The Village Cross

The Village Cross is a late medieval village cross with an 18th-century finial, located on the north side of West Street in Hinton St George. It is constructed from Ham stone ashlar and features an octagonal base that measures about 3 meters across and is approximately 900 millimeters high. The base has a chamfered plinth and chamfered coving at the nosing of a water-holding step that is about 500 millimeters wide, followed by two additional steps that are around 600 millimeters and 450 millimeters high.

Above the base is a square plan socket base, which has a chamfered plinth and measures about 750 millimeters wide by 500 millimeters high. The top corners of this base are either broached or prepared for small pinnacles. The shaft of the cross starts as a square at the base and transitions to an octagon, featuring a statue believed to be of St John the Baptist, set in a canopied surround on the east face.

The finial is of classical design, topped with a Doric cap, a cube that likely supported a former sundial, and a ball finial, bringing the total height of the cross to about 6 meters. This cross is considered one of the finest in the county and holds significant value in the streetscape, likely remaining in its original position. It is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 432).