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Os grid reference SE.176 238. The base of The Walton Cross can be found at the northern side of Walton farm, and just off Windy Bank Lane, west of Hartshead village, some 8 miles east of Halifax. It stands beside a footpath so it should be ok for anyone wishing to visit thie site.
The cross-base stands 4 foot 9' (1.5 metres) high by 3 foot 6' wide and is said to date from the 10th-11th century. Some historians have claimed that it dates from the 8th century, but that seems unlikely. It is quite well decorated with Saxon and Viking ornamentation comprising of interlacing and knotwork, and a circle with rosette knot which may be identified as 'The Tree of Life' in a panel that is double edged. The circle with rosette knot is the logo for The West Yorkshire Archaeological Service.
In an 18th century report is was said that a 15 foot high cross stood here, probably a preaching cross and at which time, or earlier, documentary evidence referred to it as a "wagestan" - a waymarker. The cross-face apparently also bore more interlacing and design-work similar to the base. Sadly, I don't know where the shaft and cross are today.
References:-
The West Yorkshire Archaeology Service (WYAS).
Bull, Malcolm - The Calderdale Companion.
The cross-base stands 4 foot 9' (1.5 metres) high by 3 foot 6' wide and is said to date from the 10th-11th century. Some historians have claimed that it dates from the 8th century, but that seems unlikely. It is quite well decorated with Saxon and Viking ornamentation comprising of interlacing and knotwork, and a circle with rosette knot which may be identified as 'The Tree of Life' in a panel that is double edged. The circle with rosette knot is the logo for The West Yorkshire Archaeological Service.
In an 18th century report is was said that a 15 foot high cross stood here, probably a preaching cross and at which time, or earlier, documentary evidence referred to it as a "wagestan" - a waymarker. The cross-face apparently also bore more interlacing and design-work similar to the base. Sadly, I don't know where the shaft and cross are today.
References:-
The West Yorkshire Archaeology Service (WYAS).
Bull, Malcolm - The Calderdale Companion.
Last edited by Sunbright57 on Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:35 pm; edited 1 time in total
