Scheduled MonumentsWalesCross in Llandaff Cathedral
Early Medieval · Cross

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral

Wales
Cadw SAM GM115
Period
Early Medieval
Site type
Cross
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral is an early medieval stone monument that stands within the cathedral complex at Llandaff in Wales. The cross belongs to the tradition of freestanding stone crosses that marked sacred spaces and served as focal points for Christian worship during the early medieval period. Such monuments were typically erected between the 6th and 12th centuries and were common throughout Wales and the wider Celtic regions.

The cross occupies ground built upon Triassic bedrock comprising sandstone and conglomerate deposits, geological formations laid down some 250 million years ago. This underlying geology shaped the landscape surrounding Llandaff Cathedral, which developed as an important religious site from the early medieval period onwards. The choice of this location for both cathedral and cross reflects its significance as a centre of Christian devotion for many centuries.

The monument is protected under Cadw, the historic monuments service of Wales, and is registered under reference GM115. As part of Llandaff Cathedral's historic precinct, the cross survives as evidence of early medieval religious practice and artistic expression. Its presence within the cathedral grounds connects it to the cathedral's own long history, making it an integral part of one of Wales's most important ecclesiastical sites.

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM115. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Cross in Llandaff Cathedral?

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral is an early medieval stone monument that stands within the cathedral complex at Llandaff in Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM115.

What period does Cross in Llandaff Cathedral date from?

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral dates from the early medieval period, and is classified as a cross. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Cross in Llandaff Cathedral?

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is GM115.

What other scheduled monuments are near Cross in Llandaff Cathedral?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ely Tidal Harbour Coal Staithe Number One (5.8 km), Cwm George Camp (5.9 km), Tyn y Coed Earthwork (6.1 km).

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Everything a full report reveals about Cross in Llandaff Cathedral

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cross in Llandaff Cathedral's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
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The ground beneath

The bedrock under Cross in Llandaff Cathedral

Cross in Llandaff Cathedral stands on Triassic Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Triassic. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.