Monument record 0164900000 - WHITELEAF CROSS

Summary

Possible post-medieval chalk-cut cross and triangular base known as Whiteleaf Cross, first recorded in the eighteenth century.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Ancient Monument 1014597: HILL FIGURE ON WHITELEAF HILL, KNOWN AS THE WHITELEAF CROSS
  • Planning Notification Area: Chalk cross, prehistoric barrows and World War I practice trenches on Whiteleaf Hill

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Type and Period (1)

  • HILL FIGURE (First mentioned 1738, Post-Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1798 AD?)

Description

Dimensions - Width 116m, Length 64m.
Plan Form - Cruciform.
Latin cross 24m across (both ways): arms 6m wide. Triangular base c.103m wide; whole is 70m high. Some conservation in 1984 (B1).
Size seems to have varied (B2).
Discussions re origins: commemorated Saxon/Danish victory? (B3-5,B9).
First recorded 1738. Some erosion on steepest part. Conservation work in 1991 (B10).
Scheduled: SAM 27147 (B1).
Condition survey 2000 (B11).
Known from at least 1742 (B13).
Negative watching brief carried out by Oxford Archaeology in November 2008 during installation of replacement stock-proof fencing (B15).

Sources (22)

  • ---SBC17198 Aerial Photograph: Aerofilms. 1959. Aerofilms oblique AP. SP82170399. Yes.
  • ---SBC17338 Aerial Photograph: Mike Farley. 1986. BCM A11/3/16. SP\821038. Yes.
  • ---SBC17414 Aerial Photograph: Mike Farley. 06/03/92. BCM A16/1/20-21. SP\821039. Yes.
  • ---SBC17426 Aerial Photograph: Mike Farley. 01/07/77. BCM A2/25/6. SP\821039. Yes.
  • ---SBC20828 Aerial Photograph: Major Allen. 1934. 1934 Ashmolean Museum (Major Allen) oblique AP. SP82180400. Yes.
  • ---SBC23889 Aerial Photograph: Major Allen. 1933. 1933 Ashmolean Museum (Major Allen) oblique AP. SP82100400. Yes.
  • <1>SBC14006 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1996. SCHEDULING LISTS OF INSPECTORATE OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
  • <2>SBC8211 Bibliographic reference: Marples M. 1949. MARPLES M 1949 WHITE HORSES & OTHER HILL FIGURES PP137FF, FIG 25 & PLS 37-38, 40.
  • <3>SBC16782 Bibliographic reference: Francis Wise. 1742. FURTHER OBSERVATIONS UPON THE WHITE HORSE & OTHER ANTIQUITIES...WITH AN ACCOUNT OF WHITELEAF CROSS IN BUCKS pp34FF.
  • <4>SBC13289 Article in serial: RECS OF BUCKS 1857 1 PP219-224; 1896 7 PP559-567.
  • <5>SBC14056 Article in serial: W Lindsay Scott. 1937. SCOTT W L 1937 ANTIQUITY 11 PP100-104. Vol 11.
  • <6>SBC5599 Article in serial: 1827. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE 1827 97 PT2 P79. Vol 97 Part 2.
  • <7>SBC20460 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1905. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume I. Volume 1. pp189-190.
  • <8>SBC12820 Bibliographic reference: RCHM(E). 1912. RCHM BUCKS 1 PP262-3. Vol 1.
  • <9>SBC9915 Bibliographic reference: Newman P. 1987. GODS & GRAVEN IMAGES PP162-171.
  • <10>SBC16786 Article in serial: Julia Wise. 1991. 'A Survey of Prehistoric and Later Earthworks on Whiteleaf Hill', in Recs of Bucks 33 PP108-113. Vol 33.
  • <11>SBC19447 Unpublished document: Kidd S. 2000. Whiteleaf Hill site visit and condition report.
  • <12>SBC19161 Unpublished document: Michael Farley Archaeology. 2000. Whiteleaf Local Nature Reserve, Princes Risborough.
  • <12>SBC25936 Unpublished document: Michael Farley Archaeology. 2000. Whiteleaf Local Nature Reserve: Texts for Interpretation of the Archaeology and History of the Site.
  • <13>SBC19448 Graphic material: ?1742. CRUX SAXONICA.
  • <14>SBC23046 Article in serial: Gill Hey, Caroline Dennis & Andrew Mayes. 2007. 'Archaeological Investigations on Whiteleaf Hill, Princes Risborough, 2002-6', in Records of Bucks 47 pp1-80. Vol 47, Part 2.
  • <15>SBC23314 Unpublished document: Oxford Archaeology. 2008. New Stock Fence, Whiteleaf Hill, Princes Risborough: Archaeological Watching Brief Report.

Location

Grid reference SP 82162 03993 (point)
Civil Parish PRINCES RISBOROUGH, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Event - Survey: Condition survey (EBC15939)
  • Event - Survey: Topographic earthwork survey (EBC11093)
  • Event - Intervention: Watching brief (Ref: PRRWHH 08) (EBC17150)

Record last edited

Feb 22 2023 9:52AM

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