Butter/Butler Cross
Butter/Butler Cross
HER Number
314
District
Gateshead
Site Name
Butter/Butler Cross
Place
Ravensworth
Map Sheet
NZ25NW
Class
Religious Ritual and Funerary
Site Type: Broad
Cross
Site Type: Specific
Cross
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Form of Evidence
Structure
Description
Hutchinson, writing in 1787, noted the cross as "a stone column" of unknown history; in 1820 Surtees described it as "a plain shaft and pedestal", and reported the common tradition "that when Newcastle in the reign of Elizabeth was infected with the plague, the country people left their provisions at this place". In the late 19th century the shaft was described as octagonal, the base as square, and it was known as the 'butter cross' (in Pevsner's Durham (1953) 'butter' was incorrectly transcribed as 'Butler'). It was moved to its present position in 1942. LISTED GRADE 2
Easting
423210
Northing
559330
Grid Reference
NZ423210559330
Sources
<< HER 314 >> W. Hutchinson, 1787, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 417
R. Surtees, 1909, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 92
J.R. Boyle, 1892, The County of Durham, p. 608
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1895, Ravensworth, 2, VI (for 1893-94), p. 49
N. Pevsner, 1953, Co. Durham, Buildings of England, p. 196
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Medieval cross Ravensworth, 21.ii.1952, NZ 25 NW 2
N. Pevsner, rev. E. Williamson, 1983, Co. Durham, Buildings of England, p. 390
J.N. Rimmington, 1998, English Heritage, Alternative Action Report; Ian Ayris, Peter Jubb, Steve Palmer and Paul Usherwood, 1996, A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear, p 44
R. Surtees, 1909, History of...Durham, Vol. II, p. 92
J.R. Boyle, 1892, The County of Durham, p. 608
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1895, Ravensworth, 2, VI (for 1893-94), p. 49
N. Pevsner, 1953, Co. Durham, Buildings of England, p. 196
Ordnance Survey archaeological record cards, JHO, 1952, Medieval cross Ravensworth, 21.ii.1952, NZ 25 NW 2
N. Pevsner, rev. E. Williamson, 1983, Co. Durham, Buildings of England, p. 390
J.N. Rimmington, 1998, English Heritage, Alternative Action Report; Ian Ayris, Peter Jubb, Steve Palmer and Paul Usherwood, 1996, A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear, p 44