Cross — Lakill AND Moortown

Described in 1980 as 'The cross is in 4 fragments : (1) the base (L 0.69m; H 0.5m) and the lower part of the shaft (T 0.13m; Wth 0.23m; H 0.26m) which is cemented into it; (2) and (3) two fragments of the shaft ( H 0.36m; Wth 0.21m) with a panel of decoration, these two fragments fit together; (4) the upper part of the shaft (H 0.38m) and part of the head. The base is a carefully shaped block of stone the upper part of which has been shaped to give the base sloping surfaces. The part of the shaft cemented into the base is plain and its edges are chamfered. There is a small circular hole in the top of this part of the shaft and there is a similar hole in the upper part of the shaft, these two pieces were probably joined together in an attempt at repair in the past, however they do not join exactly and originally were not adjacent. The two decorated fragments of the shaft which join together are of rectangular cross section and have chamfered edges. The decoration is in a panel on one face and consists of a geometric design of straight and slightly curving lined carved in relief, possibly an ornate cross. The other face and the sides are plain. The remaining fragment consists of the upper portion of the shaft and most of the head. The two remains arms are short and stubby but are probably damaged but cannot have been very much longer originally. The edges of the shaft and of the head are chamfered. On one face there is a sunken panel with a figure carved in relief in it. The figure, the head of which is weathered and appears to be damaged, this is at the top of the fragment, has its hands crossed over its knees and its feet resting on the bottom of the panel. It is apparently representing a seated figure but this is uncertain. On the other face there is a smaller panel with the lower half of a small figure carved in relief, the top is broken off. This figure appears to be wearing a garment which comes to about its knees and the legs below it appear to be uncovered. The feet are not really discernible and rest on the bottom of the panel. There is a small subtriangular cusp at the base of the back of the arms. The cross is on the roadside NW of the 'Gateway' (WM004-035002-/008-) and WNW of St. Feighins Church (WM004-035004-). It is on the N side of the modern roadway in a patch of briars' (SMR file). Drawn by George du Noyer (George Victor Du Noyer, “Calvary cross. On road side near Temple fanurn Co. W Meath. Sheet 3/4,” Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, accessed January 27, 2020, http://rsai.locloudhosting.net/items/show/23471) in the 19th century and described in 1928 as 'the lower portion of the head and two pieces of the shaft of a cross with pierced ring and a figure on each side. The fragment of the heads is 1ft. 3in.(0.37m) in length and those of the shaft 1ft. 4in. (0.4m) and 1ft. 1in.(0.32m) the latter having a kind of lattice pattern on the front. The socket stone is about 2ft. (0.6m) square. In the field N of the road to Castlepollard, near the old gateway' (Crawford 1928, 61-2, no. 14). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 June 2010