Monument record 0064100000 - BLEDLOW CROSS

Summary

Chalk-cut cross of uncertain date first recorded in the nineteenth century. The earliest documentary reference appears to be from 1827. It is now thought that the cross may been cut before 1350 and then became overgrown, being rediscovered in 1827. During the Second World War the cross was covered with brush wood. Repair and restoration of the cross was carried out in 1996, this work included the application of a fresh layer of chalk chippings. Scheduled.

Protected Status/Designation

Archaeological Notification Area: Undated chalk-cut cross at Bledlow Cross (DBC9358)
Scheduled Monument BU2: Bledlow Cross (DBC7162)

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Type and Period (1)

HILL FIGURE (First mentioned 1827, 19th Century - 1800 AD? to 1899 AD?)

Description

Dimensions - Length 23m.
Plan Form - Cruciform.
Cross cut through turf into chalk. Length 30m, width of arms 1.8m (1827)(B1-2).
Greek cross: 4 equal limbs each 9m long, 4.5m wide (mid-late C19)(B3-6).
23m transversely with arms 4.5m wide (B7-11).
Was thought to be Saxon, but first described in 1827. C14 refs to 'Henry atte crouche' probably relates to cross-roads rather than the cross (B10,B12).
Included in English Heritage's Heritage at Risk Register 2009 and 2011. Condition described as 'Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems' with the principal vulnerability from scrub/tree growth and trend as declining (B14-15).

(SP 7694 0096) Bledlow Cross (NR) (B16).

Bledlow Cross, the origin of which nothing definite is known, is cut into the chalk on the side of Wain Hill. The cross is of special interest as it is one of two examples of turf-cuttings in Bucks (see Whiteleaf Cross - SP 80 SW 16). The condition is fairly good. Plan (B7).
Wise implies that in 1742 the figure did not exist. The first written reference to the cross appears in 1827 (B8).
Bledlow Cross (Name verified) is as described. It appears as a cross of exposed chalk, 20.0m square, with arms c 3.0m wide cut into the north slope of Wain Hill. No dating evidence was forthcoming. Published survey (25") revised (B17).
It is no thought that the cross may have been cut before 1350 and then became overgrown, being rediscovered in 1827 (B18).
Repair and restoration of the cross was carried out in 1996, this work included the application of a fresh layer of chalk chippings (B19).
Additional reference (B20).
NRHE Insert 1999, Update 1997, 2002, 2011 (B21).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.

Sources (21)

<1>SBC5601 Article in serial: 1827. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE 97 PT2 1827 P79. Vol 97 part 2.
<2>SBC26952 Bibliographic reference: George Lipscomb. 1847. The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham (Volume 2). Volume 2. p110.
<3>SBC799 Article in serial: Baker A. 1856. BAKER REV A 1856 ANCIENT CROSSES, RECS OF BUCKS 1 P222. Vol 1.
<4>SBC16349 Article in serial: 1861. W H K 1861 THE BLEDLOW CROSS, IN RECS OF BUCKS 2 PP313-314. Vol 2.
<5>SBC4304 Article in serial: Downs R S. 1882. DOWNS R S 1882 THE DANES IN BUCKS, RECS OF BUCKS 5 P261. Vol 5.
<6>SBC20461 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1908. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume II. Volume 2. pp189-190.
<7>SBC20466 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1912. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire Volume 1. Volume 1. p57.
<8>SBC465 Article in serial: W Lindsay Scott. 1937. ANTIQUITY 11 1937 PP100-104 (NOTE BY W L SCOTT). Vol 11.
<9>SBC10699 Bibliographic reference: Ordnance Survey. OS RECORD CARD SP 70 SE 04.
<10>SBC8210 Bibliographic reference: Marples M. 1949. MARPLES M 1949 WHITE HORSES & OTHER FIGURES PP142- 158 & PLS 39,41-42.
<11>SBC13995 Scheduling record: HBMC. 1932. SCHEDULING LISTS OF INSPECTORATE OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
<12>SBC11624 Article in serial: Pavry F H. 1978. PAVRY F H 1978 BLEDLOW CROSS, RECS OF BUCKS 20 P677. Vol 20.
<13>SBC9916 Bibliographic reference: Newman P. 1987. NEWMAN P 1987 GODS & GRAVEN IMAGES PP171-175.
<14>SBC23453 Bibliographic reference: English Heritage. 2009. Heritage at Risk Register 2009: South East. p30.
<15>SBC24032 Bibliographic reference: English Heritage. 2011. Heritage at Risk Register 2011: South East. p25.
<16>SBC27454 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1960. Ordnance Survey Map (6" /1960). Map.
<17>SBC28767 Verbal communication: P A Stevens. 1974. Field Investigators Comments - F1 PAS 16-JAN-74.
<18>SBC28768 Bibliographic reference: Paul Newman. 1987. Gods and Graven Images: The Chalk Hill figures of Britain. p162, 171-175.
<19>SBC28769 Bibliographic reference: Kate Bergamar. 1997. Discovering Hill Figures. p16.
<20>SBC28770 Bibliographic reference: Morris Marples. 1949. White Horses and other Hill Figures. p18, 19, 21, 24, 137-158, 202.
<21>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Location

Grid reference	SP 76930 00950 (point)
Civil Parish	BLEDLOW-CUM-SAUNDERTON, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

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Record last edited

Jan 12 2026 2:28PM