THE STONE CROSSES OF LANTEGLOS BY CAMELFORD
There are 5 stone crosses in the church yard
THE WAYSIDE CROSSES
Wayside crosses were erected during the medieval period, mostly from the 9th to 15th century, wayside crosses were used as way markers, especially in difficult and unmarked terrain. The places marked were on regularly used routes linking settlements and especially churches for parishioners and funeral processions.
The forms that the crosses took are many and varied as can be seen in the church yard
A word on the phrase ‘Cross Park’
The Phrase ‘Cross Park’ is thought to have been used to indicate a field or fields near a crossroads and this might indeed be the case, however I think there is enough evidence to show that the phrase might indicate the site of a Cornish Stone Cross.
It can be seen from maps especially the old tithe maps that there are many ‘Cross Park’ names in Cornwall and many of these had crosses at or near them, some are still in situe. A closer look at the Tithe maps also shows that many ‘Cross Park’ names are in fact not on crossroads, but T junctions. There are a great many fields designated as ‘Cross Park’ and records shows where records exist that a stone cross was at some time present.
The word ‘cross’ in place names
The word or name cross appears on old tithe maps and it is still used today. What does it actually mean?
It has been supposed that the word was used to indicate a crossroads and this maybe true in some cases, however in North Cornwall it would seem to refer to an actual stone cross,
Other names to consider
Cross Hill not always near a crossroads or T junction
White Cross known cross site
Cross Mill
Collans Cross
Forda Cross
Cross Park known cross sites
Higher Cross Park
Homer Cross Park
Higher Cross Lane known cross site
Three holes Cross known cross site
Although a Cross name exists in an area it doesn’t necessarily mean it was a site of a cross, but it maybe a clue. A search of old records has on many occasions shown the site to have once had a stone cross.
The Cornish for cross is crows or grouse
Information taken from:-
Andrew Langdon Stone Crosses in North Cornwall
Arthur G Langdon Old Cornish Crosses
Macleans ‘The Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor vol 2.
John T Blight Ancient Crosses and other Antiquities in the West of Cornwall
All other pictures and info are Authors own