THE DISCOVERY OF THE MEDIEVAL CROSS SLAB COVER

IN THE PRIORY GROUNDS

During 1999 a short programme of archaeological evaluation was undertaken by the Cornwall Archaeological Unit along the proposed route of the Bodmin Town Leat Flood Alleviation Scheme, near Priory House in Bodmin. The Environment Agency propose to divert the existing water drains away from the threatened area of Church Square with a new pipeline from Priory Road (A389), running along the west ofPriory House and into Priory Pond.

This new pipeline from the A389 necessitated passing through an area of prime archaeological and historic significance, namely the land previously owned by one of the wealthiest institutions in Medieval Cornwall, the monastery of St. Petroc and St.Mary. This was the site of an Augustinian Priory built during the ₁₁th - 12 centuries A.D., the Priory House was then constructed at the end of the 18^th century.

Following a survey by the Exeter Archaeology Unit which revealed possible walls, vaults and graves in 1998, a modified route to the north by the pond was proposed but the route to the south of Priory Pond remained unchanged.

Two trenches were dug which revealed the remains of a medieval cemetery, such a cemetery, associated with an important religious site, like Bodmin Priory is particularly of national importance and can disclose important information about urban and ecclesiastical people in Cornwall and evidence of the medieval burial practices.

One very significant find was a 13^th – 14^th century decorated cross slab used as a lintel stone over an alcove. The grave slab had been placed over the alcove with the decorated face downwards. It measures 80 cm long, and the width at the top is 29 cm, tapering to 2S cm at the base and it is approximately 15 cm thick. It seems that it may not be a complete slab but its proportions are small and this suggests it may once have covered the grave of a child. Its upper face is decorated with a relief -carved, long - shafted foliated cross and it is interesting that the compass marks for the laying out of the geometric design are still visible at the centre of each lobe of the foliage as, indeed are the marks of the chisel or punch used to cut the pattern.

There are very few crosses of this sort known in Cornwall, the best known example being one at St. Buryan Church, commemorating Clarice de Balleit dating from the 13^th century, Bodmin has the largest number of such crosses originally from various ecclesiastical centres in the town, (the Priory, the Friary and the Parish Church). This slab, now on display in Bodmin Museum, would undoubtedly have been selected for carving at great cost, for high status grave markers.