More information : (NT 81250634) Middle Golden Pot (NR) (1)
Golden Pot (one of three in the region - see NT 80 NW 3 and NT 80 NW
6). (2)
Five or more of the stones called Golden Pots remain on the western
edge of the Roman way between Redesdale and Chew Green. They are
about two feet cube with a square or octagonal hole in their upper
surface. These pedestals resemble the bases of crosses but were
probably erected by the Romans as milestones. (No accompanying plan
to show the position of these stones). (3)
A small heap of sandstone fragments a short distance to the SE of the
spot shown by the Ordnance Survey may be
the remains of the Middle Golden Pot.
Supposed to be Roman milestones, these stones are more probably
the sockets of crosses and are said to be mentioned in 1228. (4)
A charter of 1228 mentions the "Goldingpottes" and "Goldingpot".
It is probable that these stones were erected as boundary stones
between the parish of Elsden and the chapelry of Halystone and as
guides for the travellers. (5)
The Middle Golden Pot, hidden among long grass, is similar in size to
the Outer Golden Pot (NT 80 NW 6 Stone 38" x 32" 13" high with
socket 15" c 10" x 7-1/2" deep), but now broken.
The stone is possibly the remains of a late 14th cent wayside cross.
The reference to a "Goldingpottes" in a charter of 1228 (authority
(5) ) would appear to apply to a place name and not specifically to
the series of features now called "Golden Pots".
(See also NT 80 NW 3 & 6 NT 80 SW 4). (6)
At Foulplay Head, the Roman road makes a slight curve and heads
towards Chew Green. About 200 years in advance (north) there is a
green spot in the way, called the Galley or Galley Knowl. About 50
yards to the east lies the Inner Golden Pot, evidently not in its
original position, which was probably on the knoll in question.
(Although referred to above as the Inner Golden Pot, the description
and the position given in the associated survey (authority (2))
evidently refer to the feature now called the Middle Golden Pot). (7)
Remains of a cross-base, 30.0m to the NE of Dere Street, and 8.0m S
of a modern road, lying, apparently not 'in situ', among some reeds upon the top of a pasture moorland ridge. The stone, a corner of
which has broken off and is missing, originally measured 0.7m by
0.6m. It is not embedded into the ground and is 0.3m high. A socket
centrally placed, measures 0.4m by 0.2m and is 0.15m deep. There are
no traces of inscription or ornamentation. (8)
The first descriptive reference to this specific base is made by
MacLaughlan in 1852. It is not described by Hodgson in 1827 or
shown on Armstrong's map of 1765.
It seems possible therefore that this stone was moved to its present
position from the south between 1827 and 1852 and is actually the
base referred to as the Inner Golden Pot. (9)
Condition unchanged.
Correctly published on 6". (10)
NT 8122 0632. Middle Golden Pot medieval wayside cross. Scheduled
RSM No 25026. (11)
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