A new angle on the Molescroft Cross

On the trail of the 'Molescroft Cross' (Kipling Cotes'Cross?)

Part 1 The Facts

A most complex investigation 12/9/17 - 17/11/17

On August 31st 2017 I reported 'A grand Day Out The Search for the Beverley Sanctuary Stones' and on Sept 20th 2017 in 'Another Grand Day Out the search for Etton Manor'. For both these reports see Face Book, Old Hull, or my blog, https://candp9.wixsite.com/website. In the Etton Manor report a note was made of the Molescroft Cross, a supposedly a 4th Beverley sanctuary cross or stone. There could have been 5 in total. To understand the significance of these sanctuary crosses please read the Face Book entry on Old Hull or my Blog, https://candp9.wixsite.com/website

Initially when we attempted to find the 'Molescroft Cross' we could only find two pieces, one of them obvious and the second buried in undergrowth. We were very painfully stung by nettles and scratched by brambles searching for this piece. We realised to progress this we had to be more prepared.

Our first planned visit of this reported series was on Tuesday 3/10/17 which dawned bright though cold and windy. I set off for Kipling Cotes with Gill, my usually puzzled, though astute, but this time banana eating associate. The clear sky over the rolling Wolds was a delight, Fig 1. On our final visit Jan from Folkestone accompanied us. As we had been there previously there was little problem in re-finding the site which lies at the junction of the main road, Spring Road, and the road to Kipling Cotes station, Grid Ref SE 93103 43985, Fig 2.

Fig 1 '- the clear sky over the rolling Wolds was a delight'

Fig 2 The location of the site

There are four recorded pieces of stone at the site, two of which we had found on our visit of 3/1017 but the other two on a subsequent visit. We refer to the four pieces as the base, the 'cross piece', the stem and the cap stone. Fig 3.

These are our names and only help us when we are discussing them. The gate in Fig 3 is a metal field gate not the road gate referred to in the yet to be published Part 2. Over our various visits we have examined all the four pieces more closely.

Fig 3 Shows the position and grid references of the four remaining pieces of the supposedly 'Molescroft Cross'.

The Base

This (Fig 4) is the most easily found of the four pieces and is and probably, like the other pieces, made of magnesium limestone. It lies about 17.8 m from the main road junction on the south side of the road to the station. It comprises a large rectilinear base, 118 x 124 x 48 cm (deep) out of which comes a square pillar 55 x 55 x 47.5 cm tall, chamfered to 45 x 45 cm at the top. It has part of a slot in the side of pillar.

Fig 4. What is taken to be the base of the 'cross'

The base is not quite level sloping slightly towards the road (north). Importantly for our hypothesis in Part 2 the central pillar has a bench mark on its south east face. The bench mark is an arrow pointing upwards with a 'horizontal' line over it, Fig 5. On maps Bench Marks show the height above sea level and were made/installed over a period of time and in different forms eg cut bench marks ('arrows'), flush metal plates, bolts etc. They were established in phases. For England and Wales, for example, these were 1840-60; 1912-21; 1946-51; 1950-68.

Fig 5 'Base' with bench mark. Arrow with line over it

Maps indicate the above cut bench mark was made in the first series 1840-60.

Our investigation showed that the 'base' has been put on a foundation of what seems to be bricks or broken bricks. The base is by far the biggest piece of the four sections found at the site.

Cross piece

We found this on our first visit on 12th Sept (see https://candp9.wixsite.com/website) and referred to it as the cross piece, Fig 3. This was much harder to find as it was buried in nettles and brambles, Fig 6.

Fig 6 Gill in search of the 'Cross piece'

The basic measurements are: 170 cm total length comprising a 'head' and 'shaft'. The head (left in photo Fig 7) is 54 x 54 cm and 40 cm 'long' giving to the chamfer bringing the shaft to 40 x 40 cm cross section. The edges of the 'shaft' are chamfered along its length. Fig 7.

Fig 7 The first real sight of the 'cross piece'

There are four holes in this stone. All may have significance but we think at least three were made when it was modified for a new use. These three neatly cut oblong holes are on the south face of the stone and all are 10 x 7 cm and 7 cm deep. They are spaced, centre to centre at 55 cm. Fig 8

Fig 8. Showing two of the three 10 x 7 cm holes in the 'cross piece'

A forth hole exists at the right hand end. This end is rather badly eroded. Fig 9.

Fig 9 The hole in the end of the cross piece.

Every time the soil was disturbed a Robin visited! Fig 10

Fig 10 Our visiting Robin

More clearing exposed another interesting feature of this piece of stone. On the north face, that opposite to the three oblong holes, there was a metal latch. The function of this becomes obvious when the whole site is considered. Figs 11 and 12. Adjacent to this was a rusty metal strip (Fig 11 across upper right corner) with screw holes which presumably was part of a wooden structure.

Fig 11. The latch. Across the top right corner of the photo is the metal bracket.

Fig 12 The latch

The Stem

The 'stem', as we call, is a plain oblong piece of dressed stone 45 cm square and 100 cm long. Fig 13. Of interest is the hole with what seems to be lead which may point to a modification for reuse. This can be seen about 2/3rd up from the lower end.

Fig 13 'Stem'

The uppermost surface of this stone (the side with the hole) seems to be dressed in a different way to the other two visible sides (Fig 14). Striations across the stone, not seen on the other sides might indicate a Victorian power stone saw had been used to smooth the surface. The hole with lead lining can be seen.

Fig 14. The top side of the 'stem'

The Cap Stone

Previously we had spent some time looking for 'the cap stone' but on this occasion found it in less than two minutes. Poking into the undergrowth revealed it. Fig 15. The 'cap' is a 60 x 60 cm and 12 cm in depth with a low pyramidal top side.

(a)

(b)

Fig 15 (a) The cleared hole where the cap was and (b) the cap stone

Feeling underneath the cap stone revealed this was not a flat piece of stone but a well carved object, Fig 16. Below the 12 cm side of the cap was an inset ridge and below this a sloping stem of about 30 cm deep and estimated to be about 40 x 40 cm square. The stem appeared to have striations similar to those in Fig 13 above.

Fig 16. The cap stone from the side.

A note on the stone used

The literature says that the four parts are made from magnesium limestone, a harder form of 'chalk' than that generally found on the Wolds. Very interestingly examination of geological maps of the area shows a north/south band of magnesium limestone outcrop just to the west of Kipling Cotes. Indeed a finger of this material runs west of the north/south outcrop to within about 1.5 miles west of Kipling Cotes. It would seem that haulage, without a train, over 1.5 miles would be much easier than taking it another 10.5 miles to Molescroft near Beverley where there seemed to be no such rock.

Additional significant stones

In the brambles on the south side of the road near to the metal farm gate and adjacent to the stem there are 6 concrete posts (Fig 17). Two of them having two gate hooks gate hooks each. On our first and second visits these caused us some concern as initially we didn't realise they were concrete. However, as the site came into 'focus' these vertical posts made sense. Certainly one post is reinforced and one could surmise the others are. Thus there production is likely to be after 1854 but probably even more recent.

Fig 17 Diagram showing the position of 6 concrete posts

The post 1 (31x31 cm and 138cm high), now at a slight angle, has two large gate hooks set into it 117 cm apart. It is set next to the road to the station.(Fig 18). These are set on the east face (down hill slope) of the post. A smaller post immediately to the south (2) is hexagonal has wooden rails attached to it. (Fig 18). These wooden rails subtend an angle of over 60 degrees. To the south of this posts there 2 posts (3 & 4 Fig 19 ) each 90 cm to its south and form an angle of in excess of 60 degrees with 2. About 120 cm south of post 3 & 4 is a larger post (5 Fig 20) which has 2 gate hooks 92 cm apart. Post 6 is 90 cm south of 5 and adjacent to a fence. In Autumn and Winter these post are more easily seen but in the summer they are well hidden by brambles etc.

Fig 18 Shows post 1(nearer) and upper hook and post 2 beyond it

Fig 19 Shows post 4. Wooden rail can just be seen going right.

Fig 20 Shows post 5 showing upper hook. The lower hook points downwards

There are several investigative lines which come from looking at this site at Kipling Cotes and some parts are complex to unravel if they can be unravelled at all. Because of this complexity Part 2 will deal with possible interpretations of Part 1 The Facts.