In the context of a wider research programme, I am currently engaged in a survey of Staffordshire's medieval cross slabs, a monument that has not previously been systematically recorded or studied within the county. These commemorative monuments are commonly found within churches and churchyards, and might be found inside and outside of churches, sometimes as discrete features, but often as fragments that have been incorporated into the walls of the church.
As the weather improves, this request for assistance is aimed particularly at those members who enjoy visiting our parish churches. If, during your visits, you happen to come across such a monument, it would be extremely helpful if you could bring it to my attention via email, and even better if you could include a photograph. My current focus is on Staffordshire cross slabs, and therefore I am particularly keen to hear about these, but looking ahead, the project will subsequently embrace Warwickshire and Worcestershire as well, so information relating to these counties will also be welcome.
In case these monuments are unfamiliar, I have incorporated a couple of photographs. From left to right, they are - a fragment incorporated into the external wall of the church at Adbaston; a slab inside the church at Gnosall; a fragment built into the porch of Alstonefield church; and a discrete slab reused (with others) as a bench outside of Biddulph church. Many are less well preserved and more fragmentary than those illustrated here.
Click to download the full PDF with imagery and contact details.
