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Summary

Shorter Cross is a well preserved and highly unusual example of a Dartmoor wayside cross. It is likely to be at least early Medieval in date (Masson Phillips suggests potential 7th century origin), but may even have prehistoric origins. Coffin-shaped wayside cross formed from a single piece of moderately coarse granite. The south-west face has a cross carved on it in relief and on the north-east face, there is an incised cross near the top of the shaft. This cross spent time buried under water pump in farmyard of Middle Middlecott Farm (moved there in 1873), before being re-erected at present location in 1900.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1009192: Shorter Cross: a wayside cross on the north side of a minor road, 350m north west of Middlecott

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX78NW/23
• Old SAM Ref: 24825

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WAYSIDE CROSS (Constructed, VI to XIX - 600 AD? (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ormerod, G. W., 1873-1874, Wayside Crosses in the District bordering the east of Dartmoor, 392 (Article in Serial). SDV346648.

Short, or Shorter Cross, was in use under a pump at Middlecott Farm in 1873 having been removed from its proper place, but was returned to its original location in the same year, according to Ormerod.

Crossing, W., 1892, Old Stone Crosses of the Dartmoor Border, 120 (Monograph). SDV279564.

Moved in 1873 to Middle Middlecott Farm and buried under pump in farmyard at rear of house.

Thornton, W. H., 1900-1901, Some Notes on the More Recent History of a Few Ancient Crosses Which Are to be Found in the Neighbourhood of North Bovey, 67-68 plate 9 (Article in Serial). SDV259023.

Shorter Cross is located on Week Down, midway between Chagford and North Bovey, near to another cross. According to the author, 20 years ago the occupier at Middlecote took down Shorter Cross and using it for a cover-stone for a well, had buried it deeply and securely underground. Thornton remonstrated long and hard and at the expense of Major Yolland, R. E., who owned land in the neighbourhood of Week Down, the cross was 'recently disinterred and is again filling the site which for so many centuries it occupied and adorned.'

Crossing, W., 1902, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Dartmoor, 139 (Monograph). SDV178385.

Crossing, W., 1902-1903, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Dartmoor and its Borderland, 139 (Article in Serial). SDV302059.

In 1900 the cross was re-erected in original situation.

Masson Phillips, E. N., 1937, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Devon: Part I, 342 (Article in Serial). SDV240502.

Perhaps an early Christian monument, 7th - 9th century. A granite monolith of rectangular section. Displays well-marked entasis. The principal face bears at the top a Latin cross in low relief. Stands on the grassy verge of the road on the left of the steep hill from Week Down to Middlecott. Said to be its original site, but it has been moved and replaced. At the centre of the intersection of the arms and shaft is an incised cross. The other face bears a simple incised Latin cross across the arms placed somewhat eccentrically (Assumed to be Masson Phillips; unattributed source reference).
Shorter Cross, of rectangular section tapering at the top stands by the roadside just north of Middlecott farm, about two miles from Chagford. There is a cross in semi-relief on one face and small incised crosses between its arms and on its reverse face.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1953/1981, SX78NW25 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV259022.

Stone cross: simple quadrangular pillar 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet high with crosses carved on upper part of each ? Face. That on the N. side is a simple cross, that on the S. is more elaborate; a large cross (14 - 18 inches long) in relief, with sunken ? In each side of it, with a small incised cross at its centre. The incised cross has expanded ends and closely resembles ?that on the cross situated 220m WNW of this cross (W. F. Grimes, 27/05/1938). Small sketch included.
A granite monolith, of rectangular section, the top of which tapers slightly. On the upper part of one face a cross is cut in semi relief and between its arms a small cross is incised. On the reverse side there is an incised cross (citing Masson Phillips and others).
(12/03/1953) Suggests stone was 'removed in 1873 to Middle Middlecott Farm, and placed under a pump at the rear of the house. Nothing whatsoever can be seen of the stone now' (citing Crossing, 1892, pgs 120).
(16/03/1953) Short Cross. Similar info to above, and 'buried beneath the pump in the farm yard' (TDA 1874, pg 392).
In 1900, the cross was removed from under the pump and re-erected 'in its original situation' (Crossing, 1902, pg 139).
(19/03/1953) A pillar about 5 feet high, of rectangular section, 0.4 by 0.2 metres, with crosses carved on the upper part of each wide face. The north face has a simple cross on it; that on the south is more elaborate, 14 to 18 inches long with sunken panels on each side of it and a small incised cross at its centre. The cross appears to be complete.
The name, "Shorter Cross", could not be confirmed by local enquiry.
(24/11/1981) A granite pillar, 0.4m. by 0.2m. in section and 1.8m. high, it is embellished with an incised Latin cross on the north-east face and a large relief cross on the southwest face. This cross has another small one incised at the junction of the arms. A medieval wayside cross. See ground photographs.
Published position correct on 1:2500 M.S.D. (5)

Masson Phillips, E. N., 1959, Supplementary Notes on the Ancient Stone Crosses of Devon (Fifth Paper), 84-85 (Article in Serial). SDV21157.

Masson Phillips believes it to be one of Devon's earliest crosses, possibly of C7th-C9th date

Ancient Monuments, 1993, Shorter Cross: a wayside cross on the north side of a minor road, 350m north west of Middlecott (Schedule Document). SDV259017.

Shorter Cross. Well preserved coffin-shaped wayside cross formed from a single piece of moderately coarse granite. The shaft tapers to a head with a flat top. This cross has no arms, and there is no indication that it ever had any. It is set on a grass and scrub verge on the ne side of a lane leading from Middlecott to Week Down and Chagford. The cross is 2.5 metres from the edge of the tarmac road. Moved from this position in 1873 it was relocated here in 1900.
The long side of the cross is oriented north-west by south-east. Its maximum visible height is 1.7 metres. The shaft is at its widest about two-thirds of the way up the stone. The greatest dimensions of the shaft are 0.45 metres by 0.27 metres.
The south-west face has on it a cross carved in relief extending 0.54 metres down from the very top of the shaft. The arms of the relief cross extend 0.39 metres right across the width of the shaft. In other words, 4 'panels' have been removed from the upper portion of the shaft on this face. The lower panels measure 0.25 metres by 0.13 metres by 5 millimetres deep and the upper panels 0.16 metres by 0.12 metres by 5 millimetres deep. The ends of the relief cross are slightly splayed, to a maximum of 0.14 metres.
Between the arms of the relief cross a small incised cross has been cut, measuring 120 millimetres horizontally by 110 millimetres vertically, the cut being 10 millimetres wide and 2 millimetres deep.
On the north-east face, there is an incised cross near the top of the shaft. It measures 0.39 metres vertically by 0.34 metres horizontally. The cut is 20 millimetres wide and has a maximum depth of 6 millimetres. The arms of the incised cross extend right across the width of the shaft. The bottom of the incised cross is 0.44 metres below the top of the shaft.
The flat head of the shaft is approximately square in section, measuring 0.25 metres by 0.26 metres. A groove, perhaps caused by erosion, runs across the centre of the head and down both north-west and south-east sides for about 0.3 metres. This groove is mostly 20 - 30 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres deep.
Besides being on the road verge, the cross is sited on the top edge of a scarp that falls away to the north-east to what appears to be an old sunken lane bordered by a wall on its far side, and running downslope in a south-easterly direction. This may be the original route beside which the cross was first set up. However, the unusual shape of this cross, and its lack of conventional head and arms suggest that it is at least an early medieval example, and may represent a Christianised prehistoric standing stone.

Ordnance Survey, 2016, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359352.

Cross is depicted on the modern mapping.

Historic England, 2016, National Heritage List for England, Accessed 28/06/2016 (National Heritage List for England). SDV359353.

Shorter Cross is a well preserved and highly unusual example of a Dartmoor wayside cross. It is likely to be at least early medieval in date, and may have prehistoric origins.
The monument includes a well preserved coffin-shaped wayside cross formed from a single piece of moderately coarse granite. The shaft tapers to a head with a flat top. This cross has no arms, and there is no indication that it ever had any. It is set on a grass and scrub verge on the north east side of a lane leading from Middlecott to Week Down and Chagford. The cross is 2.5m from the edge of the tarmac road.
Moved from this position in 1873 it was relocated here in 1900. The long side of the cross is orientated north west-south east. Its maximum visible height is 1.7m. The shaft is at its widest about two-thirds of the way up the stone. The greatest dimensions of the shaft are 0.45m by 0.27m. The south west face has on it a cross carved in relief extending 0.54m down from the very top of the shaft. The arms of the relief cross extend 0.39m right across the width of the shaft. In other words, four `panels' have been removed from the upper portion of the shaft on this face. The lower panels measure 0.25m by 0.13m by 5mm deep, and the upper panels 0.16m by 0.12m by 5mm deep. The ends of the relief cross are slightly splayed, to a maximum of 0.14m. Between the arms of the relief cross a small incised cross has been cut, measuring 120mm horizontally by 110mm vertically, the cut being 10mm wide and 2mm deep. On the north east face, there is an incised cross near the top of the shaft. It measures 0.39m vertically by 0.34m horizontally. The cut is 20mm wide and has a maximum depth of 6mm. The arms of the incised cross extend right across the width of the shaft. The bottom of the incised cross is 0.44m below the top of the shaft. The flat head of the shaft is approximately square in section, measuring 0.25m by 0.26m. A groove, perhaps caused by erosion, runs across the centre of the head and down both north west and south east sides for about 0.3m. This groove is mostly 20mm-30mm wide and 10mm deep.
Besides being on the road verge, the cross is sited on the top edge of a scarp that falls away to the north east to what appears to be an old sunken lane bordered by a wall on its far side, and running downslope in a south easterly direction. This may be the original route beside which the cross was first set up. However, the unusual shape of this cross, and its lack of conventional head and arms suggest that it is at least an early medieval example, and may represent a Christianised prehistoric standing stone.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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