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Summary

Unfinished, earthfast stone cross to the west of Rippon Tor summit. One of the arms of the cross appears to have broken during manufacture.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019603: Coaxial fields, prehistoric settlements and cairns on Halshanger and Horridge Commons, forming part of the Rippon Tor coaxial field system

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX77NW49
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 445159
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX77NW/36
• Old SAM Ref: 28774(P)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CROSS (Medieval - 1066 AD (Between) to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

Falcon, T. A., 1904-1905, Cross on Rippon Tor, 177-179 plates (Article in Serial). SDV309028.

An unfinished cross appearing as if cut in relief on the surface of a large granite block, lying about 30 yards south-west of the summit of Rippon Tor. Some yards further to the south-west is an unfinished cross-base. The latter is disputed by the editors of Notes and Queries, who maintain it is an unfinished millstone.

Worth, R. H., 1906-1907, Cross on Rippon Tor and granite cylinder on Trowlesworthy (Article in Serial). SDV309031.

Masson Phillips, E. N., 1937, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Devon: Part I, 325-326 (Article in Serial). SDV240502.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1960, SX77NW49 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV309029.

(29/04/1960) An unfinished cross appearing as if cut in relief on the surface of a large granite block, lying about 30 yards S.W. of the summit of Rippon Tor.
The cross, at SX74637558, is 0.15 metres thick, 2.0 metres long and 0.9 metres across the arms. It is to the north-west not to the south-west of the Tor as reported in Notes and Queries. The other stones, definitely millstones, are at SX74647556 and SX74627553. They are circular and are respectively 1.3 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres thick, and 1.5 metres diameter and 0.2 metres thick.
Ground photograph of cross - see AO/53/62/7.

Masson Phillips, E. N., 1984, Supplementary Notes on the Ancient Stone Crosses of Devon (Seventh Paper), 144, Fig 7. (Article in Serial). SDV345276.

Crossing repeats the 'gratuitous assumption' put forward by Spence Bate that the cross was cut to 'Christianize' a pagan site. It is however more likely that it was an unfinished cross and it is notable that three unfinished millstones also lie in the vicinity.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 152341 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visit 1st April 1999. Latin cross roughout at SX74657557 36 metres west of Rippon Tor summit. Lies 10 metres from base of cairn. Unfinished latin cross orientated north-south. Stone is 2 metres by up to 1.4 metres wide and 0.25 metres thick. Western arm broken during manufacture.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume One - The East, 42, Fig. 5.3 (Monograph). SDV299725.

Newman, P., 2013, An Archaeological Assessment of Halshanger and Horridge Commons, Dartmoor, Devon, 11, Table 1 (Report - Assessment). SDV356396.

It has been suggested that the cross was never intended to be moved but lies in its intended position as it was hewn from a much larger rock than necessary. The cross lies earthfast on the southern edge of the outcrop together with three abandoned millstones.

Newman, P., 2013, Halshanger Sites Visited and Confirmed (Report - Survey). SDV351113.

Site location confirmed.

Newman, P., 2015, Rippon Tor Premier Archaeological Landscape, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, 48, figure 21 (Report - Survey). SDV359145.

Unfinished Cross at Rippon Tor. A cross has been cut from a large slab of granite, north of the Rippon Tor outcrop, but was abandoned before completion. Condition is stable. SX74630 75580.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6433 - Assessment of Halsanger Common, Horridge Common and Rippon Tor
• EDV6836 - Rippon Tor Premier Archaeological Landscape survey

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