Garden of Bonallack House, Constantine (SW 7189 2639)

First recorded 1856 at Helston, in 'Garden of Glynn Grylls, Esq. — Removed from Gweal Mayow, near Helstone' (Blight 1856, 27*); previously near Trelill holy well, St Wendron (Langdon, Arthur 1896, 331). By 1909 in present location (Mayne 1907–9, 272)

Monument complete and stable; ornament clear; situation good

Appendix D item (continuing tradition)

This cross is one of a small group in the Carnmenellis granite area bearing a simple geometric cross on the round (wheel) head and characterised by chevrons or zig-zags and other incised patterns on the shaft (p. 107). The crosses in this group do duty as boundary stones and wayside crosses or mark chapel sites but none is associated with a parish church.

The prominent chevron pattern on the main face of this cross is indicative of a Norman-period date. This is supported by the forms of the crosses on the head which are similar to the Early Geometric crosses seen on medieval grave-covers elsewhere and dated by Ryder to the late eleventh to twelfth centuries (Ryder 1991, 50–1). Likewise, the horseshoe-like motifs on the shaft are reminiscent of the horseshoe emblems incised on medieval grave-slabs (for example Rothwell, Yorkshire: Ryder 1991, 40). Although Langdon in a footnote (Langdon, Arthur 1896, 332n) implies a possible late origin for the motif on this cross, this seems unlikely given that horseshoes appear on other monuments in the group and that they are as worn as the rest of the decoration on the cross.

Like another similar monument from Camborne parish (Camborne 4, p. 234) this cross was originally associated with a holy well site.

Twelfth century

Blight 1856, 27*; Langdon, Arthur 1890–1, 62, 68, 71–4, 80; Langdon, Arthur 1896, 331–2, passim and figs.; Langdon, Arthur 1906, 438, pl. XV, fig. 91; Mayne 1907–9, 272; Mayne 1915–20, 348; Dexter and Dexter 1938, 194 and figs.; Henderson, C. 1957–60b, 478, 480; Langdon, Andrew 1999, 20, no. 20, and fig.