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St. Illtud's Church, Early Medieval Cross, Cross Shafts and Pillar is an early medieval monument complex located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM625. The site sits upon bedrock of the Lias Group, sedimentary deposits formed during the Aalenian period, comprising mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone. This geology would have provided accessible stone for the carving and construction of the monument's sculptured elements.
The complex preserves several carved stone monuments from the early medieval period, including cross shafts and a pillar that represent significant examples of Welsh ecclesiastical stonework. These monuments reflect the importance of St. Illtud's as an early Christian site, with the carved stones suggesting local artistic traditions and skilled craftspeople working in stone during the medieval centuries.
The survival of these monuments in situ, alongside the church itself, makes this a valuable record of early medieval religious practice and artistic expression in Wales. The combination of architectural remains and sculptured stones provides insight into the material culture and spiritual significance of this historic sacred site within its local landscape.
St. Illtud's Church, Early Medieval Cross, Cross Shafts and Pillar is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM625. View the official record →
St. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM625.
St. Illtud's Church, Early Medieval Cross, Cross Shafts and Pillar dates from the early medieval period, and is classified as a pillar. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
St. Illtud's Church, Early Medieval Cross, Cross Shafts and Pillar 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 GM625.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Llantwit Major Dovecot (0.1 km), Llantwit Major Monastic Settlement (Site of) (0.1 km), Castle Ditches Camp (1.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of St. Illtud's Church, Early Medieval Cross, Cross Shafts and Pillar's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
St. Illtud's Church, Early Medieval Cross, Cross Shafts and Pillar stands on Lias Group, bedrock that formed in the Aalenian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone.