Cain and Abel, Crimsworth Dean, Nr Hebden Bridge. - DEF00136

The monument is a sandstone wayside cross located near the edge of Shackleton Moor. It comprises the separated halves of a massive tapering socle or cross base, each housing a rectangular section shaft. The bevelled tops of the shafts indicate that there have never been cross-heads. This suggests that the cross is probably of post-medieval date. Currently, the halves of the socle are set c.2m apart, slightly NW and SE of each other, with the vertical cut faces of each orientated SE. This indicates that one half must have been turned round and moved apart. As the SE example is less deeply embedded in the ground than the NW example, it is likely to have been the former. The SE half of the socle has a maximum visible height of 87cm compared to the 69cm of the NW half. Its outer width along the top edge is 57cm while the same dimension on the NW example is 60cm. The inner width of both halves is 64cm which indicates that the socle was not of uniformly rectangular section but bowed out in the middle. The combined length of the socle would have been 152cm with the SE half measuring 69cm and the NW half 83cm. Both shafts are mortared into rectangular socket holes set 21cm from the outer edge of the socle and apparently also c.21cm apart. The SE shaft is 99cm tall and has a base measurement of 34cm by 21cm while the NW shaft measures 114cm by 54cm by 28cm. The latter tapers towards the top to 30cm by 24cm and the former to 22cm by 16cm. The socle, though finely dressed and covered with toolmarks, is undecorated except for a surveyor's bench mark inscribed near the southern corner of the SE half. Both leading faces of each shaft are inscribed with a Latin cross of two incised lines whose simplicity also suggests a post-medieval date. The cross is orientated SW-NE so that the incised crosses can be seen from either direction on the adjacent track. This suggests that the cross marked an ancient route across the moor, though it may also have served as a boundary marker.

Historic England Listing No: 1009289

David Fletcher

Pennine Horizons Digital Archive

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PHDA - David Fletcher Collection

Pennine Horizons Digital Archive

DEF00136.tif