Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• cruces Attelstani quæ dicuntur bane Cruces 1228 Ripi,51

• Athelstan-Cross 1822 Langd

Etymology

Athelstan's Cross, cruces Attelstani quæ dicuntur bane Cruces 1228 Rip i, 51, Athelstan -Cross 1822 Langd. There were formerly some 8 crosses (called 'mile-crosses') at intervals round the church of Ripon; the territory these marked off is said to correspond to the DB leuga S. Wilfridi 'the league of St Wilfrid' and to the district in which right of sanctuary originally granted to the church of Ripon by King Athelstan (BCS 647) could be had (cf. RipAct 72–3, Ripon Millenary Record 8–9, 187). The position of only three of the crosses is now known, Athelstan's Cross between Ripon and Nunwick, Sharow Cross (157supra ) and 'Archangel Cross' (or Kangel Cross infra ) near Bondgate and Dallamires (the last discovered in 1862); Caiuncros (13 Rip i, 261) may also have been one of these crosses; cf. also Bishopton Cross 170infra . The cruces Attelstani 'Athelstan's crosses' clearly refers to all the crosses; bane cruces is perhaps 'crosses marking the boundary of a territory' (cf. MED s.v. ban ).