Cemetery of St Teath's church, beside gate (SX 0637 8063)

Until c. 1835, part of shaft was used as bridge 'across the outlet of a pond', then moved into churchyard ((—) 1883, 78); c. 1840 it was cut into pieces. Some parts were used to form 'coping for a wall at the west entrance of the churchyard' ((—) 1883, 77). Other parts were sunk in ground and used 'to carry the pivoting of the churchyard gates' ((—) 1883, 77). By 1883, the pieces had 'quite recently' been recovered and the cross reconstructed and erected in its present location ((—) 1883, 77).

St Teath

Monument broken but recently restored and stable; ornament badly worn; situation fair

Head and shaft of a highly mutilated but reconstructed rectangular-section cross. The cross-head, type E8, is of slightly oval shape, being taller than it is wide. The arms are linked by a ring, type a. A shallow roll-moulding encloses the decoration on both head and shaft. All decoration, where it survives, is in very low relief.

A (broad): Within the edge-moulding in the cross-arms are indistinct remains of triquetra knots, and a small low central boss. On the top third of the shaft and on the right-hand side of the lower two-thirds are the remains of interlace.

B (narrow): On the end of the broken cross-arm are traces of what might have been two interlaced ovals. On the side (top only) are the remains of a type of tree-scroll.

C (broad): Traces of edge-mouldings only are visible. No other decoration survives.

D (narrow): The cross-arm on this side has been rebuilt. On the top part of the shaft is a spiral scroll with small simple leaves in the spaces between the plant stem and the edge-moulding.

Langdon suggests that the decoration was deliberately removed in 1841 when the lower part of the shaft was used for the coping of the wall (Langdon, Arthur 1896, 392–3), and that that which does survive is generally too worn to interpret and discuss in detail. However, the spiral plant-scroll and the very low-relief carving allies it with the Mid and East Cornwall sculpture group (Chapter IX, p. 91). In term of overall design (great height, elegant proportions, elliptical head), its closest parallel is the cross at Quethiock, another member of the group, although the latter has a trefoil-holed head (p. 196, Ills. 206–11). The tree-scroll is unique in Cornwall, but may be related to the double acanthus scroll on St Neot 3, face C (Ill. 157); or that on Littleton Drew 1bC in Wiltshire (Cramp 2006, 53, 221–2, fig. 22 (n), ill. 455). These parallels suggest that, although it is defaced and has no interlace patterns, St Teath should be included with the Mid and East Cornwall group, and similarly dated.

St Teath church takes is named from its Celtic patron saint; a name in eglos- is recorded once (Padel 1988, 162). The churchyard enclosure is large and oval, but given the upland location of the site, this may be because it is based on a prehistoric settlement enclosure (Preston-Jones 1994, 83, fig. 6). Cists have been found here, outside the churchyard (Preston-Jones 1984, 177). Henderson notes that 'In the 13th century this church was collegiate...but there is no record of a collegiate character before the Conquest. The Norman church here had aisles which would suggest that the college was then established' (Henderson, C. 1925, 201). Orme confirms that 'when and how the prebends originated is unknown' (Orme 2010, 271).

Eleventh century

(—) 1883, 77–9; Langdon, Arthur and Allen, J. R. 1888, 314–15, 319, 324; Langdon, Arthur 1889a, 319, 343–4, 346–7; Langdon, Arthur 1889c, figs.; Langdon, Arthur 1890–1, 35, 53–4, 57–8, 92; Langdon, Arthur 1896, 391–4, passim and figs.; Langdon, Arthur 1906, 438, 445; Doble 1930, 30 and fig.; Hencken 1932, 271, 309; Dexter and Dexter 1938, 240, 245, 254 and figs.; Ellis, G. 1962–4e, 273–4 and fig.; Pevsner 1970, 202–3; Pearce 1978, 181; Langdon, Andrew 1992a, 61, no. 95, and fig.; Langdon, Andrew 1996a, 26; Salter 1999, 102