The Fawn Cross

On Jacktrees Road, between Cleator and Cleator Moor, and near the long gone south level crossing, there formerly stood a farmhouse, which collapsed years ago owing to the subsidence of the ground.

There, the ancient Fawn Cross also stood. It too plunged to the depths, but was recovered following an excavation. Despite the cross crashing down, it was found to be in remarkable condition.

The cross is of red sandstone, cut with a broad chisel, and of good workmanship. The head measures 19 inches across the arms, all three limbs expanding slightly and chamfered on their edges, with a small cockspur at the outer end of each chamfer. The ends are plain, flat, and un-chamfered, and the intersection of the arms is filled by a plain shield in relief on one of the faces. The shaft is broken short.

The Fawn Cross is medieval in nature, with church records recording its existence from at least the mid 1500's.

The Cross joins up in a straight line with the Cross Lacon at Rheda, perhaps pinpointing the direction of a local corpse road, for when a body was taken to St. Bees for interment

The Fawn Cross can now be found in the gardens of the Ennerdale Country House Hotel, formerly The Flosh, in Cleator.

Fawn Cross is a corruption of Fallen Cross.

Crossfield may take its name from the cross.