86 ORNAMENT ON THE EARLY CROSSES OF CORNWALL. 



examples best illustrating this, all occur in the parish of S. 

 Buryan, viz., in the churchyard, in the churchtown, Boskenna 

 cross, Trevorgance, and Chyoone. The feet are hest proportioned 

 on the crosses at Phillaek churchyard and Sancreed (by the 

 Yicarage-gate), and are omitted on the following crosses, Pen- 

 darves, Treslothan ? and outside the Institute (Camborne) ; 

 Rosemorran, Scorrier, Trevease, S. Erth churchtown, and S. 

 Feock. Occasionally the feet rest on a projection, or rather, the 

 bottom of the legs die on to it, as at S. Levan, S. Michael's 

 Mount, and Sancreed churchyard. At Rolling Mill they are 

 worked into the bead of the ring ; at Trevalis into a heart ; and 

 at Trevease on to the top of a patriarchal cross in relief. 



On the N.W. side of the cross at Lanherne, is a dragon 

 with a serpentine body which passes up the panel, and in return- 

 ing fills the spandrils with continuous Stafford knot-work, 

 terminating at the bottom in the mouth. Altogether this panel is 

 probably the most beautiful specimen of interlaced work in 

 Cornwall. There are only two other similar examples of the 

 above design ; one is on a coped stone at Bexhill, Sussex, and 

 the other at Aycliffe, Durham. On the W. side of the cross in 

 S. Breage churchyard, on the stump of the shaft, are the remains 

 of what appear to be the head of a dragon, similar to that at 

 Lanherne. Finally, there is the unique example on the wheel 

 cross at Trevean (S. Erth), deserving special notice. On the 

 front is the Figure of Our Lord, on the back a Latin cross in 

 relief. On each side of the cross is a human head, having the 

 chin on a level with the junction of the shaft and head. The 

 heads are connected by a bold bead passing over the top of the 

 cross. The bead and heads are therefore a feature, quite sepa- 

 rate and distinct, and form an addition to the usual shape of a 

 wheel cross. 



THE AGES OF THE GROSS. 



This paper would be incomplete without some reference to 

 the ages of the crosses upon which the ornament exists. Too 

 much caution, however, cannot be exercised in dealing with this 

 vexed question. The fact is, that we have really no direct infor- 

 mation regarding their erection, though perhaps this might be 

 taken in favour of their great antiquity. In Ireland the dates of 



