| Abstract: |
An archaeological watching brief was conducted during repairs of the course of fabric to the market cross and fish slabs, The Square, Cartmel, Cumbria. The repairs comprised the dismantling of the existing cross and associated steps and an excavation to make new foundations: it was the latter that was monitored by the watching brief. The site is a Grade II Listed Building, and the archaeological work was carried out in May 2023. The known history of the area is inevitably dominated by the development of Cartmel Priory in the late 12th century, which covered a large part of the present village. However, there is evidence for human activity in the wider area from the prehistoric period onwards, although the earlier evidence typically comprises stray finds, and reliable evidence for Roman and early medieval activity is severely lacking. The origins of the cross are uncertain. While there are other medieval crosses in Cartmel, there is only limited documentary evidence for a cross at this date in the square, which nevertheless clearly served as a small market place for Cartmel. Evidence confirming when a market was first held in Cartmel is also lacking and it may have actually been held in nearby Flookburgh, with its more favourable location on the main cross-sands route. Based primarily on its form as an obelisk, the current cross was likely erected in the 18th century, perhaps following a revival in the market in 1730. Map and photographic evidence certainly show that it existed from about the middle of the 19th century and has remained largely unchanged since the beginning of the 20th century. The watching brief monitored the excavation below the existing steps, and revealed an initial deposit of soft silt, probably resulting from material brought in through water ingress, but containing a variety of relatively modern finds. Below this was a course of sandy clay containing lots of pieces of slate and other stone and lime mortar, which probably represents the original construction layer for the stone slabs of the steps. This contained finds, primarily pottery, glass, and pieces of clay tobacco pipe, which indicated a late 18th or early 19th century date. Below this was a layer of firmer sandy clay, which probably represents the natural glacial deposit. While no evidence for a medieval cross was revealed during the archaeological works, the watching brief was able to confirm what documentary sources indicate, that is that the current cross and steps are of most likely late 18th century date. It is apparent, however, that it had been subject to some repair, probably in the late 19th century, when some of the slabs were replaced with limestone. Further repairs, perhaps limited to the re-bedding the slabs, were carried out in the late 1970s or 1980s. |
