The Cornish Cross at Saltash

Submitted by Kernow Matters to Us on June 19, 2021 - 11:33am

Cross the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall, look to the right and there you will see the 20 metre (66 feet) tall Celtic Cornish Cross erected in 2013.

The work of sculptor Simon Thomas the Polruan-based artist celebrates Cornwall’s cultural history and future projects.

The Cornish Cross was officially launched by TV personalities Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan, after the The Big Lottery Fund made possible both the sculpture project and the regeneration of the two-acre Elwell Woods where it is sited.

It is constructed from lightweight aerospace/boatbuilding composite materials of glass fibre and carbon fibre, treated with copper powder to give a verdigris effect, and representative of new Cornish industries. The head includes the traditional Cornish-mined metals copper, gold and silver.

It was built in a hangar at Newquay Airport by a Cornish team of experts led by Gateguards (UK) Ltd (Cross fabrication) and including Optima Projects (Composite design).

Cornwall is extremely rich in Celtic crosses. According to the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies there are more than 400 complete Celtic stone crosses standing.

To visit:  Elwell Road, Saltash PL12 6AP

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