Ancient borough Cross Uncovered During Penzance Gas Works
Penzance,โค Cornwall – Aโข meaningful piece ofโ Cornish history was unexpectedly revealed โคduring recent gas worksโ in Penzance.Theโฃ borough Cross, marking the original center โฃof the town, was discovered and carefully โฃdocumented before being reburied for protection.
Dalcour Maclaren, โthe company undertakingโข the gas works, agreed to โฃhalt work whileโ archaeologist Jake West formally recordedโข the cross. Cornwall’s cross specialist, Andrew Langdon, who โขhas lectured at Penleeโค House Galleryโค & Museum, was also present to assist.
Following meticulous measurement,โค photography, โand โrecording, the cross was covered โคwith plastic and reburied. Surveyors pinpointed the cross’s centre,marking the locationโ with a survey nail embedded โin the โขroad โขsurface as a โฃpermanent,albeit subtle,reminder. โ
cornwall Council is nowโข compiling anโค archaeological report to addโ the Borough Cross to its Historic Surroundingsโข Record (HER).โ This willโข ensure future roadwork contractors are aware of โขthe cross’s existence and location, โguaranteeingโ its preservation.
A 3D scanโ of the Borough Cross, created from surveyโ photographs by Mr. โGoskar,โข is available to view online:โข https://sketchfab.com/…/4111686cd4e743e2879ec3b63…/embed.
The ancient Market Cross, a relatedโฃ historical marker, remains on display outside Penlee house Gallery & Museum.