Boer War Memorial Cross, Avenue Road, Hurst Green

COMMEMORATIVE CROSS, HURST GREEN. This cross has been erected at Hurst Green, near Stonyhurst (Lancashire), in memory of the services of the British Army in South Africa. It bears on a bronze plate the inscription: “This cross commemorates the services of Frederick Sleigh, first Earl Roberts, R.C. V.C., and his companions in arms, the soldiers and sailors of the Empire, who fought in South Africa, 1899-1902.” The monument is a replica of the ancient one in Irton churchyard, Cumberland, and has been erected from the drawings and under the superintendence of Mr. H. S. Fairhurst, architect, of Blackburn. The details were drawn out from rubbings from the ancient monument just referred to. The material is selected Darley-Dale stone, and the work was done by Messrs. Earp, Hobbs, & Miller, of Manchester. The total height, with the base, is 13 feet. [Builder 10 January 1903 page 41]

Reference           Builder 10 January 1903 page 41

Irton Cross is an Anglo-Saxon cross in the graveyard of St Paul's Church, Irton with Santon, Cumbria. Dating from the early 9th century, it lies chronologically between the Bewcastle Cross and the Gosforth cross and has greater affinity with the earlier Anglo-Roman style of Bewcastle. The west face has two panels of interlace, between which is a panel which once contained three lines of runes, all of which is surrounded by a border of knotwork. The east face also has two panels with a diagonal key pattern, and two with chequers, which are in fact small sunken crosses. There is fine scroll work on the narrow north and south sides, with leaves stem and fruit, possibly indicating a vine. A replica cast of the cross was made in 1882 and is exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum.