Scheduled MonumentsWalesSt. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry
Medieval · Cross

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry

Wales
Cadw SAM MM331
Period
Medieval
Site type
Cross
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
The designation
Reference
Cadw SAM MM331
Authority
Cadw
Designated
2002-10-31
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry is a medieval cross standing in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church in Wales. The monument is protected by Cadw, the Welsh heritage organisation, under reference MM331. Like many parish crosses of its type, it would have served both practical and spiritual functions within the medieval community, marking a focal point for gatherings and religious observance within the churchyard.

The cross is situated upon bedrock composed of Upper Devonian sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded strata formed during the Late Devonian period. This relatively stable geological foundation has supported the monument through centuries of Welsh weather. The surrounding churchyard setting, typical of medieval parishes, preserves the monument within its original ecclesiastical landscape.

Medieval churchyard crosses such as this were commonly erected between the 12th and 16th centuries, often marking the heart of the parish church precinct. Though specific details of this example's construction and original form have been lost to time, its survival and official protection acknowledge its significance as a physical remnant of medieval religious life and community practice in Wales.

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MM331. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry?

St. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MM331.

What period does St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry date from?

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry dates from the 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 St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry?

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry 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 MM331.

What other scheduled monuments are near St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Long Barrow and Round Barrow at Thornwell Farm (7.3 km), Runston Medieval Village Site & Runston Chapel (7.6 km), Royal Naval Propellant Factory Guided Weapons Scheme Static Firing Bay (7.8 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry'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.
First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry report
Or see a real report first
The ground beneath

The bedrock under St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry

St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Penterry stands on Upper Devonian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Late Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.