Cross — Wayside cross (present location) in Fore

17th century wayside cross possibly standing in the base of an earlier medieval market cross (WM008-097016-) standing in the small triangular shaped Fair Green in the village of Fore. Listed by Crawford as Cross No. 16 (Crawford 1928, 62) where the crucified Christ figure is shown facing NW. The cross has been reset into the cross base in the opposite direction for today the crucified Christ figure faces SE. Depicted as ‘Cross’ on the 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map where it is shown standing in a triangular-shaped green in the village of Fore, Co. Westmeath. The cross is not shown at this location on earlier editions of the OS 6-inch maps and was originally located in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) of St. Mary’s Church (WM008-097002-) located 70m to the SE (ibid.). This cross was drawn by George Du Noyer in 1864, the drawing is now accessible on the website of the Royal Irish Academy (www.cats.ria.ie/) where it is shown as a freestanding ringed-cross (H 2ft. 10 in. / 0.86m) standing in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) decorated with a naive figure of the crucified Christ, the shaft and head of the cross are chamfered. In 1928 the cross was described by Crawford as consisting of the 'head and upper part of the shaft of a cross with a solid recessed ring; set in a large socket stone with inclined sides. The cross is 2ft. 3in. (0.68m) in height above the socket, and has a crucifixion carved on the front; the figure has the arms placed horizontally and the feet crossed. Some years ago the cross lay in the graveyard (WM008-097014-) at St. Mary's Church (WM008-097002-), but it has recently been fixed in the socket in the village street' (Crawford 1928, 62). The cross was described in 1980 as consisting of a 'small stone solid-ring cross (H 0.66m) set in a base erected in the small triangular green in Fore village. The base (dims. Wth. 0.71m x H 0.4m) is a large roughly rectangular-shaped block of what seems to be a conglomerate stone. The socket (dims. 0.27m x 0.34m) appears to be much larger than the shaft (Wth 0.22m; T 0.15m) of the cross but it is now filled with concrete. The edges of the cross are chamfered. On one face, that now facing roughly W, there is a panel occupying most of the head and shaft with a figure carved in it, Christ Crucified. The figure is fully represented with head & features, body, arms and legs. The figure appears to be wearing a loin-cloth & the feet are apparently bound or crossed' (SMR file). According to the SMR file this cross was 'set into a large socket stone which was probably made orginally for another larger cross (WM008-097016-). It is possible that the present base of the wayside cross may have been the base of a market cross (WM008-097016-) which stood in the triangular shaped green. The shaft and upper portion of this possible market cross have since disappeared and were replaced by the present cross in the early 1900s. The base of this cross may have belonged to a market cross that was described in the OS Name Books dating from 1875. The OS described the cross in 1875 as consisting of an 'ancient stone cross, which is now in a dilapidated state, only a portion of it remaining. The cross was formerly in the centre of the market place when this was a borough town having a weekly market and faires?' (OS Name Book 1875, 1). The small wayside cross standing in the base of an earlier market cross has been dated to the 17th century by Bradley who described the monument in 1985 as a ‘small disc headed cross with short arms and upper shaft. The material is conglomerate and it is set into a conglomerate base on the village green. The edges are chamfered and one face is decorated in false relief with a crucifixion set within a panel. Christ is shown as a small chubby figure with short hair and a square perizonium. His head is upright, the arms are horizontal and the feet are nailed separately. There is a tri-lobed design in the spandrels under His arms’ (Bradley et. al. 1985, 93). Cross-referenced with WM008-097016-. See attached image (WM008-097001-_01.jpeg) of wayside cross and base of possible market cross taken from Crawford 1928. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 14 April 2015