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NOTES ON CALMSDEN CROSS. 

 Bt Chaeies Poolet, Esq., of Weston-supee-Maee. 



In continuation of my Notes on the Ancient Crosses of Gloucestershire, I 

 have now to add a few remarks on the way-side Cross at Calmsden, an 

 illustration of which is given in the accompanying plate. 



The Cross, in all probability, is as old as the time of the Knights Templars. 

 There is no historical evidence that I know of to support this opinion ; but 

 quaint chronicles tell us that the Preceptors of the Knights Hospitallers of 

 Jerusalem at Querington, only a few miles distant, held large possessions at 

 Calmsden, being the several gifts of Mabel the wife of William de Mara, 

 and of Richard the son of Robert de Calmsden ; and I conceive it is more 

 than likely, that this Cross was erected there, not only to mark the tenure 

 by which the lands were held, but also to shew by whom the manorial 

 rights and privileges were exercised. There is something also in the 

 building itself, grey and weather-beaten as it is, which conveys to the eye 

 an idea of chasteness in the design, such as we are accustomed to associate 

 with monuments of this description appertaining to the early part of the 

 fourteenth century. The structure consists of four steps, and a pedestal or 

 socket, into which is inserted a taper sexagonal shaft, surmounted by a 

 cube, whose sides face the four cardinal points. 



The site of the Cross is extremely well chosen. Elevated on a rising 

 slope, on the north side of the glen, it stands out a conspicuous object from 

 whichever side it is approached, and the visitor cannot fail to be struck 

 with the beauty of this sequestered nook, shaded as it is by the luxuriant 

 foliage of some fine old elms. 



Close adjoining the road stand some watering troughs, supplied 

 by a deliciously cool spring of water, which gushes out from the rock 

 immediately below the Cross. At these troughs, as we turned to leave, 

 the horses of a neighbouring farm were brought to be watered before they 

 were housed for the night, while two or three urchins who had them in 

 charge clustered about the old pedestal, as clearly innocent of its 

 emblematic significance as they were of the contrast they presented to our 

 minds, as our thoughts travelled back to a scene which was once doubtless 

 familiar enough five centuries ago at the same spot, when the haughty 

 Templars, with their chain mail, and snowy vest, and red cross, bent the 

 knee in silent adoration to this symbol of their faith. 



