster _Vetusta Monumenta_ 191 158 Dorchester _Del._, J. Buckler 65 44 Doulting Dr F. J. Allen 74} " " " 75} " " " 76} 43,44 Drayton _Del._, J. Buckler 54 46 Dundry " J. K. Colling 78 43 Dunster Photo, J. Valentine 177 156

Elstow Peart Collection, R.I.B.A 194 158 Eyam Photo, J. Valentine 27} " " " 28} 32 Eynsham _Del._, J. Buckler, 1820 50 45

Fletton Print, Victoria and Albert Museum 40} " " " " 41} 37

Geddington _Vetusta Monumenta_ 124} " Photochrom Co. 125} 95,96 Glastonbury Hearne's _Antiquities_ 164 138 Gloucester _Vetusta Monumenta_ 138 108 Gosforth Lysons' _Magna Britannia_ 33 34 Great Malvern Photo, Frith & Co. 16 13 " Grimsby _Del._, J. Buckler 49 45

Halesowen Photo, F. T. S. Houghton 82 47 Hardley Knight's _Norfolk Antiquities_, 1892 18 13 Headington _Del._, J. Buckler 69} " Photo, H. Taunt 70} 44 Hedon Peart Collection, R.I.B.A. 79 46 Hereford, _Del._, J. Buckler 72} Whitefriars } " " Photochrom Co. 73} " } 44 Preaching Cross Photo, Frith & Co. 143 122 Hexham " Gibson & Sons 42 37 Higham Ferrers Markham's _Old Crosses of 55 46 Northamptonshire_ Holbech Engraving by W. Stukeley 10 123 Horsington _Del._, after J. Buckler 53 46

Ipswich _Diary of Sir James Thornhill_ 169} " Photo, Frank Woolnough, F.R.Met.S. 170} " Aquatint by Geo. Frost, 1812 171} " Photo, Frank Woolnough, F.R.Met.S. 172} 152 Irtlingborough Markham's _Old Crosses of 56 46 Northamptonshire_ Irton Lysons' Magna Britannia 32 34 Iron Acton Photo, Rev. F. Sumner 144 122

Keyingham, Yorks. Peart Collection, R.I.B.A. 64 44 " " (from " " 80 47 Lincolnshire) Lanteglos Juxta Photo, Frith & Co. 94} Fowey } " " " F. T. S. Houghton 95} 49 Leicester Nichol's Leicestershire 14 152 Leighton Buzzard Engraving in Lyson's Bedfordshire 146} " _Del._, J. Buckler 147} 124 Lichfield, Dean Old Engraving, Victoria and Albert 154 142 Dentons Museum London, (see Cheapside, _supra_) West Cheap " (see Charing Cross, _supra_) Charing Cross " Engraved from Drawing in Pepysian 141} Paul's Cross Library, Cambridge } " " Panel Painting by John Gipkyn at 142}113,120 Society of Antiquaries Lymm Photo, Frith & Co. 183 157

Madley " Alfred Watkins, F.R.P.S. 101} " " " 102} 51 Maidstone " H. Elgar, from Drawing by 167 146 E. Pretty Malmesbury " Dr G. Granville Buckley, F.S.A. 156} " Old Print, Victoria and Albert Museum 157} " " " " 158} 133 Maughold, Photo, J. Valentine 86} Isle of Man } " " " Frith & Co. 87} 46,48 Mawgan-in-Pyder Photo, J. Valentine 38 37 (Lanherne House Nunnery) Mawgan-in-Pyder Lysons' _Magna Britannia_ 106} (Churchyard } Cross) } Mawgan-in-Pyder Photo, Frith & Co. 107} (Churchyard } Cross) } 50 Mildenhall " B.T.B. 12 154 Milverton, _Del._, J. Buckler, 1841 (_per_ H. 185 156 Somerset St. G. Gray) Mitton " " 194} " " " 195} 161 Mitchel Troy " " 57 45

Nether Stowey " " 1837 (_per_ H. 184 156 St. G. Gray) Newmarket, Photo, F. T. S. Houghton 90} Flintshire } " " " " 91} 48 Northampton, " H. Cooper & Son 1} Eleanor Cross } " " Britton's _Architectural Antiquities_ 126} 95,98 Northampton, Water Colour in British Museum (MSS. 150 142 Old Market Dept.), copy of Bridges' Cross _Northamptonshire_ North Petherton _Del._, J. K. Colling 77 42 North Hinksey _Del._, J. Buckler 83} " " " 84} " " " 85} 48 Norwich Blomfield's _Antiquities of Norfolk_ 153} 138 (T. Sheldrake) Nottingham Stretton MSS. 186 157

Oakham Photo, B.T.B. 178} " " " 179} 156

Ombersley " Frith & Co. 66} " _Instrumenta Ecclesiastica_ 67} " " " 68} 44 Oundle Markham's _Old Crosses of 168 156 Northamptonshire_ Oxford, Photo, B.T.B. 21} Jews' Cross } " " " 22} " " " 23} 19

Paul's Cross, (see London, Paul's Cross, _supra_) London Pocklington Old Print, Victoria and Albert Museum 114} " " " " 115} 50,54 Poulton-le-Fylde Photo, Sir B. Stone 6 24

Raglan _Del._, J. Buckler 71 44 Raunds Markham's _Old Crosses of 45 42 Northamptonshire_ Repton Photo, Photochrom Co. 123 54 Ripley " Aymer Vallance 196 162 Rocester _Del._, J. Buckler, 1832 47} " " " 48} 45 Rothersthorp Markham's _Old Crosses of 46 47 Northamptonshire_

Salisbury _Del._, J. C. Buckler 159} " Photo, Photochrom Co. 160} 137 Sandbach Dr Ormerod's _Cheshire_ 29} " " " 30} " J. Valentine & Co. 31} 32 Shepton Mallet Photo, Dr F. J. Allen 151} " Gentleman's Magazine_, 1781 152} 128 Sherburn-in-Elmet G. B. Bulmer, _Architectural Studies in Yorkshire_, 1887 113 46,53 Somersby _Instrumenta Ecclesiastica_ 81 47

Somerton Photo, Frith & Co. 166 146 St Columb Major " " 37 37 St Ives, Cornwall " " 96 50 St Michael's _Del._, J. Buckler 104} Mount } " " " " 105} 52 St Donats Photo, Aymer Vallance 108} " _Del._, J. Buckler 109} 46,52 Stalbridge Photo, R. Wilkinson 58} 43,44, } 46 Stanway _Del._, J. Buckler 60 43 Steeple Ashton " " 121 54 Stevington Peart Collection, R.I.B.A. 17 43 Stringston, _Architectural Association Sketch Book_ 5 43 Somersetshire Swaffham Photo, B.T.B. 188 157

Taunton Drawing in British Museum, King's 155 142 Collection Thatcham _Del._, J. Buckler 61 43 Tottenham Old Engraving, 1788 139} " " Victoria and Albert Museum 140} 111 Tyberton Photo, Alfred Watkins, F.R.P.S. 100} " " " 103} 51

Wakefield _Del._, J. Buckler 190 157 Waltham Cross, (see Cheshunt, _supra_) Cheshunt Waterperry, _Del._, J. Buckler 4 43 Oxfordshire Whalley Photo, Gibson & Sons 34 37 Wells Sime's _Map of Wells_, British Museum, 149 125 King's Collection Wheston, Engraving by F. L. Chantrey, R.A. 92} Tideswell } " " Photo, F. Chapman 93} 49 Whitford " W. Marriot Dodson 36 35 Wicken _Del._, J. Buckler 62 43,4 Winchester " " 145 124 Witney Photo, Henry Taunt 13 156 Wolverhampton, Old Print, Victoria and Albert Museum 2 37 Dane's Cross Wonford, _Del._, Miss E. K. Prideaux 198 161} St Loye's } Woodstock Paul Sandby, 1777, _The Antiquarian 189 157 Repertory_ Wooler Scott's _Border Antiquities_ 43 37 Wymondham Photo, B.T.B. 180} 156 " " " 181}

Yarnton _Del._, J. Buckler, 1821 51} 44,45 " " " 52}

CHAPTER VIII.--LYCHGATES

Anstey _Del._, J. Buckler 210 167 Ashwell B.T.B. 215} " " 216} " " 217} " " 218}165,167