Fassaroe Cross
| Fassaroe Cross | |
|---|---|
| Native name Ardchros an Fhásaigh Rua (Irish) | |
| St. Valery's Cross | |
 | |
| Type | High cross |
| Location | Fassaroe, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°11′46″N 6°08′26″W / 53.195977°N 6.140506°W |
| Area | Bray River Valley |
| Height | 1.42 metres (4.7 ft) |
| Built | AD 1150–1200 |
  Location of Fassaroe Cross in Ireland | |
| Official name | Fassaroe |
| Reference no. | 337[1] |
Fassaroe Cross, also called St. Valery's Cross, is a high cross and National Monument located near Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.[2]
Location
[edit]Fassaroe Cross is located to the west of Bray, just off the Berryfield Lane roundabout, 500 m (550 yd) northwest of the Bray River.
History
[edit]
The cross originally stood at Ballyman (about 1.6 km (0.99 mi) NNW of the present site), and is believed to have been carved in the late 12th century. Other similar crosses in the Rathdown area are located at Rathmichael, Killegar and Shankill, and are collectively known as the "Fassaroe crosses"; they were probably carved by the same mason.[3]
According to the English writer Anne Plumptre (1760–1818), who stayed with the Walker family at St. Valery in 1814–15, the cross was brought from a glen to Fassaroe, and stood originally in the center of a little paddock, round which runs the plantation. Pilgrims travelled from miles around and wore many paths down to the cross.[4]
Description
[edit]
The cross is made of granite with a band of quartz and stands 1.42 m (4.7 ft) high and is 16 cm (6.3 in) wide.
The west face bears a crucifixion, while the east face bears two very worn human heads, both bearded and one perhaps wearing a mitre. There are two other heads on the cross: one protruding from the south edge of the ring and another is situated on the north eastern side of the base.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "National Monuments of County Wicklow in State Care" (PDF). heritageireland.ie. National Monument Service. p. 2. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "St. Valery's Cross - Wicklow County Tourism". visitwicklow.ie. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Fassaroe crosses".
- ^ "Fassaroe Cross".
- ^ "Fassaroe Crosses".
External links
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