What is recorded here

Half-buried and leaning east beside a ruined medieval church in Haroldstown, the limestone pillar still wears a deep cross on its flat face. Its darker base suggests it stood taller or deeper until recently, while its rounded top and tapering body resist easy description. The cross cuts through the stone edge rather than sitting inside it, as if marked in a hurry or for distance. Whatever hand chiselled it worked near a graveyard where people still walk, leaving a sharp religious symbol exposed instead of hidden.

On the E side of a graveyard (CW004-038002-), c. 6m from its E wall and c. 15m from its S wall. The ruined medieval church (CW004-038001-) is located immediately to the NW. A narrow, limestone pillar (dims. 0.31m x 0.24m; H 0.98m above ground), leaning towards the E, the base of which is embedded in the ground. The pillar tapers towards the top which is roughly rounded. The E face is roughly dressed to form a flatter surface than the other sides. On the E face there is a deeply incised plain cross (H 0.36m; Wth 0.28m), the sides of which continue to the edge of the pillar. The upper vertical arm (L0.21m) is longer than the lower vertical arm (L 0.14m). The lower portion of the pillar, to a depth of 0.32m, is darker in colour, which suggests that it had been more deeply buried up to relatively recently. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 6 June 2017

Date likely to the early medieval period, given its cross-inscribed form and proximity to a medieval church. Such stones may have had a Christian commemorative or territorial function, though local folklore sometimes associates them with pre-Christian or fairy traditions.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.