In the churchyard of the quite glorious St Chad’s in Holt are the remains of the medieval churchyard cross. Three circular steps are all that remain of the original cross, the lowest just above ground level, the third acting as the socket stone for the pillar. The original shaft and cross head have long since disappeared. The existing shaft was said to have been fashioned from a Roman pillar, the smooth swelling at its centre thought to have been part of a hypocaust. Sadly, this is unlikely, and was probably a result of the excitement aroused with the wealth of Roman finds uncovered in the discovery of the Holt tilery of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix based in nearby Chester (Deva).
As with many other churchyard crosses, it became a sundial, though the top of the shaft is broken and gnomon has been lost. The beautiful locally sourced red sandstone shaft probably dates from this time, almost certainly 1766(1) - the date is proudly if somewhat unclearly etched into the ‘capital’. The date shares space with the initials TP, WR & CW. Alfred Palmer, writing at the beginning of the 20th century, identifies TP and WR as church wardens (CW), naming TP as one Thomas Pate.
It leans a little, it’s weathered some, but it has a beauty that remains entirely splendid - unignorable.
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Footnote
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1. Almost certainly? Hmmm. A close examination of the etched date elicits doubt. It could be 1736. It’s as if the engraver made a mistake and tried to correct it with some artistic fiddle-de-dee. Palmer, Silvester & Hankinson all say 1766, while the Royal Commission plump for 1736. I have settled for 1766, but I worry about it… I really do.
Further Reading
AN Palmer, The Town of Holt, Isycoed and Bangor Is Y Coed, London, (1910)
RCAHM, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire, Denbigh, London, (1914)
R. J. Silvester & R. Hankinson, Medieval Crosses and Crossheads, CPAT Report No. 1036, (March 2010)
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