SAXON STONE

1858 J T BLIGHT 1876 MACLEANS 1890 Sir Thomas Mansel Franklen

1912 Postcard 2016 Authors own

The first time this remarkable stone was recorded was when John T Blight came upon it around 1858. He remarked that he found it propping up a side wall of an old barn. Maclean’s further adds that the barn was near the Iron Age fort of Castle Goff. Blight sketched it and stated

‘no account of this stone will be found in the histories of Cornwall and probably no notice of them has been hitherto published’.

By the time Maclean’s records the stone in1877 it has been purchased by the Rev J J Wilkerson of St Julitta’s church at Lanteglos where he set it up in the rectory grounds as an ornament, he placed the now called Rectory Cross Head atop it.

Due to the tenon at the bottom of the shaft it is thought to be a memorial cross, quite were this was set up can not now be determined. However it would not have been moved too far from its original position.

This is a special stone for the Camelford area due to it being inscribed. It is Saxon in origin predating the Domesday Book of 1086 and probably the only surviving Saxon inscription in the immediate area.

In 1907 Reverent James Robert Roe had it removed to the church yard where it has remained.

The inscription reads

+ AELSELTH AND GENERETH WROHTE THYSNE SYBSTEL FOR AELWYNEYS SAUL AND FOR HEYSEL.

Meaning Aelseth and Genereth wrought this pillar for Aelwyney’s soul and for them selves.

TAKEN FROM A CORNISH JOURNAL