small and simple cross, unusual in form, and without the adjunct of an enclosing circle. The arms are all of equal length, 24 in., and are formed by a double line dilating from the centre, and in each case united across at the end. I have looked carefully through Professor Westwood's Lapidarium Walliæ, and the only instance I can find there at all like it is the small cross numbered 1, on Plate 39, of a stone at Llaufrynach. In taking a rubbing of the stone subsequently for the accompanying illustration, Lord Glanusk discovered upon it a second small cross unnoticed before; this, too, has the arms of equal length, 3 in., with the ends expanded, and it is a curious coincidence that this also has its only representation in the Lapidarium, in the other and more elaborate "Iohis" inscribed stone at the same place, viz., in the little cross at the head of the carved face. The resemblance is noteworthy, and, being in the same county, it implies a correspondence in date, if not an identity in the engraver, of the three stones. Since writing the above, I have received through Lord Glanusk, from Mr. Lloyd Harries, the Rector of Llanbedr and Partrishow, who had been written to about it, the following letter, which seems at first sight to dispose entirely of the correctness of what I have said above, but which, on careful examination, hardly affects it, and indeed rather enhances the interest of the find. He writes: "I have been making enquiries about the history of the crossstone. Mr. Powell, of Tynllwyn, the farm near the church, a man of about eighty years old, told me last Sunday that it was he who placed the stone where it now is, some fifty or sixty years ago. He said his father and he dug out the stone, and many others like it, which are still inside the field close by, for the sake of widening the road.' He showed me the spot on the left-hand side of the road, half way up the hill, from which the stones had been removed, where there is a rocky part which had been cut through. He said there was not a cross on the stone when he put it there, but that it has been made by someone since: possibly, he thought, by one of the Ordnance Survey men, who carry tools for marking stones with the broad arrow with them; or, perhaps, by one of the Llanthony people." Now, I do not for a moment question Mr. Powell's statement as to his removal of the stone; it only alters the site by a few dozen yards, and it would still have been on the side of the Pilgrim way. And when he says that "there were many others like it which are still inside the field close by," he excites one's curiosity whether there may not be found a cross upon some of them also; and I hope a careful examination will be made of them. I am not, however, prepared to accept the further statement that there was not a cross upon it when he put it there. Doubtless, he did not notice one; "fifty or sixty years ago," few people would have taken any account of it, and it is nothing strange that it should have escaped the notice of a young man removing stones from the roadside. Why, when Lord Glanusk and myself examined the stone carefully, and with a purpose, we only observed one cross upon it: the other only came to light when subjected to a rubbing. Then as to the suggestion of the origin: they have not the freshness of a modern Llanthony incision, nor the clean cut of the tool of an Ordnance worker. And if they had either the one or the other, the form is so uncommon that one can hardly conceive an amateur to have engraved them. Their singularity I have already pointed out. That the stone was erected to mark the proximity of the Holy Well, as I had supposed, I, of course, can no longer uphold; but that the crosses upon it are of genuine antiquity I am fully satisfied; and I shall look with great interest to any further examination of the locality. I will only add, that the find added zest to our archæological search, and on our return we kept a watchful look-out on the walls and hedge-sides, and all likely blocks on our way back. And, indeed, we did discover on the wall on our right hand, at the distance of about half a mile, a small oblong stone, scored with many markings; and we discussed the question whether the stone was not simply one gathered off the field, and the marks left upon it by the plough. Some such marks there undoubtedly were, but there was one of a different character. The plough-scores went right across the stone in different directions: but besides these there was a small, well-defined, smoothlygrooved indentation, with its arms, 6 ins. by 4 ins., stopping short of the rough edges of the stone, and forming a perfectly-shaped cross. A passing glimpse of the tower of Llanbedr Church as we crossed the Lesser Grwyney, the drive through the pretty valley of Llangeney, a distant view of the Maenhir at Cwrt y Gollen, and a closer inspection of the Gwernvale Cromlech, brought to a close a very enjoyable and profitable excursion. * Stone with Two Incised Crosses at Partrishow. 65 Cambrian Archaeological Association. REPORT OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING, HELD AT PORTMADOC, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 1903, AND FOUR FOLLOWING DAYS. President. THE RIGHT HON. LORD GLANUSK. President-Elect. MR. R. H. WOOD, F.S.A., F.R.G.S., Pantglas, Trawsfynydd. Local Committee. Chairman.—MR. J. E. GREAVES, Lord Lieutenant of Carnarvonshire, Bron Eifion, Criccieth. Vice-Chairmen. Col. O. Lloyd J. Evans, Broom Hall, Pwllheli. Mr. R. M. Greaves, Wern, Tremadoc. The Right Hon. Lord Harlech, Glyn, Talsarnau. Col. Mainwaring, Bwlch y Beudy, Cerrigydrudion. Sir Hugh J. Ellis Nanney, Bart., Gwynfryn, Criccieth. Mr. J. Bryn Roberts, M.P., Brynadda, Bangor. The Right Hon. The Earl of Winchelsea, Harlech. Mr. A. O. Williams, M.P., Deudraeth Castle, Penrhyndeudraeth. Mr. J. A. A. Williams, Aberglaslyn, Beddgelert. Committee. Mr. G. J. Barnard, Bryn Glaslyn, Portmadoc. Mr. Randal Casson, Bronygarth. Mr. H. T. Davies, Abererch, Pwllheli. Mr. J. Davies, Bryneirian, Portmadoc. Rev. J. E. Davies, Vicarage, Llwyngwril. Mr. J. Evans, 5, High Street, Portmadoc. Mr. J. R. Evans, County School, Portinadoc. Mr. W. George, Garthcelyn, Criccieth. Mr. A. P. Graves, H. M. I. of Schools, Erinfa, Harlech. 6TH SER., VOL. IV. Committee. Continued. Mrs. R. M. Greaves, Wern, Tremadoc. Rev. Canon J. Ll. Jones, Criccieth. Mr. Robert Isaac Jones (Alltud Eifion), Tremadoc. Mr. R. Jones Morris, Ty cerrig, Talsarnau. Rev. W. J. Nicholson, Roche Terrace, Portmadoc. Mr. A. B. Priestley, Cae Ddafydd, Llanfrothen. Mr. Griffith Prichard, Bodhyfryd, Minffordd. Mr. E. Roberts, H. M. I. of Schools, Maesincla, Carnarvon. Ven. Archdeacon Williams, The Rectory, Llanystumdwy. Mr. W. W. Watkin, Parciau, Criccieth. Rev. J. E. Williams, The Vicarage, Portmadoc. Hon. Local Treasurer. Mr. William Jones, North and South Wales Bank, Portmadoc (deed.). Mr. David G. Owen, North and South Wales Bank, Portmadoc. Hon. Local Secretaries. Mr. Charles E. Breese, 4, Marine Terrace, Portmadoc. General Secretaries of the Association. Rev. Canon R. Trevor Owen, F.S.A., Bodelwyddan Vicarage, Rev. C. Chidlow, M. A., Lawhaden Vicarage, Narberth. |