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cross, Nunnery
Nunnery Cross
site name:-   Cross House
civil parish:-   Ainstable (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   stone
locality type:-   cross
coordinates:-   NY53514327
1Km square:-   NY5343
10Km square:-   NY54


photograph
BNI75.jpg  The inscribed stone is pretty illegible; there is a cross in the middle.
(taken 9.3.2007)  
photograph
BNI74.jpg  Completely rebuilt pillar.
(taken 9.3.2007)  

evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
source data:-   Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.
image FD01P128, button  goto source
Page 128:-  "... The site of the Nunnery is now marked by a pillar of masonry, standing on the hill above the present house. ..."

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"CROSS SOUTH OF CROSS HOUSE / / / AINSTABLE / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II / 73444 / NY5350643274"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Sanctuary cross for the nearby Nunnery. Early C18 recutting of an earlier inscribed cross set on C19 plinth. Red sandstone panel on rubble plinth, with carved cross and inscription Sanctuarium (in older lettering) and 1088 in early C18 lettering. See Transactions Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian &Archaeological Society, xvii, p.3."

notes:-  
Tradition has it that this is a sanctuary stone. Nuns are said to haunt the place still.

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