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

Map

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>SBC20466 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1912. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire. Volume 1. pp262-263.
  • <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

Oct 13 2024 10:24PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.