Two Impressive Stone Crosses in Cornwall

 

Introduction

This afternoon I am reporting on two richly carved pieces of 9th century AD 'Celtic' crosses, One is known as the 'King's Cross' or 'Doniert's Stone' whilst the second stone is known as 'The Other Half Stone'. Location is St. Cleer, Liskeard, PL14 6EG close to location of my previous post covering the much older Trethevy Quoit.

Information on the two crosses.

This is the 'King's Cross'. It is actually the decorated granite base for Celtic a memorial cross which dates to the late 9th century AD. It is thought to commemorate Doniert, the last recorded king of Cornwall.Doniert was the Latin version of 'Dungarth'. He drowned about AD875.

There is a mortise hole cut into the top of the stone which is there to accommodate fitting of a stone cross. An interlace pattern features on three sides of the stone.On the fourth side is a Latin inscription (shown) which translates as "Doniert has begged prayers for his soul."

 This is another decorated Celtic cross base which is known as 'The Other Half Stone'.It was also designed to support a half cross. The front panel (shown) is carved with an eight cord plait.The two side panels are not decorated. It is possible the carvings were not completed.

 

 

The two crosses are located at a crossroads for a number of important track-ways that divided the downland.They were erected long before England was unified (under a Saxon king) and at a time when most of the population was illiterate. 

Here are a selection of images of Cornwall.