Dartmoor Crosses

Hawsons Stone Cross and Stumpy Oak, Dartmoor — Stumpy Oak and Hawsons Cross

Village Cross, Lustleigh, Dartmoor — Lustleigh Village Cross
SX 78521 81251

Horn's Cross, Dartmoor — Horn’s Cross
SX 66988 71042

Stone Cross, Huckworthy Common, Devon — Huckworthy Common Cross
SX 52996 71133

Drywells Stone Cross, Dartmoor — Drywells Cross
SX 70108 75342

Bennet's Stone Cross, Dartmoor — Bennet’s Cross
SX 68006 81635

Childe's Tomb, Stone Cross and Cist, Dartmoor — Childe’s Tomb
SX 62579 70302

Cave Penny Memorial Cross, Corndon, Dartmoor — Cave Penny Memorial Cross
SX 68326 73896

Cadover Stone Cross, Dartmoor — Cadover Cross
SX 55328 64716

Cavaliers Cross, Stone cross, Dartmoor — Cavaliers Cross
Bovey Tracey

Mount Misery Stone Cross on Dartmoor — Mount Misery Stone Cross
Overlooking Fox Tor Mire

Ouldsbrum Stone Cross, Dartmoor — Ouldsbrum Cross
Sharp Tor in the background

Village cross outside Peter Tavy Church, Dartmoor — Peter Tavy Church

Village Cross, Cornwood, Dartmoor — Cornwood Village Cross

Village Cross in North Bovey, Dartmoor — North Bovey Village Cross

Beator Stone Cross also known as The Watcher, Dartmoor — Beator Cross (The Watcher)

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There are many stone crosses in and around Dartmoor. Those found out on the open moorland are probably the most evocative. Some of these were ‘guide crosses‘. These marked the path of ancient tracks that traversed the moor; long before there were any roads. These ancient tracks linked the monasteries and communities that were dotted around the moorland fringe.

Other crosses were used as boundary posts; marking the extent of the (primarily) monastic estates. Crosses were a good choice of boundary marker, as in the 1300 s a cross was considered to be on consecrated ground and hence the peasantry would not risk eternal damnation by moving them!

In the first century A.D., there were few churches and ‘preaching crosses’ were erected at convenient points in and between communities. These were places where the faithful would meet to hear preachers and to pray. Some of these crosses are still to be found today, designated ‘village’ or ‘wayside’ crosses.

This gallery includes a selection of the more complete and attractive crosses.

Click on any image to open the image viewer. Hover over the image to see the caption with the name of the cross and its OS grid reference.

(Recommended reading: ‘Dartmoor Stone Crosses‘. Bill Harrison, 2001. Devon Books, Tiverton).

Moor & More Images

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