Monument record MLI33115 - Dunsby village cross

Summary

Dunsby village cross. A medieval cross the base of which remains in place in the village but the shaft and other fragments are in the church (in 2010).

Type and Period (1)

  • (Medieval to Modern - 1300 AD to 2050 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

At the junction of three roads in Dunsby are the remains of the base and 8 inches of the shaft of the medieval village cross. {1}{2}{3} There is a full description in the revised scheduling document 22645. {4} The remains of Dunsby village cross, a Scheduled Monument (SAM 22645), have suffered damage in recent years and some parts, including the cross shaft, have been removed to All Saints' Church for safekeeping. The cross base, now flush with the level of the modern road, was recently obscured by tarmac during road resurfacing. An archaeological investigation was commissioned by English Heritage to expose and record the surviving remains of the cross base, with a view to its removal. The cross base was found to consist of a single limestone block 0.90m by 0.90m by 0.3m deep. The sides were worked to a smooth surface, yet the upper face was less regular due to weathering or damage. A recessed socket, 0.35m square, in the centre of the upper face had formerly held the cross shaft. The recess contained lead sheeting, used as a fixative for the cross shaft and is possibly medieval in origin. To the south-east and south-west of the base was a deposit of compact, pale brown clay with finds dating to the 19th century (PRN 36467). The absence of any material earlier than the 19th century suggests that archaeological deposits dating from before this period are absent from the area, or were not disturbed by the work. This may support the notion that the cross was placed within a village green setting. Following excavation, the base was thought to be too substantial to be easily lifted and relocated. Consequently, the cross base was left in situ and its position marked. Other surviving pieces of stonework were recorded and removed to the church. {5}{6} The cross was listed but was delisted in 2010. For the full description and the legal address of this formerly listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {7}

Sources/Archives (7)

  •  Index: OS CARD INDEX. DUNSBY. TF 12 NW:5,1965, HARPER F R.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). p.261.
  •  Index: SMR FILE. DUNSBY. TF 12 NW:BE,1978, KAM.
  •  Scheduling Record: ENGLISH HERITAGE. 1994. SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 22645. MPP 22.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. August 2003. Archaeological investigation of The Village Cross, Dunsby. DVC03.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. August 2003. Archaeological investigation of The Village Cross, Dunsby. LCNCC 2003.69.
  •  Index: Department of the Environment. 1987. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 7/44; amendment of 18/05/2010.

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Location

Grid reference TF 10586 26869 (point)
Civil Parish DUNSBY, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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