Monday 28 February 2022

Ralegh's Cross

Ralegh's Cross was erected at a crossroads c1425/6 probably to mark the boundary of the Raleigh family's Nettlecombe estate and possibly also to mark the location of a dangerous bog.  According to Raleigh family tradition, the cross was erected by Simon Raleigh, who had fought at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, as a memorial to his wife Joan, who died in Devon but was buried at Nettlecombe.  

The cross is currently located in the grounds of the Ralegh's Cross Inn.  However it was originally located a couple of hundred metres to the west in a field on the north side of the B3190 (grid reference ST037 344)The road junction moved when the land was enclosed.  The remains of the cross were moved to its current location (grid reference ST 038 344 ) in the late 18th or early 19th century.  

All that remains today is a 70cm high weathered red sandstone shaft set in an octagonal socket and a single step.

Ralegh's Cross


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