Sanctuary Crosses, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Have you ever wondered why there is a stone with a fence around it just as you leave
Beverley towards Hessle on the A164 near to its junction with the A1079?

photo courtesy of Google street view

After a little investigation by the folks here at Irlsey, it turns out that this stone is actually
the remains of a medieval sanctuary cross which in the 15th century was known as the
stone cross of Bentley, or simply as Mile cross.

Beverley was one of the major sanctuaries of the Middle Ages and was unusual in
that criminals could claim asylum within the whole town not just within the church
itself. Legend has it that King Athelstan granted Beverley sanctuary privileges for the
otherworldly assistance of St John of Beverley in winning the battle of Brunanburh
in 937AD which made Athelstan the first king of all Britain. The boundary of the
sanctuary or ‘peace of St John’ extended for a league (the Domesday use of the word
implies a mile and a half) from the Minster where St John is laid to rest. The outer
limits of the sanctuary were marked with stone crosses; the exact number of crosses
is unknown, but may have been five as this would account for the five main roads
into Beverley. The penalty for apprehending a criminal who had claimed sanctuary
within this boundary was eight pounds and increased in value until at The Frith Stool
or stone chair near the altar within the Minster the offence was termed ‘bootless’ i.e.
unpardonable.

Two other sanctuary stones, all but unrecognisable as crosses remain.

The Killingwoldgraves Cross beside the York road (A1174). This is set back slightly
from the road behind a hedgerow not far from the Killingwoldgraves roundabout.

Killingwoldgraves Cross – c4vy 2012

another Killingwoldgraves picture – c4vy 2012

This cross still had a legible Latin inscription in the 18th century: Pray for the soul of
Master William de Walthon but as you can see from the photo it is covered with lichen
and no inscription is visible now.

Walkington Cross beside the B1230 near to the traffic lights.

Walkington Cross –  c4vy 2012

The fourth stone was probably situated in the valley a little beyond the hamlet of
Molescroft on the edge of Leconfield Park. The fifth may have been The Spay Cross,
later called Stump Cross where Swinemoor Lane meets the Holderness road to the
east.

So, although the remains of these stones may not be particularly important now, if you
were a felon fleeing capture in medieval times you would have been glad to see them.

Find out more about the mediaeval sanctuary of Beverley here

Find out more about St John of Beverley and the sanctuary stones here
c4vy