MM311

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Marshfield  

13/08/2002  

Designated  

Newport  

Marshfield  

326154  

182561  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

Cross base  

Medieval  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument consists of a cross base in the churchyard of St. Mary's church, Marshfiel. It is an unusual example of a medieval socket-stone and cross-shaft, probably dating to the 15th century. It comprises an octagonal socket-stone, some 0.73m across by 0.60m high, with carved quatrefoil decoration on each face. The original medieval shaft survives to a height of 0.37m and is surmounted by a modern cross erected as war memorial in 1991. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the organisation and practice of Christianity. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. A cross base may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.